Difficult Places and New Possibilities

Proclamation of the Word #1

WARNING: Some of what I talk about this morning may be upsetting for some people. Please don’t leave early, there are 2 parts to the sermon, each with a hymn.  Also please don’t leave if you are sad without speaking to me or one of the elders.

The big picture:

In the book of Genesis we read about creation, and amongst other stories, we hear about four people – Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. Biblical history then tells us about the move to Egypt, slavery, Moses, exodus, the covenant. After the death of Moses, Joshua leads the people into the promised land, and the nation of Israel is established.

A few more generations, and God raised up leaders – judges – people who called the people of Israel to return to God.

At the end of the book of Judges:

 “There was no king in Israel at that time. Everyone did whatever they pleased.” Judges 21:25 (GNT)

Then comes the book of Ruth. At the end of the story, Ruth has a son Obed, the father of Jesse, the father of David – David who becomes the king of Israel.

And this week we heard the passage from 1 Samuel, the birth of Samuel to Hannah. Samuel who becomes a priest and is the one who anoints David the shepherd boy, knowing he will become King of Israel.

While the Bible has a big story, of the presence of God with people throughout history, of how people related to God and each other; there are also stories that make up that bigger story. Today we look at the story of Hannah.

Hannah is married to Elkanah, but she doesn’t have any children. This was a cause of sadness for Hannah, even though Elkanah loved her. But as well as sadness, there were practical issues to contend with. Without a son, Hannah could be destitute when Elkanah died. Then there was the idea that women without children had done something wrong, it was Gods punishment for sinfulness. [Jo Anne Taylor, http://pastorsings.com/?s=hannah%27s+song]

And Elkanah’s other wife Peninnah taunts Hannah, because she has children and Hannah does not.

For Hannah, not having a child was a practical, spiritual and emotional problem.

I can tell you that things have not changed much.

Ian and I had been married for a few years, and we were at that stage of thinking about starting a family – all very normal stuff. But I didn’t get pregnant, a few months and a friend tells me she is pregnant, six months later and her daughter is born, and I’m still not pregnant. A few months later we moved to another part of the state with Ian’s work, and found a new GP, who started with tests.  Even though there are plenty of options for women today in terms of being in the workforce, there is still a standard expectation that if you are married, or in long term relationship you will have children. One of the hardest things I remember doing is telling our parents that we looked like we might not have children. Ian and I each have one brother, and at that time neither was married. My brother is now married but they have decided not to have children, given they were forty when they married.  So for both sets of parents, there are no grandchildren.

We had treatment, I got pregnant, ended up in hospital, went on IVF, got pregnant, ended up in hospital again. Each pregnancy damaged my reproductive system further. But worse than that was what happened to me as a person. I have been told that I come across as confident, efficient, capable, all those kind of things, but I don’t always feel that way. As a teenager and young adult, I was unsure of myself, as I think most people are at that age. But as we went through the trauma of losing pregnancies, I became depressed. We lived in a small country town, and girls dropped out of high school at fifteen and had children, and I couldn’t manage to get pregnant – how dumb and useless was I that I couldn’t even have a child.

Some well meaning friends, Christians, told me to pray – as if I hadn’t thought of that! I got told that God was trying to teach me something – I already thought I was stupid because I couldn’t get past 6 weeks pregnant, and now I was told I wasn’t learning whatever it was God expected me to  learn. I was told that it was God’s way of letting me know I wouldn’t make a good mother, what with how tired I get and all – something else for me to be bad at, but why get pregnant and lose the pregnancies. What kind of a harsh, judgemental, sadistic God was this? For me God felt distant, and anyway I wasn’t sure I wanted much to do with this God who was tormenting me in the name of education, or was it judgement. Was I really that bad or that dumb?

So I can feel for Hannah, and the way she is treated by Penninah, by the tribe, even by Eli the priest. But Hannah, as countless people have in their lives before and after this, turned to God, not because it is the right thing to do, or because it guarantees a reward, but because there are so few people around who you can tell your heartache to. Here we hear of Hannah’s prayer,  a heartfelt cry to God, lips moving, but no sound, It reminds me of one of my favourite verse from Romans, where the Spirit intercede for us when we can’t pray ourselves. (8:26) This is prayer, when we are open and vulnerable with the God of the universe. Prayer isn’t flashy, prayer isn’t long winded with big fancy words, prayer isn’t about trying to impress God with our theological understanding, our ability to pray for long periods of time or our great faith.

Prayer is saying to God, this is what I feel my life is like,

prayer is sitting with God watching the sunset, 

prayer is being aware of God as you hold a dying friend’s hand.

Prayer is being open to the life that God offers every moment of the day.

Hannah’s prayer was answered, one of the commentaries notes that Samuel is a gift of God’s grace, not a reward for prayer – it isn’t like a graduation present because she got it right. God is gracious and merciful and wants us to live full lives. This story is about more than Hannah having a child from her barrenness, it is about the new life that comes to Israel as a result of this child. God enters into hopeless, barren, desolate situations and brings about a future, newness, fresh possibilities and liberation. We will soon be looking forward to the birth of Jesus, another child whose conception is unconventional, who ushers in newness and possibilities and future hope for the world. 

So where did I find newness of life, fresh possibilities in my situation, it isn’t as obvious as with Hannah, we never did have children, not through IVF or adoption even though we were in both systems for many years.

A big change occurred for me when I finally spoke with my minister – telling her I didn’t think I could go to church. I was an elder, God felt distant, and uninvolved in my life, I found that image of God easier to cope with than the image that friends were drawing for me. My minister gave me another image. Not distant, but close; not judging, but crying; not sadistic but comforting. Here was an image I could relate to, in the midst of my pain, an image of God holding me as I cried, crying with me, much as a parent or partner might do.

The newness that came was a new relationship with God, I’ve learned along the way life isn’t about what might have been, life is about what is. God is present in the celebrations and in our tears. With God there are new possibilities that come from the difficult places in our lives.

Where are the empty or barren places in your life?

Are you willing to invite God, to beg God, to enter into your lives and bring transformation?

     

[reflection time]

Hymn/song  Faith will not grow from words alone

Proclamation of the Word #2

Hannah has a son, Samuel. After he has been weaned, she takes him to the temple.

Then another prayer from Hannah, this one is often called Hannah’s song.

“This time, she lifts her voice in song, and sings of God’s victory, not only for herself, but for the whole nation of Israel, for all the people of God. The Lord God Almighty is about to do a new thing among his people, and Hannah’s song gives us a glimpse of what that new thing is to be. [Jo Anne Taylor, http://pastorsings.com/?s=hannah%27s+song]

Hannah’s Prayer/praise

All:       The Lord has filled my heart with joy;

            how happy I am because of what he has done!

1:         I laugh at my enemies;

            how joyful I am because God has helped me!

2:         No one is holy like the Lord;

            there is none like him,

            no protector like our God.

3:         Stop your loud boasting;

            silence your proud words.

            For the Lord is a God who knows,

            and he judges all that people do.

4:         The bows of strong soldiers are broken,

            but the weak grow strong.

5:         The people who once were well fed

            now hire themselves out to get food,

            but the hungry are hungry no more.

6:         The childless wife has borne seven children,

            but the mother of many is left with none.

7:         The Lord kills and restores to life;

            he sends people to the world of the dead

            and brings them back again.

8:         The Lord makes some poor and others rich;

            he humbles some and makes others great.

9:         The Lord lifts the poor from the dust

            and raises the needy from their misery.

10:       The Lord makes them companions of princes

            and puts them in places of honour.

11:       The foundations of the earth belong to the Lord;

            on them he has built the world.

12:       The Lord protects the lives of his faithful people,

            but the wicked disappear in darkness;

13:       People do not triumph by their own strength.

14:       The Lord’s enemies will be destroyed;

            he will thunder against them from heaven.

15:       The Lord will judge the whole world;

            he will give power to his king,

            he will make his chosen king victorious.

~ from Carolyn Brown’s Worshipping with Children website. http://www.worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.ca/

Along with Miriam, Mary and Hannah we too can recognise the new possibilities that come from the difficult places in our lives. We can also sing of the wonderful things God is doing,

Hymn/song Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord

Serving or exploiting?

If I asked each of you for a Bible verse that sums up your thinking about God or Jesus, you might choose:

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” [NIV]

Or maybe Romans 3: 23 - 24 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,  and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”

 8: 1-2 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.”

Or Matthew 28: 19-20 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” [NIV]

For me, I think John 10:10 sums it up:

“The thief comes only in order to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come in order that you might have life—life in all its fullness.” [GNB]

This morning I want us to think about life, abundant life, fullness of life, eternal life.

When we know that we are loved by God,

when we recognise the love inherent in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus,

when we are transformed and freed by the spirit,

our life takes on a new quality or characteristic.

In the past 7 weeks we have looked at Mark’s gospel, all this time Jesus is walking towards Jerusalem. Walking to the cross. Along the way we have heard about

 - the least being the greatest,
 - various questions, some set to trick, some genuine
 - Jesus blessing the children
 - the healing of Bartimeaus
 - the disciples not understanding
 - the man looking for eternal life not being prepared to give up his wealth
 - the greatest commandments – loving God, loving self and loving others.

Mark includes this story in the week between the entry to Jerusalem and the crucifixion. Jesus has already cleansed the Temple, driving out the money changers and traders.

“He then taught the people: “It is written in the Scriptures that God said, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer for the people of all nations.’ But you have turned it into a hideout for thieves!”” [Mark 11:17 GNB]

The Temple was an important place in the community. It was the centre of the sacrificial system. In Judaism at this time, there were sacrifices for a variety of reasons, celebration, penitence and festivals.

All religions have rituals, ways to help us relate to God. The problem occurs when the rituals become hollow. For example, each week we pray together the Lord’s Prayer – do we really mean what we say, or do we recite it because that is what we are expected to do?  Something that was meant to bring us closer to God, an example of how to pray, becomes empty when the Lord’s Prayer becomes a set of words rather than a prayer, a hollow ritual.

In the first part of the Gospel reading, Jesus is teaching in the Temple. He warns the crowd about the Scribes, or at least some of the Scribes. Those who make a show of being pious, who expect special treatment.

A bit about widows – in the culture at that time women needed a father or husband or son to own property on their behalf. A woman could not own property. It isn’t that long ago it was very difficult for a women to get a bank loan to buy a house without a male guarantor.  Therefore a widow without a son needed someone to conduct business on her behalf.
The Scribes would do this.
For a fee.  

Widows were generally poor, and a house may be all they have, but the scribes would “take advantage of widows and rob them of their homes”.

The scribes have an important role, they are the ones who copy the Scriptures. The scribes are part of the educated class. The work they do is important. BUT for many it moved into a way of gaining favours, getting preferential treatment, and ‘helping’ the widows out of their property.

Still in the temple and Jesus is watching what is happening. Rich people put in large amounts of money, a widow a very small amount.  This passage has often been interpreted as an example of giving all we have to God, and trusting in God to look after us.

However given the paragraph just before; about the Scribes robbing widows of their homes, and the next paragraph where Jesus foretells the destruction of the Temple, I wonder if this is another example of the way in the Temple system was being abused. The Temple had become abusive and exploited the poor.

The system that was to help people to connect with God, has become a structure of exploitation.  

In the Royal Commission over the past year or more, we have heard stories of people’s lives being destroyed by people in positions of power, in both churches and community groups. I have seen people in the church bullying other church members. What does such behaviour say about us as people of faith?

I admit it is hard to see the good news in a passage like this week’s gospel reading.

We see all too clearly the self-interest and arrogance of those who are benefiting from the system.  But we also see the faithfulness of the widow, the one who is being exploited. Even though the Temple system is taking food out of her mouth, she gives all she has, trusting that those in need will be fed.

Being religious, going to church, being on church committees, talking on a leadership role, saying long prayers and leading worship, do not a Christian make.

What in our lives marks us out as people of faith?

Our long prayers?
Our welcome?
Our generosity?

In what ways do we contribute to structural inequality?

What in our lives marks us out as people of faith? 

Do I have to love me ???

The Hebrew Bible has lots of rules to follow, there is the ten commandments, but also many rules in the Old Testament that cover what to plant, and what and when to sacrifice, and tithing and numerous other rules. Rabbis were often asked to interpret these rules.

Rules help us,
when we follow the road rules,

we all drive on the same side of the road,
we know to stop at a red light,
we know to slow down in school zones.

What happens when we don’t follow the road rules? We can get fined and maybe lose our licence, but not following the rules means we are more likely to be involved in a  collision, to hurt ourselves or other people. Rules are there so we can share the road with other traffic and people, and stay safe.

In the same way, rules in the Bible are a framework for living together, not something to tie us in knots.

The Scribe asks Jesus what is the most important of the rules; and he responds:

“The most important one is this: ‘Listen, Israel! The Lord our God is the only Lord. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second most important commandment is this: ‘Love your neighbour as you love yourself.’ There is no other commandment more important than these two.” [Good News version]

He doesn’t speak of tithing, or sexuality, or what clothes to wear, or how to worship, or what structure the church should follow. Jesus speaks about loving God and loving neighbour.

Relationship and community.

Being able to quote these two commandments is one thing, but what might it look like for us to live them out?

The greatest commandment - Loving God with all out heart, soul, mind and strength. What might loving God look like? The scribe agrees with Jesus’ answer, and continues on that these two commandments are more important than burnt offerings and sacrifice - remember this was a time when ritual and sacrifice was considered very important, more important than how you treated people.

This is a reminder that loving God is not shown in burnt offerings, or these days we might say in an abundance of good works or giving to charity or pious living. We are called to love God with all that we are, with our whole being, mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. ‘Listen O Israel, the Lord our God is the only Lord’ – not Caesar, not money, not our reputation.

What are the factors in our decision making:

about our food
where we live
our work

Loving God with all that we are may not be simple, but loving your neighbour as yourself, doesn’t sound simple either.

I remember early in my time as a Christian being told that I was at the end of the list,

J O Y,

Jesus first,
yourself last and
others in between,
there was even a song about it.

Yet, Jesus is saying that the second most important commandment is loving our neighbour, the person who is in need, in the same way that we love our self.  One person explained this by thinking about it like the oxygen masks on an airplane: the instructions are to ‘“attach your mask first before assisting others.” The point is clear: If I do not take care of myself, I cannot take care of others. If I do not love myself, I cannot love others.’ [Seasons of the Spirit]

Love neighbour as we love ourselves – not as much as, or more than, but in the same way as we love ourselves.

While some people are better at loving themselves than their neighbour, others are very poor at loving self.

We need to love our self, which can be difficult for many of us, because if we don’t love ourselves, how can we love others? This doesn’t mean thinking we are better than others, or that we never get anything wrong, but it does mean recognising and valuing the person that God has made you.

For example, I will generally give people the benefit of the doubt, most people do the best they can given their life situation. BUT I don’t always give myself the same generosity. Sooner or later I get resentful, because I am giving myself a hard time, so I end up getting annoyed with people.

I need to allow myself to be human,

amazing yet imperfect,
chaotic and creative

Loving our neighbour includes living in ways that do not exploit people. In Biblical times this meant leaving grain for people to glean, which you can read more about in the Ruth story;

not oppressing your workers;
not discriminating against the disabled;
not speaking falsely about people.

Loving our neighbours seems to me to be about living in ways that offer life to all people, the fullness of life that Jesus speaks about.  

We love because God first loved us.

If we can’t /don’t love our self, can we really love our neighbour, or are we acting out of duty?

I know some of you are thinking –

but I am not lovable!

If you only knew what I was really like!

If you knew half of what I have done!

Well God knows what you are really like, and God loves you.

Not lovable? God disagrees, God loves you. Even though you can be a horrible, grumpy, rude …… [fill in your own blanks] person, God loves you.

Some years ago at a camp, I received a Placemat that has a picture and the words: God don’t make no junk!

We love because God first loved us

Love God with all that we are

Love ourselves, accept our dignity and humanity.

Love our neighbour, the one in need.

What would need to change for you to love yourself?

What would your life look like?

breaking down barriers

Jesus is leaving Jericho,

we've heard of Jericho before,

when Joshua called down the walls.

Jesus is leaving Jericho,

      on his journey towards Jerusalem.

Jesus is leaving Jericho,

      there is a crowd,

      wanting to hear,

      waiting to see what is going to happen next.

And then amid the noise and the people, comes a voice:

      Son of David, have mercy on me.

The crowd don’t want to hear Bartimaeus crying out,

they want to hear Jesus, the travelling teacher.

They are curious,

they have heard stories about him

they want to see him and hear him for themselves.

Even as the crowd tried to silence him,

still Bartimaeus cried out.

I'm reminded of another story,

where a crowd tried to turn people away from Jesus.

Where the crowd tried to protect Jesus from distractions.

Where the crowd thought they were more important than children.

It is only a few weeks ago, that we heard the story of the mothers bringing children to Jesus so that he could bless them.

And Jesus tells the disciples to let the children come to him.

And he calls for Bartimaeus to be brought to him.

Jesus doesn’t consider the children or the blind or the lame or the hurting to be a distraction.

And I wonder who or what tries to silence us?

[space]

Who or what tries to keep us separated from Jesus?

[space]

Jesus told the crowd to bring Bartimaeus to him.

And then he asks the question that he asked James and John in last week’s reading: what do you want me to do for you?

What do you want me to do for you?

I wonder how we would answer that question if Jesus was standing in front of us this morning asking: what do you want me to do for you?

[space]

James and John wanted the seats on the left and right of Jesus when he comes in glory. They wanted to be near the seat of power, not understanding what that meant.

Bartimaeus is blind, it seems obvious what his answer is going to be.

Being blind was part of his identity, it gave him a place in society.

People who were unable to work would beg, and giving money to beggars was considered a part of religious duty.

We don’t know how long Bartimaeus has been blind, so what will he do if he is no longer able to beg?

Jesus doesn't guess what Bartimaeus needs, he doesn't make the decision for him; he asks and he listens.

What do you want me to do for you?

We don’t know what is happening in other people’s lives, but like Jesus we can ask, listen, and honour the person and their story.

[space]

Jesus is leaving Jericho, on his way to Jerusalem.

Jericho the place where the walls came down.

And in this reading I sense another breaking down of barriers.

What are the walls in our life and our community that separate us from God and from each other?

What holds us back from a closer relationship with Jesus?

What stops us crying out to Jesus: Son of David have mercy on me.

While the story of Joshua and the walls of Jericho tells us the walls came down with a trumpet blast and shouts, the walls and barriers in our life are removed by the love of Jesus. Just as the curtain in the temple was torn in two at the death of Jesus, so the barriers in our lives are dismantled by the life and death and resurrection of Jesus.

Barriers of shame, anger, hurt, oppression, abuse.

Barriers of pride, arrogance, independence.

Jesus is leaving Jericho on the way to Jerusalem, and the walls of hate and fear will come crashing down. The walls that divide us from each other. The walls that separate us from God. The walls we build so that we can pretend.

Being honest with ourselves, and with God, is difficult.

Within each one of us there are things we would rather not notice. There are parts of ourselves that we try and ignore. There are parts of ourselves that we try and hide from others and from God.

I wonder what it would be like if we could be totally honest with God? I wonder what it would be like if we allowed Jesus to break down the barriers that separate us from God and from each other. I wonder what transformation might happen in my life, and in your life, if we answered the question what do you want me to do for you.

Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me.

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? 

inheriting eternal life

Another week, another question.

Three weeks ago, Jesus asked the disciples what they had been arguing about. And we heard how greatness comes from serving.

Last week it was the Pharisees asking Jesus ‘is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?’

When the Pharisees asked Jesus about divorce, they were not interested in the answer, but were wanting to test or trap him. Jesus talked about looking after the least, and the importance of relationships.

This week a man asks Jesus: what must I do to inherit eternal life?

This week, the young man is not setting a trap. This young man has done everything asked of him by society, he has kept the religious laws, he is wealthy, what more could he do.

I sensed a call to ordained ministry in 1986, a long time before I went to college and started the training. There were a number of reasons it took so long, partly it was me thinking I wouldn't be able to cope with being in ministry; but there was also the sense of what more do you want from me God. I was a lay preacher, I was an elder, a member of Presbytery, on regional and state committees, did hospital visiting – really – what more do you want!

But, every so often, the call would come back strongly, and the ordination question would be in my head again. And in the end I knew there was more being asked of me, well not really more, just God was leading me in a different direction.

No matter how successful we look to people, no matter how many rules we obey, no matter how many years we attend worship or cook for cake stalls; there can still be that yearning for a closer relationship with God.

This young man felt that there was something missing in his life, that uneasiness within, looking for something that money can’t buy, something that keeping rules couldn't give him.

I used to like the certainty of rules, I knew at home, and school, that if I kept the rules I wouldn't get into trouble; as an adult what I know is that keeping the rules won’t get me into trouble, but rules are not where life comes from.

The life that the young man was seeking, comes from relationship with God and with God’s creation, not with keeping rules. And when we are in relationship with God, when we follow Gods guidance, keeping the rules – of love, respect for people and property become part of the way we live, rather than for the sake of keeping the rules.

One of the difficulties people have with this reading, is that Jesus says how hard it is for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Now I am guessing if I asked you, most of you would tell me you are not wealthy.  I googled income comparison, and the one site I found that took into account the country you lived in, $50, 000 after tax; that is $1,000 take home each week; puts you in the top 1% world-wide.

The question he asked was: what must I do to inherit eternal life?

Not what must I do to earn, or gain, or buy eternal life; but - what must I do to inherit eternal life?

Jesus is on the road to Jerusalem. He has told the disciples twice now that he will be killed. And the disciples still don’t get that.

What must I do to inherit eternal life? –  

Well ……. any inheritance means someone has died.

And inheritance goes to …..  family.

So the question: what must I do to inherit eternal life?

Maybe is really… how do I become part of Gods family?

Which we hear is almost impossible for the wealthy, but not for God.

Maybe when Jesus tells him to sell his possessions and give them to the poor, he is releasing the man from that which possesses him. What is it that keeps you separated from God and from people? What do you have to offer people who are lonely, poor, treated unjustly?

Earlier I told you the story of the mixed-up chameleon. The chameleon got confused because he wanted to be like other animals, and not a chameleon.  Yet when he was trying to be all the other animals, he couldn't get the food he needed to survive.

Sometimes it is easy to aim to be like other people, wealthy, famous, clever, good looking, a good surfer, …..

It is easy to forget that we are named and claimed by God.

In Baptism we are reminded that we are loved by God, that we are part of Gods family. We are heirs, inheritors, by God’s grace and the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.  

When we respond to Gods invitation, when we inherit eternal life, we are also challenged to seek the welfare of all people, and all of creation.

Where is God inviting you into closer relationship?

What is God challenging you to let go off? 

Embracing the Kingdom

Is it lawful? That is what the Pharisees asked Jesus. Is it lawful?

It sounds like children asking, “Is it really true?” Or “did you really say that?”   Often when we ask those questions, we already know the answer, but are testing the boundaries, seeing if there is any wriggle room. The Pharisees are testing Jesus, they are not really interested in an answer, but in setting a trap.

The thing with the question is the Pharisees weren't really wanting an answer the Pharisees set out to test Jesus, because no matter what answer he gave it would be contentious.

What we call the Old Testament has a number of different sections in. The first five books are ‘Torah’ for Jewish people, it’s like the books of law. The various religious teachers had their own way of interpreting the law and the way it related to everyday life.

So the Pharisees set out to test Jesus, is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?

The people asking this question already knew what the Torah said, that a man is allowed to divorce his wife. But just as today there are people who will argue points of law on points of law, and what various words mean in various contexts, the interpretation of the Law of Moses was quite varied. So even though the Pharisees ask “is it lawful”, they already know what is in the law. The interpretation of this law varied from divorce is only allowed in cases of infidelity, to the other extreme of - if your wife is your dinner or displeases you in some way you can divorce her.

Notice only the man can divorce the woman. In Jesus response, he does say if she divorces her husband, this was permissible in Roman law, but not in Jewish law.

In his response to the question, Jesus talks about marriage and the importance of marriage, but he also says that if a man divorces his wife and marries another woman he commits adultery against his wife. The understanding at this time was that he was dishonouring her family, her father in particular, Jesus accords the woman honour.

Something about marriage: marriage at this time was not a result of courtship, romance, flowers, dancing, movies and meals; marriages were arranged between families, marriage was about property, honour and status. Therefore divorce was quite complicated. Today divorce is also quite complicated, though for different reasons.

What did it mean for a couple to divorce? For the woman, her life is turned upside down. This was a society where women needed to have a male to stand up for them; a father, a husband, a son. When a man divorced his wife, if father or brother was unwilling to take her in “the consequences for the woman were devastating -- familial and public disgrace, potentially severe economic hardship, and limited future prospects for her and her children. So Jesus' words were likely intended not to set up a standard by which to judge and stigmatize but rather to protect women who were so much more vulnerable before the law then men.”  [Love and Marriage Monday, October 01, 2012 David Lose ]

These days our questions are quite different, I can’t remember ever being asked if it’s okay to get divorced and still be a member of the church. I have known people who are divorced and wondered if they would still be welcome in the church.

Questions today seem to revolve around abortion, homosexuality, genetic testing, social media, and robotics. These and many of the issues of modern life are not issues that people raised with Jesus, so we need to look for some guiding principles for the real questions that we ask. And maybe we need to think about why we are asking those questions in the first place.

The second part of his reading we hear again of the disciples not understanding Jesus. Parents are bringing their children to Jesus to be blessed. As I mentioned in the last few weeks, children did not bring honour and held no status in society. The disciples decided that Jesus was too busy, too important, to deal with children.

I wonder how often our priorities are different to the priorities of Jesus.

One article I read this week offers an alternative interpretation of verse 15.  The Good News Bible reads: I assure you that whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” [GNB] this implies that we need to become like children to enter the Kingdom of God. Another way of reading the Greek is “Welcome the kingdom like you would welcome a child.”  [Mark G. Vitalis Hoffman working preacher October 2015]

Welcome the kingdom as you would welcome a child.

Divorce, embracing children, given the culture was so different, what has that to do with 21st century living?

As I look at these stories, I see a picture of Jesus who sides with the powerless, he wanted to protect women, who were not considered much more highly than property; Jesus who blesses the children, when his disciples think he’s too busy, too important, too tired.

In the reading from Hebrews we hear that even though God has spoken in a variety of ways, in Jesus we see the imprint of God, the reflection of God’s glory. I can remember hearing at one stage that Jesus is the best picture we have of God.

Jesus is the best picture we have of God, I wonder what these readings from Mark tell us about where we experience God;

• When we are strong?
• When we are suffering?
• When we are powerless?

The good news is that when society tells us we are not worth anything, when friends or family abandon us, when life seems to be one series of disasters after another, God does not abandon us.

This morning we will share in Communion together, a sign of grace, of God’s love. Today is World Communion Sunday, and some churches are thinking today about how we are all connected with churches right around the world through our faith in Jesus Christ; and through this common meal that we shared together.

As we reflect on the scripture readings I invite you to think about:

• What are the questions you struggle with?
• If Jesus is the best picture we have of God, what do we learn about God?