Walking in Love - Costly Love - Not Far from the Kingdom

 Scripture: Ruth 1:1-18 and Psalm 146  • Deuteronomy 6:1-9 and Psalm 119:1-8  • Hebrews 9:11-14  • Mark 12:28-34

This week, Jesus is asked what is the greatest commandment. Jesus answers with the Shema, "Hear O Israel,  you shall love your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength., and the second is you shall love your neighbor as yourself." The questioner then responds that this is more important than all whole bunt offerings and sacrifices. Jesus responds by telling him he is not far from the kingdom. 

Just what does this love entail? Read the passages from Ruth and Hebrews

 And consider Debie Thomas' "Walk in Love."

Seeing a new vision of justice

 Scripture: Job 42:1-6, 10-17 and Psalm 34:1-8, (19-22)  • Jeremiah 31:7-9 and Psalm 126  • Hebrews 7:23-28  • Mark 10:46-52

In the final passages of the Book of Job, Job learns a new kind of justice. A justice not limited to retribution. What moves Job to see a different way of looking at things - to begin life anew after suffering great loss? What is this new way of looking at life after loss or separation? What is this new kind of justice? Consider The Rev. Shelli Williams' "See Life Begin Again." Her article also considers the gospel reading and the reading from Hebrews.

In the gospel lesson, like last week, Jesus asks the blind beggar, Bartimaeus, what he wants Jesus to do for him. What is Bartimaeus' response? What is Jesus' response? What does it take for Bartimaeus to see again?

The writer of Hebrews tells of the difference of Christ, the priest, and the Levitical priests. What is the difference? What is the significance of the permanent priesthood of Christ? What does that mean for us?

Consider the theme of restoration as you think about this lesson.

What's in it for me? And commendable critique as opposed to condemnable critique

 Scripture: Job 38:1-7, (34-41) and Psalm 104:1-9, 24, 35c  • Isaiah 53:4-12 and Psalm 91:9-16  • Hebrews 5:1-10  • Mark 10:35-45

This week The Rev. Amy Richter tells us if we can change the question, we can change our lives. It seems the question of the day is "What's in it for me?" We see it in the sons of Zebedee. We saw it at the tower of Babel. We see it in the world today. And look at the jealousy, angst, and division it causes.

What if we changed the question? That's what Jesus consistently asks us to do. What if the question is what is in for our brothers and sisters, our relationships, even our country and world? What is the question if it is not "What's in it for me?" What will it take to change the question, and our lives together?

Give it some thought. Read The Rev. Richter's "Change the Question, Change Your Life."

In our Lectionary passage from Hebrews, we read that the word of God helps us discern what is good and commendable,  not condemnable. Jesper Svartnik lokens the Greek word κρητικός (kritikos) (from which we get critic, which means to distinguish, to separate) to God and explains how loving critique helps us live with boldness into the good and as God's loving purpose. This should give us pause to reflect on how we criticize, and for what purpose, or reason. Read Svartnik's article in Christian Century here.

Love that provokes

 Scripture: Job 23:1-9, 16-17 and Psalm 22:1-15  • Amos 5:6-7, 10-15 and Psalm 90:12-17  • Hebrews 4:12-16  • Mark 10:17-31

This week we have the parable of the rich young ruler, who asks Jesus what he must do to "inherit" eternal life.  Here is a rich young man who seemingly has it all, but has a sense he lacks that which would fulfill him. Is there something we lack that would fulfill us? What if our situation is that we are alone, or afraid, sick, or financially at risk, in danger, or without a home?

In this life we and our loved ones, will experience many things. Citing a prayer of Thomas Merton,  Debie Thomas, in "What Must I do?" walks us through this account in Mark's gospel. The young man has kept the Commandments. He has done good, and like Merton, recognizes his need. And Jesus loved him. Jesus didn't pat him on the back, so to speak, but in his love, provokes him to give up his possessions and follow him. Then what happens? The love of Jesus recognizes the freedom to walk away. What we lack is our inability to give up that which possesses us, or our possessions. The love of an all powerful God does not need to possess or control us. That love is so deep it would allow us to walk away. What will we do? What must we do to have eternal life, life in true abundance? Life that fulfills and makes us whole.

Pain and suffering - Why?

 

Scripture: Job 1:1, 2:1-10 and Psalm 26  • Genesis 2:18-24 and Psalm 8  • Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12  • Mark 10:2-16

We start a series of studying Job, and the focus this week is the beginning of a discussion of pain and suffering, and questions about why we have pain and suffer; how can a God who loves us allow us to suffer; why are there senseless killings, wars, disease - you name it.

Before the influence of the dichotomy of "light" and "darkness," and black and white beliefs separating good and evil beginning with the influence of Persian religion and the rise of apocalyptic thought and literature, Satan was considered the "Accuser," sort of God's questioning, prosecuting attorney, so to speak, and part of the council of heaven. We see that in the wisdom book of Job.

In this week's blog in his "Adventurous Lectionary," Bruce Epperly discusses Christian and non-Christian perspectives on the questions about pain and suffering, from karma, to God is testing us, God's will, new age linear acts-consequences processes (positive thoughts create positive consequences, negative thoughts, the opposite, e.g., prosperity religion), and a divine suffering with us as a healing, redemptive process.

Dan Clendenin, in "The Book of Job: Certainty, But No Security," says there are lessons to be learned such as not trying to fix our friends who suffer with "pious clichés," despite our good intentions. What then should we do? What can we learn from the Book of Job, from and about suffering?