Jeremiah 11:18-20 (NRSV)
- It was the LORD who made it known to me, and I knew;
- then you showed me their evil deeds.
- But I was like a gentle lamb
- led to the slaughter.
- And I did not know it was against me
- that they devised schemes, saying,
- "Let us destroy the tree with its fruit,
- let us cut him off from the land of the living,
- so that his name will no longer be remembered!"
- But you, O LORD of hosts, who judge righteously,
- who try the heart and the mind,
- let me see your retribution upon them,
- for to you I have committed my cause.
Psalm 54 (BCP., p.659)
James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a (NRSV)
Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.
Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you? You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.
Mark 9:30-37 (NRSV)
Jesus and his disciples went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again." But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.
Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the way?" But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all." Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, "Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me."
Blog Reflection
Two of the most important hallmarks of Benedictine Monasticism is silence and listening. If we take the word silent and change the letters around we will arrive at the word listen. The purpose of silence and listening is not just for that sake of our personal selves. It is also for the good of the whole Community. In Chapter 6 of The Rule of St. Benedict, he writes about that just as it is important to keep silent about many good things, it is that much more important to keep our silence with things that are not so good. After reading the above sentence, we can easily ask ourselves the question, "By what measure do we decide what is good and bad?" It is easy to say that we use the Gospel alone, but each of us has a different understanding of what that means.
There is another author who wrote a lot about silence, speech and community. Dietrich Bonhoeffer in his famous book Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Christian Community, wrote about what we say within community can be a reflection of who thinks they are the greatest or the least. He also points out, the impact on community when when speak to one another, without listening more deeply to each other. If we are not listening to one another, what kind of a reflection is it on how well we are listening to God?
Jesus finds Himself with these very issues and more in the exchange between the Disciples argument about who is the greatest or the least. This argument is all tied up in not so much of who they are, but how they see themselves in relationship to God and each other. Jesus' answer to all of this; is that as He did not come among us to declare Himself to be the greatest of all, only because of who He is; then those who claim to follow Him must be ready to serve others with the the same humility. To give of ourselves in serving others, we become the Presence of Jesus in our world.
Christians of all sects, theological and social positions are in a battle of who's version of the Christian Faith is the greatest. While Christians are doing this, those who really need to see the goodness of Christ in their lives are being left to wonder if it even exists. The heart of who Jesus was/is is about serving the least among us so that the mercy and love of God can be a living reality for all Humankind. These include the confused, the sick, the lonely, the marginalized, the dying, the ignorant and the arrogant. It is about our relationships. It is not about what we achieve for ourselves. It is what we give to and for those who are wanting what others have in excess, while they can barely get their hands around a morsel.
Jesus challenges each of us to see and serve each other with respect for the dignity of every human person, and the nurturing of the Community of God's people. This is a very difficult task. It means that we must allow ourselves to be displaced by The Holy Spirit and redirected again and again in ways that are not completely comfortable, yet lead us through our opportunities for growth; to the ministry of healing and reconciliation. The world needs Christians who live this life of Jesus.
As politicians focus more on their campaigns, their billion dollar donors, and patronizing those who side with them and trashing those who don't; the real people and their needs for equal rights, personal safety, and a sense of belonging get brushed aside. Today's Gospel invites all of us to be where the need for the unconditional and all-inclusive love of God brings hope with life-giving potential.
Are there any among us ready to fulfill the call of Jesus to serve the community, because we were silent long enough to listen for that call?
Amen.
Prayers
Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things that are passing away, to hold fast to those that shall endure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 20, The Book of Common Prayer, p. 234).
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us
through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole
human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which
infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us;
unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and
confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in
your good time, all nations and races may serve you in
harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Human Family. The Book of Common Prayer, p.815).
Almighty and most merciful God, we remember before you
all poor and neglected persons whom it would be easy for us
to forget: the homeless and the destitute, the old and the sick,
and all who have none to care for them. Help us to heal those
who are broken in body or spirit, and to turn their sorrow
into joy. Grant this, Father, for the love of your Son, who for
our sake became poor, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for The Poor and Neglected. the Book of Common Prayer, p. 825).
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