We have all kinds of passages about those who are for or against us, whether God is for or against us, and whether we are for or against God, which, unfortunately, as the authors of the scripture and the articles linked in this lesson tells us, can serve to divide us or destroy us unless we are able to find ourselves in the midst of our struggles, differences, trials, sufferings. How do we do that?
I think this week's scripture and lesson tell us how to do that. In discovering "who we are," Jesus finds the disciples defining someone outside their group prophesying in Jesus' name. What does Jesus tell them? What dies Jesus mean when he says, "Whoever is not against us is for us?"
Read The Rev. David Lose's "Who Are You?" and Debie Thomas' "Hosts, Not Bouncers."
Scripture: Proverbs 31:10-31 and Psalm 1 • Wisdom of Solomon 1:16-2:1, 12-22
or Jeremiah 11:18-20
and Psalm 54 • James 3:13 - 4:3, 7-8a • Mark 9:30-37
This week's lectionary presents us with contrasts. Contrasts between toughness and gentleness; envy and selfish ambition contrasted with mercy and sacrifice; disorder, partiality, hypocrisy and wickedness contrasted with peacefulness and purity.
And Jesus tells his disciples that the Son of Man must be put to death, and the first shall be last, and the last shall be first. Then he shows them what he means. He takes a little child in his arms, and tells them that whoever welcomes one such child in his name, welcomes him, and whoever welcomes him, welcomes God.
James tells us to draw near to God, and he will draw near to us. In the midst of the refugee crises of our world, Cari Jackson invites us to welcome, to receive others with gladness or delight, especially in the face of need, and in so doing, to see the face of God in all people. See "Syrian Refugee Crisis: Our Chance to See God."
In "Tough Guys," Todd Edmundson takes us through all of this week's scripture. After reading that, I ask you, who are the real tough guys? Why?
From Jesus' encounter with the Syro-Phoenician woman, who tells him that even dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs, to James' entreaty not to favor the rich over the poor, and his warning that to those who show no mercy, no mercy will be shown, God speaks to us about showing favoritism. Does James simply critique the rich, or simply empathize with the poor? Is there something else going on here? Consider, The Rev. Dr. Trace D. Haythorn's "Standing in the Tragic Gap."
As immigrants flee their war torn countries, hunger, and oppression in all its forms, and the body of a three year old Syrian child, fleeing with his mother from the atrocities of their native land, washes up on the shores of Turkey, what are we as followers of Christ called to do?
Who is deserving of God's grace? Consider this week's article of Bruce Epperly's "The Adventurous Lectionary, Living a Holy Adventure."
Do we have the Spirit of God in us?
