Mark 9:30-37
As you heard this story of disciples walking along with
Jesus, remembering what they heard in the beginning of this scene—how Jesus was
going to die and then rise—I wonder… what did you notice first? Well, I noticed
they were full of questions but they were afraid to ask.
They were afraid. Because they were afraid, they didn't ask
their questions. They didn’t talk about their fear, and then suddenly, it’s
coming out sideways. I bet you’ve seen that before. I know I have… we’re upset
about one thing so suddenly we’re arguing about something else. And in this
case, the disciples are arguing about who’s the greatest.
Because they’re afraid, they’ve started thinking there’s
only so much to go around… there are only one or two prime seats right beside
Jesus and they’re fighting one another for the spot… because they’ve forgotten
that with Jesus, there is abundance, more than enough to go around.
Fifty years ago, in 1968 in this congregation, there was a
Centennial Celebration and in the booklet, Pastor Winnie Johnson wrote this
note:
“In all honesty, we
must confess our concern as to whether this congregation will be able to
celebrate another centennial. However… we must not forget the promise and the
purpose of our existence, Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. It is
[Christ] who calls us into new ventures where we cannot see the end; to walk by
faith into paths untrodden and perils unknown. It is Christ who has promise to
guide and support us…”
How wonderful that Pastor Johnson had the
opportunity to see Christ flourish again within his lifetime, continuing
friendships with people of Christ until his death just a few years ago…
But also, we have to acknowledge that the
scarcity story that Pastor Johnson names is a story that has been around this
congregation again and again throughout the 50 years. We’ve wondered again and
again, are we really going to end up with enough this year? Over the years,
there have been many sermons (I’ve been told)… encouraging the people of Christ that this story of “never
quite having enough” doesn’t have to be our story.
Instead of holding on to our fears, worrying about our position, and arguing with one another on the way, Jesus invites the disciples to a way of life that turns all these stories upside down. Jesus looks to a child as the one who will model welcome of the living God. A child, overlooked and undervalued in that time and place (and sometimes in our times and places), will show us the way.
And so all week, my colleagues reflecting on the heart of
this story have been noticing children leading the way—one mentioned the
crossing guards that circle elementary schools all over the cities. They serve
each day, they guide and protect both children and grown-ups.
Another image that comes to mind are our own children,
receiving their Bibles… I’ll never forget Rory last year receiving his and
taking it immediately over to the coloring table and digging right in.
Another favorite image I saw this week was in a short film from
the Campaign to End Loneliness in the UK… I posted it on our Christ Facebook
page, but for those who didn’t see it, it starts with a question. Have we forgotten how to make friends?
Then continues, “To find out, we sent in the experts.” Several children are
sent in to approach people who are sitting alone at café tables. They say “hi”
and then ask them random, nosy questions, leading into this one, “Where are
your friends?” One woman responds, “Well, I’m from Jamaica, so a lot of my
friends are there…” A young man responds, “I’m new in London.” An older man
says this, “Well I’ve had hundreds and thousands of friends. At the moment, I
have a lot of Facebook friends…”
The kids say, “Well, maybe I could have coffee with you.”
“Do you like coffee?” “Yeah.” “Do you? What’s your favorite kind of coffee?”
“Hot chocolate.”
“I think everyone should be friends,” they say.
The grown-ups, while charmed by the kids, continue to think of obstacles. “Well, I couldn’t just go up to someone in here and ask them to play with me, that’s be a bit strange.”
“I think everybody should talk to everybody,” the child persists.
In the end, the kids and grownups exchange hugs and fist bumps, “You’ve really made my day…” one adult says, and a child sums it up, “Making friends is easier than eating chocolate.”
The video ends like this, “Remember when making friends was child’s play? Let’s be more open. Let’s be more together. Let’s be more us.[1]
“I think everyone should be friends,” they say.
The grown-ups, while charmed by the kids, continue to think of obstacles. “Well, I couldn’t just go up to someone in here and ask them to play with me, that’s be a bit strange.”
“I think everybody should talk to everybody,” the child persists.
In the end, the kids and grownups exchange hugs and fist bumps, “You’ve really made my day…” one adult says, and a child sums it up, “Making friends is easier than eating chocolate.”
The video ends like this, “Remember when making friends was child’s play? Let’s be more open. Let’s be more together. Let’s be more us.[1]
Grief and fear want to divide us, but here is what we have
the opportunity to do together. We have the opportunity to follow our children
and dream big. Because of Jesus, we know that scarcity doesn’t have to be our
defining story anymore.
Throughout God’s unfolding story, God bridges every divide… There’s
a welcome table for strangers where God promises the gift of a child and the
gift of mercy for a whole community. There’s manna and quail in the wilderness
for people leaving a slavery mentality behind. There’s a little flour and a cup
of oil that never run out.
Throughout Jesus’ ministry, Jesus broke bread and it multiplied enough to feed not only disciples but thousands. Jesus broke bread on Maundy Thursday, in the middle of his own grief, and dared to believe that even though his own heart was broken that somehow, love would multiply.
Our hearts break… because of personal stories that fill us with grief and fear, because of news that breaks our hearts, but we don’t have to be divided against each other, wondering if there’s really enough to go around, stuck in scarcity stories… instead we’re daring to move forward together holding onto a story of abundance.
Throughout Jesus’ ministry, Jesus broke bread and it multiplied enough to feed not only disciples but thousands. Jesus broke bread on Maundy Thursday, in the middle of his own grief, and dared to believe that even though his own heart was broken that somehow, love would multiply.
Our hearts break… because of personal stories that fill us with grief and fear, because of news that breaks our hearts, but we don’t have to be divided against each other, wondering if there’s really enough to go around, stuck in scarcity stories… instead we’re daring to move forward together holding onto a story of abundance.
Today, we will gather after worship and have an opportunity
to get a first glimpse, a preview of this giving opportunity we’re calling—The
Welcome Table…together, we bear fruit.
In this Capital Campaign, we hope to expand, to multiply our congregation’s ability to give love, to make a difference around tables, to share bread. We hope that we will grow in relationship through this shared gifting.
In this Capital Campaign, we hope to expand, to multiply our congregation’s ability to give love, to make a difference around tables, to share bread. We hope that we will grow in relationship through this shared gifting.
In today’s gospel, Mark is pointing to something important,
something essential, about believing in Jesus. Because God becomes human, the
incarnation, [turns over] every assumption of greatness that we think of as
definitive. Because God becomes human, greatness is not about separation but
solidarity, not about comparison but relationship. Not about self-[promotion] but
empowerment and encouragement of [others]…
Greatness is determined by weakness and vulnerability. By
service and sacrifice. By humility and honor. By truthfulness and faithfulness…
we are called to embody this kind of greatness, so that the world can witness
the true meaning of greatness born out of love.[2]
Can
we imagine together that this is Christ’s call for us now? I wonder… and I hope
we won’t be afraid to ask. But even more, I hope that we won’t be afraid to learn
from Jesus and look to our children. They know the power of friendship around a
table, a Welcome Table… where we’ll share bread, grow in relationship, practice
love.
[1] BMB
Agency Published on May 9, 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rS-mWHNvQbo, Accessed 9-22-2018
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