Reading
for Proper 19B: Mark 8:27-38
September 17, 2006
The Rev. Karen Siegfriedt
St. Jude the Apostle Episcopal Church, Cupertino,
CA
Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” [Mark 8]
Who do you say that Jesus is? This is a question that all Christians must answer, whether consciously or unconsciously. It is a very important question to address because our answer determines how we actually understand and live out our Christian faith. If we were to take a poll of this congregation, I am sure that there would be many different answers. Some would view Jesus simply as a prophet and healer, one of many within the prophetic religious tradition. These folks would admire Jesus’ life, quote some of his best lines, and even listen to the gospel on Sundays. But when it came to a full blown commitment, these folks would probably not place him at the center of their decision making process, nor would they see the value in doing so. Others might view Jesus as a superhuman being, a god, having come down from heaven to affect miracles and to set humanity straight. In times of great suffering, they would turn to Jesus, praying for relief, disappointed if their prayers are not answered. They would turn to him for results rather than for the strength or the insight to endure or improve the hardships of the human condition. Some view Jesus as representing a spiritual principle, a spirit of kindness and peace which can be accessed through meditation and the reading of spiritual books. These folks particularly like Christmas and Easter, when the music is grand and the spirit of God seems to have triumphed. The apostle Peter understood Jesus as the messiah, the anointed one, the Christ. For Peter, Jesus was anointed by God; set aside to lead the people of Israel into triumph, fully reaping the benefits of being the chosen people of God.
Today’s gospel however, spells out very clearly, just how Jesus understood his identity as the anointed one of God. It was one of servanthood, not success. Let’s take a closer look. After Peter declares that Jesus is the anointed one, the messiah, Jesus goes onto to explain what kind of messiah he would be. His earthly ministry would not end with worldly success or the restoration of political independence for the people of Israel. Instead, he would go through an ordeal of suffering, be tried and found guilty by the Jewish religious hierarchy, and then killed. After three days, he would rise up again. He said this simply and clearly so that the disciples would not misunderstand. But Peter did not like Jesus’ explanation and protested. He and Jesus had very different ideas on what it means to be anointed by God. When the argument settled down, Jesus called the crowd together and began to teach them what it means to be his disciple.
He said: “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You are not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I will show you how. Self-help is not help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to saving yourself, your true self.” What good would it do to get everything you want and lose yourself, the real you? Why would you ever trade your soul for temporary pleasures or goals that are fleeting? [Interpretation from The Message.]
Today we are going to witness the baptism of Mateo Austin. After reading today’s gospel, I wonder whether his parents and godparents want to change their minds. Who in their right mind would offer their child to God? Who would give a child to a God who models the cross? Who would want their child to forsake worldly success for the sake of the gospel? Who would encourage their child to lead a life of self-sacrifice and generous giving at the cost of a comfortable and easy lifestyle? Baptism is the most serious decision a parent will make on behalf of a child.
To be a faithful follower of Christ, the anointed one, means to be a servant of God. It demands a commitment to justice and the dignity of every human being. It demands a commitment to solidarity with marginalized people, personal integrity, fierce honesty, and a life of spreading the good news in Christ even at the cost of one’s own well being. To baptize one’s child creates a tension: a tension between the values of secular society and the values of the kingdom of God.
So what does it mean that the cross is at the center of our lives? Does it mean suffering for the sake of suffering? I don’t think so. Jesus spent much of his ministry healing the sick, lifting their burdens. Does it mean being doomed to a life of poverty? I don’t think so. Jesus spent much of his ministry caring for the poor, blessing them, and chastising those who stood by with wealth but refused to share it with those in need. Placing the cross at the center of our lives means that we respond to suffering, trying to transform the plight of the poor, the sick, and the marginalized. It means that we make a commitment to stand up for justice and peace, spreading the good news in Christ by word and example. This will often require self-sacrifice, generous giving, risk taking, and undoubtedly suffering. It should not surprise us when we are rejected, fired, or scorned, for the cross does mean sacrifice.
Time magazine recently reported a movement within some branches of American Christianity where the God of prosperity is being preached. (See 9/18/06) These folks believe that God wants all of us to be rich, meaning lots of money, big houses, fine cars. It is a very tempting heresy that many of us have embraced in some respects. Prosperity gospel folks have used the passage of Scripture from the gospel of John [Jn. 10:10] to justify their position: Jesus said: “I came that they might have life and might have it abundantly.” The question of course is, what exactly is abundant life? Is it mass consumerism and narcissism? I don’t think so. While God does want us to have an abundant life, that life may or may not include a middle class lifestyle. In God’s kingdom, abundant life means experiencing a life of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. What more could a person ever want in the long run?
In a few minutes we are going to mark Mateo Austin as Christ’s own forever. We are baptizing him into a life of servant ministry where the first shall be last and the last shall be first. Whether or not he takes that marking seriously, has a lot to do with his parents and this community of faith. We are making a vow to him, that we will support him in his life in Christ. So how do we do that? Here are a few suggestions.
One of the reasons the birth mother chose Rick and Chris Austin to be the adoptive parents of Mateo was because they promised to bring him up in the Christian faith. Why would they make this commitment to offer a child to a God who models the cross? Why would they want their child to forsake worldly success for the sake of the gospel? They did so because they have hope; hope in God’s grace and love to transform humanity. In baptism, we place our hope in God’s grace and love. Mateo’s baptism will give us hope for a different future; a new world order where love overcomes fear and peace overcomes hostility. Without this hope, the human heart would break.
| Updated 9/17/06 |
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