Wisdom 7:26-8:1 (NRSV)
- For wisdom is a reflection of eternal light,
- a spotless mirror of the working of God,
- and an image of his goodness.
- Although she is but one, she can do all things,
- and while remaining in herself, she renews all things;
- in every generation she passes into holy souls
- and makes them friends of God, and prophets;
- for God loves nothing so much as the person who lives with wisdom.
- She is more beautiful than the sun,
- and excels every constellation of the stars.
- Compared with the light she is found to be superior,
- for it is succeeded by the night,
- but against wisdom evil does not prevail.
- She reaches mightily from one end of the earth to the other,
- and she orders all things well.
Psalm 19 (BCP., p.606)
James 3:1-12 (NRSV)
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits.
How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell. For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, but no one can tame the tongue-- a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water? Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh.
Mark 8:27-38 (NRSV)
Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" And they answered him, "John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." He asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Messiah." And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.
Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things."
He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."
Blog Reflection
It must have been a very interesting show with Jesus, the Disciples and in particular Peter. Jesus: "Who do you say that I am?" Peter, " I say you are the Messiah." Jesus, "I am going to Jerusalem and there I will be put to death and rise again." Peter, "No do not do that.' Jesus, "Get behind me, Satan." Jesus, "If you want to be my Disciples, deny yourselves, take up your Cross and follow after me."
The scene may suggest that in the heat of the moment Peter's faith shined like the sun, then his own head might have gotten a bit big. Jesus humbled Peter, by telling the devil in him to get behind Jesus and do not tempt Jesus. Then, tells every one what they must do to follow Him."
What would our response have been?
Would our response be anything like Peter's?
Can we really understand and take up our Cross and follow Jesus?
In claiming Jesus to be the Messiah, Peter took risked a lot. It would mean that Peter and the other Disciples now see Jesus as something that those to whom they were meeting and healing and so forth, would have to be very careful with. To say who Jesus is according to Peter, was to essentially change everything around them and become like the social outcasts that Jesus was delivering right in front of them. As Peter learns, this proclamation on his part cost him big. It was a change of identity, that required a particular response that would ultimately lead him and those who agreed with what he said to the Cross that Christ was to carry.
Jesus asks each of us today to identify who He is for each of us. Jesus asks us to identify ourselves in relationship to who we know Jesus to be for us. Jesus tells us to put aside who and how we think of what Jesus should and should not do. Jesus then tells us to pick up what is ours to carry, and to lose ourselves in service to God for the glory of God's Reign. Those are pretty tall orders.
Among the many points in this weekends readings, we find an opportunity for us to make decisions and to make them count for something very important. It is no longer just about ourselves. It is now about something much bigger with the potential to gain something wonderful by giving up what we think is important to us. It is about serving the community of faith, in faith and seeking union with God through our relationships with one another. It is there that we will know our essence and find ours infused with the Holy Essence of God that leads us into a life of fulfillment and purpose. This fulfillment and purpose cannot be found in this world based on things such as wealth, fame, power, control and a determination to benefit at the expense of others who are already underprivileged beyond their capacity.
As issues of race, trying to curb the gun violence that threatens every one of us in one way or another, sexism, heterosexism, immigration, refugees and more; the question for Christians is to know the identity of Jesus, our own identity in Jesus, and to allow the loving mercy of God to shape us so that our faith becomes that living reality that so many long to see, touch and hear.
Who do you say that Jesus is?
Who are you in relationship to Jesus?
What will your cross be like as you pick it up and follow Jesus?
The good news for this Sunday is, you do not have to do it correctly the first time, and you are never alone no matter how you answer those questions. Each of us has God's love and grace, and we have the investment of the community of faith to nurture, help and sustain us. This is a Christian Faith that lives beyond the death of the grave, and is among us because of the presence of the Holy Spirit. All we have to do is answer the questions and live by that new life that Jesus gives to all of us and by faith, put one foot in front of the other, and God will do the rest.
Amen.
Prayers
O God, because without you we are not able to please you,
mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct
and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
for ever. Amen. (Proper 19. The Book of Common Prayer, p. 233).
Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ was lifted
high upon the cross that he might draw the whole world to
himself: Mercifully grant that we, who glory in the mystery
of our redemption, may have grace to take up our cross and
follow him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy
Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. (Collect for The Holy Cross Day. The Book of Common Prayer, p. 244).
Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on
the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within
the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit
that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those
who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for
the honor of your Name. Amen. (The Book of Common Prayer, p. 101).
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