SCRIPTURE: Mark 9:30-37
TEXT: 37a“Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me,” THEME: Live love over greatness. INTRODUCTION In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus shows us a life beyond the one we are living. Jesus encourages us to look at the tradition and rituals we hold and discover the meaning behind them, so we can live beyond our culture. The Realm of God goes beyond our boundaries of culture, territory, race, religion, sex, prejudice, status, power and more, as he casts out demons from the Syrophoenician woman’s daughter and heals the deaf man in Gentile country. Jesus points us to a life of love; towards something we can give our heart to. Beyond human things to divine things. In today’s passage Jesus encourages us to live beyond the world’s notions of greatness. SCRIPTURE Jesus is not finished telling the disciples about the kind of Messiah he is. He will be betrayed, handed over to human hands who will kill him and three days later, he will rise again. The disciples didn’t want to ask him about what this meant because they saw what happened to Peter when he quested Jesus on the way to Caesarea Philippi. Pretending to have understood what Jesus was saying, they ended up arguing about who was the greatest among them. When they got to Capernaum, Jesus asked the what they were arguing about. Needless to say, they were embarrassed when they had to admit to Jesus they were arguing about greatness. What they were giving their heat to, was for themselves, to be great and not like Jesus who was giving his heart, to the lives and betterment of others. In the house they were staying in, Jesus took a little child and put it among them. Taking it in his arms, he said, “Whoever welcomes on such child in my name welcomes me.” There is no benefit to us, to care for a child. We protect, shelter, clean, feed, clothe, comfort and love them. Not for ourselves but for their benefit. As we hold them dear to ourselves, we foster a relationship of love. Traci Blackmon, our Associate General Minister of Justice & Local Church Ministries for The United Church of Christ, talked about at tribe in Kenya, called the Maasai. Their traditional greeting is asking, “How are the Children?” They believe that the vitality of any people is rooted in how well the children are doing. Are they fed, healthy, happy educated, playing, safe? Or are they missing, dirty, abused, hurting and sad? APPLICATION Can you see how welcoming a child, is the way Jesus want us to engage in life? When we stop thinking about what people think of us, what freedom do we have to live apart from the judgements of others? Yesterday, as we were having lunch, Samm and I watched Snow White on Disney+. The difference between Snow White and the Queen, was that Snow White was not looking for Greatness. She was willing to serve others, cleaning the Seven Dwarfs’ home and cooking for them. She was willing to do things for others and not for herself. At the end, (spoiler alert) it was “True Love’s kiss” that brought her back to life. Is this a metaphor for Christ’s Love, that brings resurrection? Christ’s true love kiss for us that led to the cross and beyond. This is what Jesus was trying to convey to his disciples as he talked about the events in Jerusalem, his death and resurrection. Christ’s love for is not so much romantic, as it is powerful. My new CTEL class on Ethics, had us listen to an On Being podcast where its host, Krista Tippet interviewed Senator John Lewis in 2013. He didn’t talk about ‘good trouble’ as much as he spoke about an African proverb, “When you pray, move your feet.” Before the protests, they were trained in the ways of non-violence. They were trained how to cover their head and the vulnerable parts of their body from blows. They were trained with other religious teachings on non-violence. They looked their oppressors in the eye to spark a view of the divine in their humanity. They helped others who were in trouble. They tried to smile even when spat upon. They never gave up on anyone. His words humbled me as he spoke about boarding the freedom bus, they were ready to die. At the bridge at Selma, he thought he was going to be arrested not beaten. This is what he gave his heart to. To make a difference in our United States, for a change in our society, for a better life together with all. A powerful love that in whatever happened to them, they responded with love, kindness and a sense of faith. This is the power of someone who takes the Love of Jesus and lives it in their lives. This is the story of God’s incarnate in Jesus, ministering, healing and teaching among us. This is the story of God giving God’s heart to us. Love coming in flesh and blood to be around us in Jesus. John Lewis taking this love and advocating for a nonsegregated America. For us taking the Love of God to love our neighbors, by taking what we have, and providing the leadership to have a few rental units built, to offer food to those who have more month than money, to pray by adding our feet in action to those prayers. CONCLUSION It is hard for us to imagine a life different from the one we are living. But we have stories of those who have given their hearts to something more. We can expand our vision of what is possible. Jesus did not want to be king. He was a different kind of Messiah. Jesus’ life and ministry held us in his heart. His love for us brings us to God and shows us how to live love. Jesus shows us how to live in loving ways with God and with our neighbor. Redemption is lived in vibrant relationships of reconciliation. Jesus’ followers; Peter, John, James, Philip, Paul. Mary, Martha, Martin Luther King Jr., Senator John Lewis, Mother Teressa, and Wailuku Union Church, give their hearts to God, to live love instead of greatness.
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