September
24, 2000
Mark 9:30-37 (CEV)
Jesus left with his disciples and started through Galilee. He
did not want anyone to know about it, because he was teaching
the disciples that the Son of Man would be handed over to people
who would kill him. But three days later he would rise to life.
The disciples did not understand what Jesus meant, and they were
afraid to ask.
Jesus and his disciples went to his home in Capernaum. After they
were inside the house, Jesus asked them, "What were you arguing
about along the way?" They had been arguing about which one
of them was the greatest, and so they did not answer.
After Jesus sat down and told the twelve disciples to gather around
him, he said, "If you want the place of honor, you must become
a slave and serve others!"
Then Jesus had a child sand near him. He put his arm around the
child and said, "When you welcome even a child because of
me, you welcome me. And when you welcome me, you welcome me, you
welcome the one who sent me."
=======
1.
Here's a place for on-liners to get some humorous and serious
stuff sent to you on Sunday in anticipation of the next Sunday:
Invite your friends (and even your enemies) to subscribe. There's
no charge. Ask them to send an e-mail message to rumors@joinhands.com
with the word SUBSCRIBE in the subject line.
Here is what Ralph Milton has to say about this text in from Sunday's
"Rumors":
A LOOK AT NEXT WEEK'S READINGS - These are the readings you are
likely to hear in church this coming Sunday, September 24th, which
is the 15th Sunday after Pentecost.
Proverbs 31:10-31 - The first thing I get, when I read this passage,
is tired. The second thing it does is get me angry. Anyone, of
whatever gender, who does all that stuff, has got to go to bed
exhausted. She reminds me of some career women who also do all
the work traditionally associated with housewifery, and then wonder
why they burn out. Rev Bev observes that "not all women are
made in that kind of a mold." I guess not. There are two
telling phrases in this passage. Verse 23 says in effect, "Isn't
she wonderful. Because of all the stuff she does, hubby can sit
around with the other guys and be important." But then the
very last verse is subversive, in terms of the culture of that
time. Verse 31 says, "Give her a share in the fruit of her
hands. . ." That was radical stuff in those days. Women,
no matter how hard they worked, never got a share of the family's
wealth. Bev however, would like to take us beyond the historical
stuff, and have us do a list of our own gifts. "What gifts
have you been given by God? How are you using those gifts?"
Psalm 1 - Just a quick reminder. When the Bible uses the word
"law," it doesn't usually refer to a set of rules, but
rather a way of living. You might paraphrase the first part of
this psalm by saying, "The folks who go to church and live
their Christian convictions are happier than those who don't."
And you would have real research to back you up. The folks who
visit church occasionally and never think about their convictions
are like everyone else, but the 20 percent of people who are deeply
active in their faith tradition (it doesn't matter much which
one), are healthier, have fewer problems with addictions, their
marriages last longer, they give far more to various charities,
and their kids don't mess up as much. Rev Bev observes that those
who "discredit or ridicule God" must be genuinely unhappy
folks. What do you think?
James 3:13 - 4:3, 7-8a - Faith and love are a choice. It is a
choice about the way we will live. Yes, it has something to do
with the sense of love, of faith, in our hearts. But we still
choose how we will translate that into living. That's the part
that others see, but it has to be consistent with who we genuinely
are. That's what this passage is about. Bev would like you to
think about those choices. "What approach to living have
you taken? How, or from whom, do you get support for this choice?"
Mark 9:30-37 - Now that I'm a grandpa, I keep sensing all over
again what Jesus meant when he said, "Whoever welcomes one
such child in my name welcomes me." Rev Bev found herself
looking at verse 32, where the disciples had no clue what Jesus
was on about, or what he was saying. If the disciples couldn't
understand Jesus, it's no wonder we have problems. Bev would like
us to confront those problems. "Name the teachings you find
difficult," she says. Just as it is OK when a child doesn't
understand, it's also OK when we don't understand. Besides, Christian
faith has more to do with love than understanding. Like my grandkids.
There's all sorts of stuff they don't understand, but they know
they are loved, so it's OK.
(Those who would like a more in-depth discussion of the lections
might check the JoinHands web site, at www.joinhands.com. Look
for the periodical Aha!, and the online lectionary discussion
called the Midrash.)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
FROM THE BOOKSHELF - Jesus and the Child
from The Family Story Bible
by Ralph Milton
Northstone (Canada), Westminster/John Knox (USA)
Sometimes the disciples had arguments.
"Jesus likes me better than you."
"He does not!"
"Does so!"
"When Jesus gets to be king, I'll be his favorite."
"You will not!"
"I will so!"
Jesus felt very sad when he heard his friends arguing. "Come
over here," Jesus said to the disciples. "I want to
show you something."
Jesus went to where some children were playing. One child was
sitting alone. "Why aren't you playing with the other children?"
Jesus asked.
"They won't let me." said the child.
"Why?" Jesus asked.
"Because my legs hurt. I can't run. I get sick if I run hard."
Jesus picked the child up in his arms. Then he said to the disciples.
"Do you see this child?"
"Of course."
"I want you to become like this child. Unless you can be
like a little child, you will not be part of Gods Shalom."
"I don't get it," said Peter.
"Someday you will, Peter," said Jesus. "But for
now, just remember. When you are being kind to a child, you are
being kind to me."
Peter blinked. He could see how much Jesus loved the child.
"Here's something else to think about, Peter," said
Jesus. "In God's Shalom, the first shall be last and the
last shall be first."
Then Jesus looked at the child. "I'd like it if you could
play with me. What do you like to play best of all?"
For information about this book, and lots of other resources,
check out our website at: www.joinhands.com
2)
and 3)
perhaps that is enough for now.