What Kind of Love is This?

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 we leave the Book of Job, and take up the Book of Ruth. Naomi, Ruth's mother in law, who had settled in Moab with her husband, returns to her homeland after her husband and sons die, leaving her with only her daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah. Though she instructs the two women to return to their parents’ homes, in the face of an uncertain future without prospects of another husband, or other children, almost certain poverty and lack of security, Ruth insists on staying with Naomi and returning with her to Israel. 

In Ruth 1:16 and 17, we have one of the most beautiful expressions of love, loyalty and devotion in any book, scripture or language - often quoted at weddings: "Where you go, I will go; Where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die-- there will I be buried. May the LORD do thus and so to me, and more as well, if even death parts me from you!"

In the Gospel account, Jesus answers the scribe's question about the first commandment by reciting the Shema from Deuteronomy and a like commandment from Leviticus - sometimes referred to as the Golden Rule":"The first is, 'Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."

And so we ask, what kind of love is this? What are the characteristics, and even more so, what are the ways of this love? Ruth is willing to share Naomi's desperate poverty and uncertain future, at a time when prosperity and happiness seem a distant memory for them both. 

Gary Charles says: "In a world and a church that are both deeply, lamentably 'polarized,' we can learn some important lessons from this foreigner, this outsider, this lowly widow, about reaching beyond our own protective walls and opening ourselves to unexpected and new life. 

Dale Andrews says: "We can join Ruth and Naomi on the road, during a difficult economic time ourselves, and offer the gift of ourselves in return for the many gifts God has given us." We can also give of our material goods to sustain our church and its mission.

June Jordan writes; "For the kind of love Ruth  showed Naomi, is 'a love that takes you to its bosom and that saves your life.' No wonder, then, that Ruth's name means "Beloved." And part of the message of the great commandments, the greatest love which ever lived, is that we are deemed worthy - beloved - of God, that Christ gave himself for us, a loving and perfect sacrifice for the whole world, that we might be saved, redeemed and made whole in communion with God and our neighbor. In all of this is relationship with God, and with God's help, each other.

Our readings this week are John van de Laar's article in Sacredise, and The Rev. Suzanna Metz' "Daring to Ask Questions."

Restoration and Reformation.

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

This week's themes are "restoration" and "reformation." Job is restored to his good fortune. The Psalmist rejoices for the great things the Lord has done in salvation and redemption of his people. Jeremiah celebrates his prophesy of the return of the remnant of Israel. The author of Hebrews tells us of the high priest who lives forever and makes saving intercession for us in the sacrifice of himself for us, once and for all. Jesus restores the sight of the blind beggar, Bartimaeus, which means "son of Honor." 

When did God restore Job's good fortune? What does Jesus teach us in Mark's account of the restoring of sight to Bartimaeus? See "Coming Home with Shouts of Joy," by Ragan Sutterfield of the Ekklesia Project..

For Lutherans, and other churches in the Reformed tradition, this Sunday is reformation Sunday. What is it to be reformed? In restoration, or reformation, how are we called to act if God promises to restore us by his grace - if we have nothing to lose, so to speak? What is the relationship of failure and restoration? How does that reform us in the process? See "Bartimaeus, Luther,and the Failed Reformation" by David Lose.

What is the difference between retributive justice and restorative justice? What are we called to do by the redemptive sacrifice of Jesus who make intercession for us? See Jon Van de Laar's article in Sacredise.

What is the Good News in the Suffering of Christ?

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 lectionary year we concentrated on the gospel of Mark. The author seems to be in a hurry to tell us of the good news of Jesus Christ. We have seen great miracles, acts of faith, teachings, feedings and healings. We have also experienced the bewilderment of disciples, Pharisees, and fellow Jews as Jesus would turn our lives and expectations upside down. To be first, we must be last and servant of all. To enter the kingdom of heaven we must be as trusting and open as a powerless little child.To gain eternal life we must lose our lives and give up our possessions and control. And this week, Jesus tells James and John that to sit next to him in the kingdom of heaven, they must drink from his cup, and be baptized with his baptism. In other words suffer with him, as he suffers with and for us. Good news? See what Dianne Bergant tells us about "The Point of Suffering," and why Bishop Will Willimon tells us this is "Good News." 

The Rich Young Ruler - True Worth without Possession(s)

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

Jesus is teaching about what we must do to enter, be in and bring about God's kingdom, here and now. The first are to be last and servant of all. We are to be as little children - open and trusting in God's grace. This week Jesus encounters the rich young ruler, who asked what he must do to inherit eternal life. He has kept all the commandments, followed all the rules. By all accounts he is a good man. Yet he leaves Jesus disappointed. Why? He lacked just one thing. What was that?

Does God have something against the rich? Job was wealthy and stripped of all his possessions. Possessions. Why does Jesus say "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." What is true worth? What would we find out about ourselves if we gave up possessiveness? What is it to be possessed? What do we possess? What, or who possesses us? Remember what Jesus said about stumbling blocks and millstones. Look for the love and help Jesus offers us in this lesson.

In "How wealthy was the Rich Young Ruler really?" The Rev. Terry Parsons tells about true worth  without possession(s). You have to read his story about the monkey.  The Rev. Dr. Wiley Stephens in "Sticker Shock for the Soul" explores possessions, being possessed and , giving up possessions and being possessed. Will we be like the rich young ruler and miss the opportunity of a lifetime? 
 

"Jesus, the law and divorce"

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

After the feeding of the 5,000, we have seen the Pharisees, the disciples and crowds following him have trouble with understanding Jesus and his message. The disciples have different ideas, at times, about the kingdom of God. They have even speculated on who would be first in the kingdom. We have seen how Jesus has turned that around, much like the word for repentance, μετανοια - a change of mindset. The first shall be last and the servant of all. Jesus made his point in last week’s lesson by telling them it would be better to have a millstone tied around your neck and be thrown into the sea than to be a stumbling block to one his little ones.

This week, Jesus again draws children to himself and tells the disciples that unless one receives the kingdom of God like a little child, one will never enter it.

Both last week and this week, Jesus uses strong words for anyone who would stand in the way of another entering into God’s kingdom. This week he teaches about divorce. What do we learn about Jesus, his kingdom and ourselves in this teaching?  See “We Can't Really Live Alone” by Dianne Bergant.

The lesson this week even says Jesus was indignant. Why so? See The Rev, Charles Hoffacker’s “A run through the thorns.”