MARK 9: 30-37 & JAMES 3:13-4.3 & 7-8a
We have these past few weeks followed, in short bursts the letter from James and chapters 7-9 in Mark’s Gospel. And there are hard lessons to take on board of what it is to be a disciple of Christ. As well as teaching that faith alone is insufficient without the actions to support that faith there is a continuing call for humility, patience, kindness, good deeds, generosity of spirit, a truthful heart.
There is a continuing call to imbibe in the word of God; that is to be faithful in prayer and the scriptures. It both warms and encourages the soul.
And, if like me, you get this self-satisfied glow of unending goodness - there follows the stark warning that if we do these things on our own, then our pride will show our shortcomings that will lead to failure. James warns about false pride and envy, boastfulness, and looseness of the tongue.
James challenges us to seek and ask God for wisdom in all that we do; To ask God for the strength and guidance and protection of the Holy Spirit; To ask for humbleness, not reliant on selfish ambition, and to keep us centred in God’s love.
Our Gospel reading speaks of the lessons that Jesus’ disciples still, had not mastered, and still needed to learn, if they were going to be effective heralds of the Good News.
Having left Galilee, Jesus and his disciples are travelling towards Capernaum. As they travel south towards Jerusalem Jesus is speaking of his eventual fate, but the group fail to understand his words. Instead, they start squabbling about who is closest to Jesus and jostle for position and who is the most befitting merit. Rather than listening to the teacher a squabbling power debate ensues amongst the disciples.
Those frailties that James reminds us of as he reflects in his letter are being played out and Jesus is well aware of the unrest.
A new lesson in humility is about to be taught. They and we are to be servants of others. They should be mindful of their brothers and sisters needs, before their own pleasures.
A phrase I heard often when growing up was ‘Children should seen and not heard.’ It was said as a put down by tired adults who preferred to be pampered by their desires rather than attend the needs of little annoying children who will learn from their peers. I loathed the terminology, and thankfully it never featured in either mine or my sister’s childhood. I did witness it though, then, and sadly, we quite often see it today.
In the days of Jesus, children were to be seen but unheard. They carried little importance in the world other than being a trophy.
When Jesus reaches out to a child, He rebukes his followers with the words ‘Whoever welcomes one such child as this welcomes me’. A small insignificant child has pride of place in Jesus’ company. Everyone is important in his kingdom.
When I read these passages, I couldn’t but help recall an image of a small country church.
The church is set in beautifully lush grounds with trees and flower borders around it. At either end of the grounds are two entrances, one serviced by a single-track road that leads to the main town. The other entrance leads across fields to a little village. The church has a graveyard. Over time this has been filled to a point where there is just one grave plot left. Sadly, there had been two deaths in the larger village and two funeral firms had set out to the churchyard for the burial of their clients.
Both funeral directors were aware of the situation and were hurrying to the graveyard to be the first and claim the grave for their client. Both the deceased had been wealthy business-people that had been held in awe within their community. The funeral party’s left their respective houses, one party in a swanky limousine the other in a horse drawn coach hearse and drawn by 4 jet black horses.
The two funeral corteges set off with all dignity and pompous grace. At the edge of the town the head mourners caught sight, each of the other and each hastened their speed to the be first onto the single tracked road. The limousine, naturally edged in front, much to the annoyance of the hearse drawn rider. A little while down the track the limousine blows a tyre and ends up in a ditch.
Can you imagine the irritation of the car driver as the horse drawn hearse overtakes it and speeds on towards the church? Just then two bicyclists approach enroute to the church in their quest to cycle, walk and stride for sponsorship. They are swiftly bundled off their bikes as the coffin is transferred from the limo and placed across the two bikes and the funeral cortege start to hurry towards the church.
Guess what?
The horse drawn coach has hit a pothole and the wheel shank has snapped. The undertakers have unloaded their cargo and are now majestically walking the coffin to church, and gradually pick up speed as they draw closer to the church lychgate. They are now in a flat out race and bolting along at pace. At the lychgate both funeral party’s strive to navigate the narrow entrance, and an unholy fracas breaks out.
Meanwhile, from across the field, a small party of mourners have trekked across the field with a simple casket carrying a loved family member. They’re not wealthy, but gently with love in their hearts carrying their precious loved one. As the sprawling fight rages the grieving family approach the grave, tearfully and prayerfully to lay their beloved family member to rest.
This little anecdote has, I’m sure has been recognised by many of you, as a revamp of a sketch by Dave Allen, one of my favourite comedians, from my early teens. Dave Allen took great delight and skill to craft humour out of the pomposity of people’s perception of what it is to live as a Christian.
Those in the direct firing line were mainly Christians who wore their faith on their sleeve, who observed outward church leadership. Many clergy were offended by his barb, that his humour was blasphemous, that people were making fun of people of faith.
The reality was, that the butt of his humour was directed at clergy who might have felt their position and authority was being challenged. But his humour did cause discussion,and did cause people to consider what really mattered the most. Was it the importance of ritual?
Or
The importance of the people that they were charged to care for?
The moral is clear for all, as Jesus taught the disciples and teaches us today. Be kind. Be gentle, Have humility. Speak with love and respect for all. It is what we are called to show in our lives.
Let us pray,
Lord, restore within me a right spirit to accept everyone as a valuable life in your sight.
Give me a humble heart and a truth faith in you.