The Challenge of Grace

Another of the hard sayings of Jesus, last week it was about divorce, and this week about money, or rather giving it away.

No wonder these are called the hard sayings. Last week’s reading had us thinking about law and relationships. Jesus was not trying to do away with the law, but was reshaping the way the law was interpreted. For Jesus the law about divorce wasn't about when it was or was not permissible for a man to divorce his wife; but about people in relationship.

In  a society where women and children were possessions, Jesus treats both groups as people, as just as important as the men who held power. I don’t think Jesus was condemning divorce per se, but the way that it was, and is, possible for people to be discarded. Women and children are not possessions in the Kingdom of God, and therefore should not be treated as possessions, but as God’s precious people.

Today’s reading is another reminder that Christianity is about more than keeping a set of rules.  For many people that is the image of religion; a set of rules, about how what you wear, about alcohol, about money. Christianity is about more than keeping rules.

While this reading is often referred to as the rich young ruler, in Mark he is simply referred to as a man. This man is looking for something, he has been an observant Jew, aware of the law and has followed it. Jesus doesn't question if he has really has kept all the laws. For the Jews it was considered quite reasonable to be able to keep these laws. He comes to Jesus, looking for reassurance, security; it is like he knows there is more to life than keeping rules.

Other people who came to Jesus and knelt before him were looking for healing, I wonder what this man was looking for healing from?

We was rich, Jesus tells him to go and sell all he has and give it to the poor. This is a difficult reading for somewhere like Australia, and especially like the Shire. While there are people living in poverty, people who are homeless, people without regular meals, in Australia that is not the norm. Most people in Australia, including those of us here today, are not poor, we have enough and often more than enough. This reading is again about how we relate to God’s people, all of them.

In first century Israel, wealth was at the expense of the poor. Just as today that may not be intentional; but when we buy cheap goods manufactured in sweatshops, so we can afford some luxury, who pays for that? Much of the inequity in the world is not because we plan it that way; but we are complicit, because the structures that serve our interest, keep many of the poor, poor.  There are options, such as fair trade goods and food, but it is easier and cheaper to go a supermarket and buy the cheapest products.

“How would we spend our money this week if we trusted God? What would we buy? What would we refrain by buying? What would we save, and for what purpose? And what would we give - how much and to whom?” [David Lose : Working Preacher]

The man is challenged to give to those, whose poverty has allowed his wealth. How does it feel to realise that you have more than enough? To be challenged to spread around the resources that we have, so that all may have enough?

This isn't only for the benefit of those who receive. Possessions, by their very nature are things that belong to us, but in many ways they own us.  The larger house you have, the more time in cleaning. Some cherished items need special cleaning and maintenance. The swimming pool or tennis court takes time, or money, to maintain. Possessions have a way of keeping us focused on them.

Our possessions do not bring us life, or hope, or peace, or the security we crave. Life in Jesus provides life, and hope, and peace, and the security we crave. Life in Jesus, the invitation is there, but do we accept it, along with the challenges that life in Jesus entails? The challenge of investing resources in all God’s people and all of creation; the challenge to live not only by the law, but in the spirit of grace; in relationship with each other, with all people.

The man who approached Jesus wanted to know how to receive eternal life. In Matthew’s Gospel we are  reminded that we should store up our treasure in heaven “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” [Matthew 6]

When our treasure lies in possessions, that is where we focus our time and our energy. In challenging the man to sell his possessions and give to the poor, he is being encouraged to put his resources, his treasure in God’s people. Investing in God is investing in the poor, the homeless, those seeking education, clean water, sustainable food.

Maybe that is what Jesus is telling this man, invest your wealth where it counts. How to do that? That is hard, for some of us, almost impossible. No wonder the man went away sad.

And  then we get to the part about the rich not entering the kingdom of God. Where does that leave us, we all have shelter and food, that means each one of us is rich. Does this mean we can’t enter the kingdom of God?

If it is up to us, to our resources and our willpower, yes it means we can’t enter the kingdom of God. But it is not up to us, entry into the kingdom of God, into heaven, is through God’s grace, not our wealth, or our poverty or our keeping the rules.

It is God’s grace, that brings us life, abundant life, now and forever.

“God doesn't want us bound up in rules as the Pharisees were.  God offers us transforming love, that we might live as God intended, disciples with an active, daring, self-risking faith.” [Texts For Preaching]

Imagine that you are kneeling before Jesus, as he heads towards Jerusalem. What do you need transformed in your life?

What does Jesus challenge you to let go of, to give away?

law and love

I'm sure you are all wondering how I'm going to speak about the gospel reading on a day when we are also celebrating B and Y’s 50th wedding anniversary.

This passage has been used at times to define relationships, there are people who are divorced, remarried, or in same gender relationships, and at some time or another this passage will have been quoted to them to point out their sinfulness.

 While this reading does have something to say to us about marriage and divorce; it is about much more than that.

 The question that the Pharisees ask, as in many of the questions Jesus is asked, is intended to trap Jesus. There were different Rabbinic Schools and each has different interpretations of the laws of Moses. In the same way that if we were to discuss the Bible passage here today different people would have different understandings and would all have a good reason for thinking that way; the thing is when Jesus was alive it wasn't just a Bible study discussion it was law, it determined your ability to be involved in religious life and in community life.

The Pharisees asked is it lawful? “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?". Jesus responds in good Jewish fashion, and refers to Moses, the great lawgiver.

And then Jesus brings in a completely different dimension. He doesn't talk about when divorce is or isn't lawful or permitted, he doesn't talk about custody disputes, or even the unjustness of a system that allowed men to divorce their wife but not the other way round. A  system that left many divorced women destitute. A system that treated women and children as property of father or husband. 

Some commentators point out that the Pharisees asked about divorce, and Jesus talked about marriage, but this is about much more than divorce or marriage. It points to a different place for the Law, a different understanding of relationships, a different way of looking at God.  

Firstly, looking at the Law. For the  ‘ordinary Jews’ that Jesus met, the Law was important. The Law was important for how you related to God and to others. The Law was the central point of the community. The Law was also under debate. Just as lawyers now debate in the High Court how legislation and constitution should be interpreted, so Rabbis debated various interpretations of the Law.  

Jesus doesn’t align himself with any one view of the Law, but points to behind the law. Jesus talked about God’s intention in creation. The question is asked: is it legal, is it allowed; Jesus responds by showing he knows the law, but that there is something that overrides the law. God’s will, God love, overrides the Law.  

Relationships are an area we could spend days talking about, parents, children, siblings, wider family members, in-laws, step parents, half siblings and on and on, as well as partners and spouses and friends. Relationships come in a myriad of shapes and sizes. I think here Jesus is emphasizing that people are made, created, intended by God, to be in relationship. Not necessarily marriage. People are not intended to live isolated lives, humans are ‘herd’ animals.  

For many people, even today, following God’s law is in expectation of future reward. For many in our community this is part of  their understanding of religion and the role of religion. Yet the actions of Jesus show that religion is about love, not law. Religion has been used, and still is in places today,  to keep people under control, to limit freedom, to close of criticism and keep people compliant in their servitude. That is not the way of Jesus.  

Looking at the second part of the reading, Jesus shows again how radical he is. Children were not considered cute, children were property, they had no status. When the parents are bringing their children to Jesus, the disciples behave as any reasonable adult would. Why waste time on children, they have little value, no status, nothing to possibly gain from them, so why waste time on them. But Jesus rebukes the disciples and calls the children to him, and blesses them.  

These two stories may seem unrelated, but together they point us to a picture of Jesus that is about inclusion, welcome of the least, and the marginalised.  

A picture of grace.  

During much of September we looked at the creation, the  world, people, animals, plants and the sky, we thought about their interaction, and how all of God’s creation was seen by God as good. We acknowledged the way that the whole creation worships God, and tells of God’s glory. 

Here Jesus is reminding people, that God is not about what is lawful, but about living in relationship, interdependence, harmony of all things.  

Do we spend our time trying to find loopholes in laws, so that we can do as we desire?

Do we treat people as disposable? 

Another thing I notice in this reading is that people brought their children to be blessed by Jesus, which reminds me a bit of parents bringing their children to church for Baptism and blessing.  

We all need to be blessed by Jesus, and here we have three different interactions with Jesus.

One group thinks they know the Law, and therefore the religion, they don’t ask for a blessing, they try and trick Jesus with their question.  

Another group try and keep Jesus ‘safe’ from people who are not deemed ‘worthy’ of Jesus’ time or attention. This is not the only place the disciples try and keep people away from Jesus.   

And the last group come asking for a blessing, they come not with lots of knowledge, they come with little status, they come with their children, and they come hoping that this holy person will bless their children.  

Do we come to worship today comfortable in our knowledge about God?

Do we live in ways that tell people that they are not good enough to be around God’s people?

Do we recognise our frailty and seek God’s blessing?