Reading Mark Together (Lent 2)

Note: Plymouth UCC in Fort Collins, CO is reading through the Gospel according to Mark together for a Lenten devotional practice. Week 1 reflections can be found here. There—you’re all caught up! :)

The Gospel according to Mark

Chapters 4 & 5

In this week’s selections, Jesus talks about the purpose of parables a couple times. And in between he offers parables about “The kingdom of God is like….”

In last month’s Plymouth Placard (newsletter) the Confirmation class youth interpreted the Kin-dom/Shalom/Realm of God for today, through their own experiences (aside: I still cannot faithfully say “Kingdom.” If we really do believe in inclusive/expansive God-language, then we must also say “Queendom”—which is so awkward for me that I’d rather give up both words completely). And after Hal’s thought-provoking sermon about “Getting to the Message,” as Mark does with Jesus’ ministry of the Good News of the Kingdom of God, Rev. Mark Lee and I began playing with alternative images.

Because that’s exactly what “kingdom” is: it’s an image that Jesus used to describe the indescribable about God’s hopes for the world. And he chose it intentionally to counteract the predominant culture or greatest signifier of life in his moment in time: the Roman Empire.

So what if that’s not the dominating image of our time? What if government is not what rules our minds and hearts the way Caesar’s rule overtook the day-to-day thoughts of 1^st century Israel?

What image might Jesus use in 21^st century, middle-class, U.S. America to grab our attention for change and possibility?

         The Vision of God on earth is like…

                  The Wholeness of God on earth is like…

                           The Attainment/Achievement of God on earth is like…

Even though Jesus talks about the parables as intentional mystery, I believe that he names his use of the parables to the disciples so they might understand (and hopefully pass along to future generations of disciples—that is: us) that the descriptors he used are just images.

Images to capture our imagination and help explain the unexplainable:

the Queendom of God, the Fulfillment of God’s hopes on earth, the Family of Oneness.

Images that will enliven us to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly.

Images that will inspire us to love God, others and ourselves with our whole beings.

Images that will call us beyond ourselves,

and into God's own vision for life on earth,

as it is in heaven.

Prayer for Today (Wilderness & Wild Beasts)

Wilderness and wild beasts

sometimes seem to surround us,

O Spirit.

Yet you are present,

like angels,

ministering through

our temptations,

our confusions,

our sicknesses.

Wilderness and wild beasts

seem to beset our world

as we listen

for news this week

from Syria,

and Egypt,

and Afghanistan—

how can we best pray

for those so far away?

Still we do,

knowing your presence

is there,

even as it settles

on our spirits here.

Wilderness and wild beasts

sometimes seek us

in our own, quieter lives,

Holy One.

And so we pray for

ourselves

and loved ones

in the midst

of desert experiences.

Feed us.

Keep us.

Heal us.

And send us out

again to serve

your world

even through

the wilderness

and wild beasts.

Reading Mark Together—Dynamic Faith (Lent 1)

Reading Mark Together—Dynamic Faith

Two notes: Plymouth UCC in Fort Collins, CO is in the 2^nd year of its 3-year emphasis on our mission statement (that is, we’re in the transformation stage that we’re calling dynamic faith); and we’re reading through the Gospel according to Mark together for a Lenten devotional practice. There—you’re all caught up! J

Reading scripture itself can be a transformative experience. In his book, Things Hidden: Scripture as Spirituality, Richard Rohr claims, “This marvelous anthology of books and letters called the Bible is all for the sake of astonishment! It’s for divine transformation (theosis), not intellectual or ‘small-self’ coziness….The biblical revelation invites us into a genuinely new experience….The trouble is that we have made the Bible into a bunch of ideas—about which we can be right or wrong—rather than an invitation to a new set of eyes.”

Yes! The “dynamic” or full-of-life and ever-moving aspect of our faith is in our seeing with a new set of eyes. It’s in our willingness to change and grow ever toward God and the understanding of how we’re called to live in this life—and scripture can enable that, depending on how we read it.

So, Mark!

He dives right in. And yet there are nuances. Three tidbits caught my attention in this first week’s reading (chapters 1-3).

~~~

Sometimes I like to follow a “character” and see where s/he takes me in the story. I note his/her appearances in particular to see if there is anything new (to me) I might learn about Jesus’ earthly ministry. Simon intrigued me today.

With his brother Andrew, Simon was the first follower Jesus called (1:16) and the first of 12 apostles that Mark names (3:16). Simon is the one that Jesus will eventually re-name Peter, and it is his house (and Andrew’s) that Jesus first visits.

Here’s where the fun of reading between the lines begins. The text reveals that Simon’s mother-in-law is sick. Which indicates Simon is married! (Not a big deal, right? But we don’t ever talk about the disciples’ home lives. Yet, they had home lives, like we do). And this fact makes me curious about possible side stories.

I wonder what his wife thought when Simon “left his nets” to follow Jesus? Or when “the whole city was gathered” around her door to be healed? We could go with the typical cranky wife drama. Or we might consider her awe and hopefulness sparked when Jesus heals her mama. Was she, then one of the many unnamed disciples who followed Jesus? There are many biblical instances alluding to such people.

I’ll be looking for mentions of Simon-Peter and unnamed disciples throughout the remainder of Mark and wonder about this hidden character each time. Perhaps another person has intrigued you as you read, and you might do the same as we continue reading.

~~~

Another part of the reading I note but won’t elaborate on. In verse 38 of chapter 1 Jesus clearly states his ministry as he understands it: “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so I may proclaim the message there also; for that is wheat I came out to do.”

How does this mission flow through the rest of Mark’s writing?

~~~

Finally, I am caught pondering the passage in which the scribes accuse Jesus of being on Satan’s team: “by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons” (3:22). Jesus’ response is this: “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand” (3:24-25).

What might this say about the divided Christian household, i.e.: denominations and church splits and progressive vs. conservative, etc.? What might it say about the hoped for Kingdom (Shalom) of God on earth?

Prayer for Eagles' Wings

You lift us up to the heights, Holy One.

       On wings like eagles you enable us to

       soar with the possibilities

       of revolution, of transformation

              both within our own souls

              and within this world which needs so much care.

And yet it is not the bright skies

where we most often live.

       We are here with our feet on the ground—

       your feet planted firmly beside us

       as we try to walk without fainting:

              walk through the shadows of

              death and ill-health and addiction;

              walk through life changes:

              moves, births, aging, loss.

       We need your strength to not grow weary

              as we continue to hope for new life

              amidst old attitudes and injuries.

       We long to run and not grow faint

              as we challenge demeaning political tirades

              that seep into our own daily encounters;

              and as we work for your compassion and wholeness

              for all people, and all creatures, and the very earth.

Lift us up to the heights, Holy One,

       so we may again catch a glimpse

       of the vast possibilities

       of your Shalom

              even as we pray for it here on earth

              by saying: Our Creator…