Readings for Lent
2B:
Gen.22:1-14; Mark 8:31-38
March 16, 2003
The Rev. Karen Siegfriedt
St. Jude the Apostle Episcopal Church, Cupertino,
CA
Jesus said: "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." (Mark 8:31-38)
At the core of the Christian faith is the great commandment: Love God and love your neighbor. The bible contains a compilation of stories, exhortations, and teachings on how to do just this. However, the kind of love that is referred to in the great commandment is not a feeling or a romantic notion of love. Rather, it is the selfless orientation of the heart which motivates a person to respond to the world with acts of compassion, even if it means inconvenience, risk, and sacrifice. A sacrificial lifestyle is one of the pillars of the Christian faith. Like sin, the subject of sacrifice doesn't sell in mainline denominations in America nor does it fill up the pews. But today's readings force us to deal with the subject of sacrifice, commitment, and trust whether we like it or not.
Our first reading is part of an ongoing saga about one of the early patriarchs of the Hebrew faith. It is the story about Abraham and his son Isaac. The context is some 4000 years ago in the land of Canaan; a country whose religious practices included sacrificing firstborn males. This practice was actually prohibited by Jewish law. However, the Hebrew people were influenced by their pagan neighbors and from time to time, engaged in such practices. Today, the thought of a parent sacrificing one's child to the gods is so repugnant, that most modern day readers of this story are unable or unwilling to hear the underlying meaning of the story, even though the sacrifice in today's story never actually happens.* I guess these old stories bring up issues of child abuse and psychiatric disorders for the modern day reader, neither of which is the purpose of the story. So in order to speak to the issue of true discipleship (which involves trust, commitment, and even sacrifice), I will use the gospel as my text.
Instead of telling a long story to make his point (like the Abraham/Isaac story), Jesus just lays it on the line. He tells his disciples that his commitment to bringing forth the kingdom of God will cost him his life. Jesus is aware that his ministry of preaching, teaching, and healing is quite controversial and goes against the grain of the conventional wisdom of the day. But he is committed to his mission, and will not be intimidated by anyone to alter his course even if it means risking his life. He tells his disciples that eventually, he will be rejected, suffer, and die. These are hard words for Peter who has given up his former life to follow Jesus as the messiah who is suppose to save Israel. Naturally, Peter is aghast at this teaching. Who can blame him? Who wants to back a horse that doesn't finish the race and win the prize?
In first century Palestine, there was great anticipation for a messiah who would rescue Israel from Roman oppression. Some envisioned the messiah as a great conqueror, sweeping through the countryside, destroying the enemy's weapons of mass destruction, imposing justice, changing the entire political structure, providing for homeland security, and paving the way for self-rule and prosperity. Like Peter, they could not envision a new world order that comes into being by turning the other cheek, by ministering to the poor, by healing the sick, by sharing one's resources, and by demonstrating acts of compassion to those outside of their tribe. Perhaps, we in America (like Peter) are looking for a similar messiah who can save us from the evil axis out there.
Not only does Jesus talk about is own impending sacrifice, he tells the crowds that if they want to become his disciples, they must deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow him. This is a very difficult saying for most churchgoers, especially those who turn to Christianity as a kind of religious self-help psychology. Too often, popular American evangelism presents the gospel as the solution to all of our problems, the resolution of all conflict, and another technique for making nice people even nicer, and successful people even more successful. Some people turn to the gospel in hopes that it will make them, healthier, wealthier, and wiser. Some turn to the gospel seeking to get their lives fixed, to make life easier. But here we are, this second Sunday of Lent, hearing a somber warning from Jesus that things could get rough for us if we want to walk with him down this narrow path. We can not tame this Jesus over into our image of God. He resists us, patiently though firmly teaches us, determined to have us on his terms rather that acquiesce into our terms. And so we are faced with the issue of accepting risk and sacrifice as part of our religious journey for a greater a good.
Most of us will not be called to be a Martin Luther King Jr., a Ghandi, a Mother Theresa, or an Oscar Romero. These people were in a position to effect large changes in society. They all said "yes" to that opportunity by risking their own lives and by giving themselves completely to the service of God. However as Christians, we are called to say "yes" to justice/kindness/inclusivity/compassion, on a daily basis, even if that means we have to sacrifice our own goals and standard of living.
Tom Ehrich gives the example of a sacrificial orientation in the workplace. In his office where he prepares proposals for major contracts, some employees are givers and some are takers. Some build up, and some tear down. Some listen to colleagues, and some talk over colleagues. Some pay attention to relationships, and some trespass. Some pause to affirm others, and some harvest applause. Some make mistakes yet stop to make amends, while some make mistakes and plow ahead as if nothing happened. Takers and trespassers often seem to get ahead, for in their single-minded devotion to self, they can harness their energies and produce quick results. But they leave destruction in their path. In his office, he had a manager who never paid attention to anyone. The assistant manager nurtured relationships and trained new arrivals. However, the manager who cared only about himself, was the one who got the promotions and the raises. The assistant manager was overlooked.
Following Jesus is more than keeping a bible on one's desk or forming a prayer group at work. Following Jesus means following his example. It means being a Christ-like worker, a Christ-like manager, a colleague who nurtures life and enables others to blossom, even at the risk of not being promoted. When we hear Jesus' call of would-be followers to deny themselves and take up their cross, we need to hear far more than joining a church or volunteering an hour a week at the shelter. We need to hear a fundamental orientation toward life. And orientation where the cost might be martyrdom, but more than likely will mean fewer worldly rewards.
In just a few weeks, our 40-day Lenten journey with Jesus will be over. We shall see where this path finally leads. The cost of faithfulness and commitment will be made painfully apparent for all to see as he is lifted up on a cross. Dare you follow him down that path, even at a distance?
* [It is interesting to note that we are sacrificing our own children by sending them to the front lines to fight our wars in the name of the security and economic gods. We also contribute to that painful reality that 6000 children die each day from starvation due to unjust economic practices.]
| Updated 3/18/03 |
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