Glory and Service

God is great.

God is wonderful.

Creation is amazing.

This Psalm that we read together earlier, is one where the people are remembering the greatness of God. It’s a beautiful psalm.

These words are easy for us to say and to hear.

Phrases of praise, words proclaiming God’s greatness.

After the hard readings of Mark the last few weeks, the Psalm takes us to a completely different place.

There are times in our lives when all we want to do

is sing God’s praises,

remember God’s faithfulness and

rest in the glory of God.

Some places that we have lived, I had a special place where I would go when I wanted to do deep thinking, when I had something that I needed to mull over with God.

Those of you who have done any kind of meditation will probably have a special place you can go to without having to physically be there.

We all need those places,

we all need times

when we can be aware of the glory and majesty of God;

when we can be aware of the beauty of creation;

when we remember God’s presence throughout the ages.

But just as Moses came down from the mountain top, his face aglow;

just as Jesus and the disciples came down from the mountain top after the Transfiguration;

we cannot stay in those places where we bask in the glory and presence of God.

We come back to life

life in its gritty fullness

the ups and downs of daily living

the decisions

the hard places

the people we find difficult

the pain

the emptiness

The world is a beautiful place,

but just as there is beauty in the world,

there is also pain and violence.

And so we come back to the gospel of Mark,

and another of those difficult questions.

This one might not be quite so difficult to answer.

James and John wanted the best seats in the house.

Jesus has once again told the disciples,

for the third time,

that in Jerusalem he will be killed.

And James and John want to know if they can be on the left and right of Jesus in glory.

James and John still don’t get it.

The kingdom that Jesus is talking about is very different to the Roman kingdom.

Notice who gets to sit near the Prime Minister, or the leader of the opposition, in parliament.

Who gets to sit at the main table at a work function?

James and John wanted to be those closest to Jesus when he was in power, they want to be the deputies.

Jesus tells them that they don’t know what they are really asking.

The disciples are again reminded that the kingdom of God is not like the earthly kingdoms. Again we hear that the one who is greatest is the one who serves.

James and John ask if they can be at the right and left when Jesus is in glory.

I wonder when we see glory of Jesus.

Is it when he is on the cross, with two thieves - one either side?

Is it in the empty tomb?

Is it in the healing of the blind and the lame?

Or the acceptance of the woman at the well?

When the Gospels talk about the kingdom of God,

they are talking about the kingdom where love reigns,

the kingdom where all are welcomed,

a kingdom of peace and harmony,

the kingdom where all are respected.

A kingdom where service is a sign of greatness.

Being Christian, being people of God,

there are times when we are aware of the glory of God.

There are times when we look at the world around us and see the beauty of creation.

Yet what we hear from Jesus, is that the kingdom of God is not a magical place where light floods through us.

The kingdom of God is not an endless summer holiday.

The kingdom of God is a place of service.

Yesterday at a meeting I heard about an amazing ministry that the Uniting Church offers. I am guessing that many of you have heard of some of the traditional schools that come under the uniting church umbrella. Schools such as Knox, MLC, Newington and Ravenswood. There is a school in Newcastle that works with the most disadvantaged young people in our society. Many come from families that are dysfunctional.

To be considered for enrolment, the young person must be unable to continue mainstream schooling based on challenging behaviours and or educational disadvantage due to life circumstance.

The majority of students enrolled have mental health diagnosis.

Each child has a caseworker as well as teachers, breakfast and lunch are provided. These young people are treated as wonderful human beings, where most people see them as difficult, uncontrollable, a waste of space.

Yet we heard some amazing stories of transformation in the lives of young people when they are treated as individuals, called by name, given the support and resourcing that they need. Stories of people going back to mainstream schooling to complete their higher School certificate. Stories of young people who have been through the program, who are now in employment, married, raising children.

The glory of God, I believe, is seen in the transformation that comes when people glimpse the kingdom of God through
the hospitality
the love
the service
of faithful people.

God is great.God is wonderful.Creation is amazing.

The glory of God is seen in all the earth.

The glory of God is seen in lives transformed.

As much to rest in the light and awe of God

we also need to be following in the example of Jesus

in offering healing, hope, grace and love

to a broken and hurting world.

Where are you aware of the glory of God?

Where are you being an agent of hope and healing?