WELCOMING CHRIST (37 OF 49)
Scripture: Mark 9:30-37
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Welcoming Christ (37 of 49)
Lectionary, Year B, Proper 20
Christopher B. Harbin
Mark 9:30-37
Growing up, I often heard Brazilians lauding how hospitable they were. I was greeted in Mexico with the same mantra. I have heard it applied by people from Africa about their nations. I have heard it from Middle Eastern and Asian peoples, as well. Most every culture seems to pride itself on its hospitality as though they were the only culture that knows how to welcome a stranger. At the same time, I have seen repeated evidence of something very unlike hospitality from all those same races, nations, and ethnicities. We may talk a big game, but whom do we effectively welcome with open arms? Would Jesus find reflection in those we are most likely to welcome?
Peter had made his confession that Jesus was the Messiah. Jesus then called him down after his refusal to accept Jesus' description of what lay ahead for himself as Messiah. Jesus had been teaching them about Messiah's upcoming death. A week past Peter's confession, the disciples argued about who among them deserved which position of importance in the coming Messianic Reign. When Jesus asked about their discussion, they were ashamed to admit what they had been arguing about. No matter that Jesus had been speaking about his impending death, they were focused on the expectation of a Messianic Reign that denied suffering and cast Rome aside to become its substitute.
The disciples were not in favor of Rome. They would have been among those proclaiming Rome's atrocities and decrying the evils of Roman subjugation. Regardless, they had adopted Rome's standards of strength, force, and violence as their own values. They had allowed themselves to adopt the idea that when Jesus' reign was inaugurated they would live as those who held sway within the current power structures. Instead of Roman officials living in the trappings of power, they would be the ones to do so. They would kick Rome to the curb and step into the v ...
Lectionary, Year B, Proper 20
Christopher B. Harbin
Mark 9:30-37
Growing up, I often heard Brazilians lauding how hospitable they were. I was greeted in Mexico with the same mantra. I have heard it applied by people from Africa about their nations. I have heard it from Middle Eastern and Asian peoples, as well. Most every culture seems to pride itself on its hospitality as though they were the only culture that knows how to welcome a stranger. At the same time, I have seen repeated evidence of something very unlike hospitality from all those same races, nations, and ethnicities. We may talk a big game, but whom do we effectively welcome with open arms? Would Jesus find reflection in those we are most likely to welcome?
Peter had made his confession that Jesus was the Messiah. Jesus then called him down after his refusal to accept Jesus' description of what lay ahead for himself as Messiah. Jesus had been teaching them about Messiah's upcoming death. A week past Peter's confession, the disciples argued about who among them deserved which position of importance in the coming Messianic Reign. When Jesus asked about their discussion, they were ashamed to admit what they had been arguing about. No matter that Jesus had been speaking about his impending death, they were focused on the expectation of a Messianic Reign that denied suffering and cast Rome aside to become its substitute.
The disciples were not in favor of Rome. They would have been among those proclaiming Rome's atrocities and decrying the evils of Roman subjugation. Regardless, they had adopted Rome's standards of strength, force, and violence as their own values. They had allowed themselves to adopt the idea that when Jesus' reign was inaugurated they would live as those who held sway within the current power structures. Instead of Roman officials living in the trappings of power, they would be the ones to do so. They would kick Rome to the curb and step into the v ...
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