2 Samuel 7:1-14a; Ephesians 2:11-22; Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 Ordinary 16B; Proper 11 God is on the move. Jesus is traveling by sea and land. The Holy Spirit blows where it wills. Once you were aliens and strangers, now you are incorporated into the covenant community. The divine doesn’t hunker down and doesn’t allow us to remain sedentary, either. Like those timers that buzz on your Fitbit or iPhone or computer (you know, the ones that remind you to get up and move), God seems to prod us, refusing to let us get too comfortable where we are. The king may be settled, but God tells Nathan, “I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt.” It is almost like God gets the word to King David: “Do you really think I have time to settle down and relax?! Have you looked around lately? There is work to be done! Furthermore, do you remember where you came from and where I’ve been with you? Why would you think I’d want to retire to temple when I … [Read more...]

2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19; Mark 6:14-29 Ordinary 15B; Proper 10 For a Gospel into that whole brevity thing, Mark devotes a lot of space to the account of John the Baptist’s death. There is no birth narrative in Mark. Mark begins with (wait for it…) John the Baptist. Jesus’ baptism and temptation are allotted five verses total. The account of Jesus’ rejection in Mark’s Gospel leaves out copious details found in Luke. We don’t even get the story of the resurrection in Mark’s compact recording of the life and death of Jesus. And yet, the writer of Mark gives a 16-verse rendering of John the Baptist’s beheading by Herod. What’s so important to Mark in this gruesome story in which there are no good actors, save the one whose head ends up on a platter? I don’t think this is a mere morality tale about power and its abuse, although that’s in there. Nor do I think Mark relishes the horror for horror’s sake, although the writer of the Gospel does not spare the disturbing details. … [Read more...]

Mark 6:1-13 Ordinary 14B; Proper 9 Jesus’ instructions to his disciples in Mark’s Gospel remind me of a packing list for camp. Campers should bring: flashlight, sunscreen, bug spray, toothbrush, rain poncho, flip flops, tennis shoes, swimsuit, enough shorts and T-shirts for a week, towels, toiletries. Be sure to pack a jacket or sweatshirt, as it may get cold in the evenings. What to leave at home: cell phone, electronics, pocket knives, money. Items to be sure to bring and those to be sure to leave indicate the nature of the activities and the kind of community that will define camp. Practicality wins the day, with comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing that allows the wearer to move freely without worrying about getting dirty. Cell phones, computers and the like are prohibited: too distracting. Campers must be able to focus on the tasks and people at hand. Money isn’t necessary, serving as a hindrance to keep track of rather than a means to acquire goods. Everything that … [Read more...]

Mark 3:20-35 Ordinary 10B; Proper 5 Jesus has it coming at him from all sides. And we’re only in the third chapter of Mark. Not only are the religious elites saying he is possessed by Satan, his own family thinks he is out of his mind. I wonder what the just appointed 12 think of this scene. The crowd is so boisterous, big and needy that eating in Jesus’ own home isn’t an option. Jesus’ family seeks to restrain him. The scribes say Jesus is ruled by the ruler of the demons. Jesus then calls “them” and spoke to “them” in parables. Who, exactly, is “them”? The 12? Jesus’ family? The scribes? The crowds? All of “them”? Regardless, he launches into a lecture about Satan and a house divided and tying up the strong man when breaking into a house. Oh, and then that bit about all sins being forgivable except for blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (whatever that means). But wait, there’s more! Jesus then is told his family is outside asking for him, to which he replies: “Here are … [Read more...]

1 Samuel 3:1-10; 2 Corinthians 4:5-12; Mark 2:23-3:6 Ordinary 9B; Proper 4 Reading the texts appointed for this week brings to mind that oft quoted verse from Joshua 24:14-15: “Choose this day whom you will serve.” Or perhaps Deuteronomy 30:15-20: “I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life.” Mark’s account of the Pharisees and the man with the withered hand is a parable of these dichotomies of life and death, an example of what it looks like to serve the Triune God or instead worship an idol. The epistle lesson from 2 Corinthians give us a metaphor for accepting life in Christ in the face of a death dealing world. This is a Sunday to ask ourselves: Whom do you choose to serve? Which side are you on: life or death? Good or evil? And, subsequently, how do your actions and attitudes reflect your choice? The Pharisees in Mark are on the lookout for ways to ensnare Jesus, to catch him breaking the religious rules, to trap and destroy him. The … [Read more...]