Sunday Homily, October 21, 2012, 29th Ordianry Time B
Readings:
Isaiah 53, 10-11, The Lord was pleased to crush him in infirmity.
Psalm 33, Lord, Let you mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
Hebrews 4, 14-16, Let us confidently approach the throne of grace.
Mark 10, 35-45, Whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant.
Isaiah:
A review:
Authors: at least 3 because there are 3 distinct parts to Isaiah the book.
Time of Composition: near the end of the Babylonian Captivity, i.e., ca. 550 BCE.
Subject Matter: warnings about impending doom because of the badness of the people in part 1 up to chapter 39. The remaining two parts are called the Book of Consolation, letting the people know that a more peaceful & prosperous time is coming.
Today’s Selection: (read all of chapter 53), Isaiah II, 4 observations—
A. This chapter in 2 Isaiah is not included as one of the 4 Suffering Servant Songs, though it presents the same theme.
B. The he, the servant that is talked about is
–for the Hebrews, the Jewish nation/people;
–for Christians, Christ.
C. False Belief number 1? The Jews thought Yahweh demanded suffering or sacrifice of valuable items ( e.g., sacrificial lamb, scape goat ) as payment for badness.
D. False Belief number 2? The Jews & Christians believed that an original great sin had been committed by our ancestors & that sin could only be paid for by a human-divine hero, Jesus. He had to be sacrificed to this god. Or as the first line of our official reading says, “The lord was pleased to crush him with infirmity.”
Do you think God crushes people with infirmity? Was there really an original sin? Contemporary theology says no.
If I don’t want to be 1st, do I have to be a slave?
I want to talk today about being first and being a slave, or if I don’t want to be first, do I have to be a slave? A story.
You all know that Rosemary & I love to ride our bikes around White Rock Lake. We go south on the White Rock Creek Trail from Royal Lane, then circle the lake clockwise with stops at the north bridge and the boat house at the south end, near the dam. About 20 miles.
Homeward bound from the boat house we use West Lawther Drive, a beautiful little lane running between the lake and gorgeous mansions. Lots of bikers use this road and walkers and runners use the path meandering along closer to the lake.
There can be mini, spur of the moment competitions on this road heading north.
One day I come down the hill near the boat house and see ahead of me about 3 bikers. That sight can give me motivation and adrenaline. “I am going to take those people.” And so I do, two of them.
The third guy, a young black man, I pull up behind him. After hesitating a bit because he was moving pretty good, I pass him too. And I kick on the gas expecting to leave him behind.
About a mile later I look in my little helmet mirror to see if I can still see him way back there. Where is he? Right on my rear wheel. I am stunned. So 2-3 times more I go all out thinking I will get some distance. Never. He stays with me all the way under the Northwest Highway Bridge, where Rosemary had her accident, and all the way up the Creek trail to Royal Lane.
As I prepare to turn off to the parking lot, I signal him to come along, and I thank him for an excellent ride. He laughed and agreed. We parted. I have never seen him again.
Anybody not want to be first once in a while? Be best in something? Absolutely normal. Look at sports, academics, appearance. Despite having long ago accepted the fact that I am not first in anything, and that is okay, even at 72 I find the competitive passion kicking in occasionally.
So does that mean I have to be a slave or servant? Very tricky statement psychologically.
3 Observations:
- It is normal and okay to want to be first. Certainly kids without much experience in life have the desire.
- When Mark says “servant” and “slave,” do you see Mark’s hyperbole, his exaggeration, and his use of infinite demand? This is his literary tool to make a point. Which does not mean we dismiss it straight off.
- Here is where I have seen the danger. A person who is religiously obsessed poorly trained, spiritually & psychologically insecure, or scrupulous, this poor person can take the servant idea literally. The motto, “Always better to give than to receive.” No way.
I have known & worked with people in this situation. The person cannot allow anyone to do anything for them. For that matter, I have some of that stuff. I don’t always like to be on the receiving end. Giving and serving can be quite satisfying.
Maturity does two things. It helps me to accept myself as I am. It also challenges me to make a difference in our world.
How do you handle not being number one? How do you make a difference?