Getting our hands dirty doing the good news with Jesus

We’re continuing to hear in today’s lessons that we are to be doers of good news, not just speakers about the good news.  Also, we’re continuing to hear about how abundant bread (there were leftovers after the miraculous feeding of thousands, Mark 6:43) is to be shared and how our hands will need to get dirty to participating in the healing work of our Lord.  We’re continuing the theme of things ‘dirty’ being made clean again. 

In this morning’s Epistle reading (James 2:1-10, 11-17) we hear at least three important lessons.

First, the writer of James is insistent that we realize that our tendency toward favoritism, particularly towards those we perceive of as wealthy or of earthly status, is completely contrary to the good news of the kingdom of God.

·        What situations can you think of (out there… as well as right here) in which we all seem to collude in favoring people who have more wealth or status?  Is wealth itself a problem?  What does Jesus calls us to consider with regard to wealth and who we should favor?  So what difference might this make in how we structure our mission and ministries in this congregation?

·         Does God/Christ focus more on the rich or the poor?  What does this suggest?  How does this inform your own discipleship?

Then he reminds us that we will be held to account for our transgressions and by the intent of our actions (e.g., if we show no mercy, no mercy will be shown to us). 

·         What did we hear Jesus telling us in last week’s Gospel lesson about the origins of evil, defiling actions (Mark 7:21-23)

Lastly, he challenges our presumptions about private faith being (without any demonstrative action) being sufficient for salvation.  To the writer of James, good works are naturally integrated with faith in the good news.  To ‘say’ we have faith or to ‘tell’ others to have faith without us also showing/doing what that means, is dead.

·         Who among us has ever said “I’ll pray for you” knowing that we didn’t intend to do anything else to help that person and even aware that we might not actually include them in our earnest prayers?  Who here has offered what others might consider as glib advice about ‘just have faith’ when we didn’t know what else to say?  What prevented us from acting on our words?  What often causes us to only pray and not actually do something tangible to address the needs we perceive?

In our appointed Gospel lesson (Mark 7:24-27) we two stories of healing.

In the first, we’re called to provocatively consider if our Lord has been convinced to change his own mind about something very important (the scope of his mission and ministry).

• What do you find troubling about this interaction between Jesus and the Syrophoenician woman? What do you find comforting or inspiring? (is the woman passing a test, or winning an argument? What difference does that make to you?) Note: she’s not asking for a place at the table, just a breadcrumb (ref: all it takes is a mustard seed) 
• REF: metanoia (what it mean if our Lord has changed his own mind?) 
• Can you remember other examples in the Bible when we’re told that God has a change of mind or heart about something as the result of faithful human persistence and persuasion? (E.g., Exodus 32:11-14, Moses before coming down with commandments convinced God not to destroy the unfaithful people. Or, people of Nineveh in the book of Jonah) What might this mean? Now what difference does this make in your own life? 
• What’s the difference between someone being pushy, arrogant, and presumptuous before God vs. being courageous, determined/persistent, and faithful? What matters about this in how you relate to God and to your neighbor? 
• NOTE: the writer of Mark adds “let the children be fed first” (vs. Matt 15:26) 
• SEE ALSO: Isaiah 49:6, “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” 

In the second, we experience our Lord getting his hands dirty (literally) in order to fulfill the promises of Isaiah (35:5-6) that the eyes of the blind shall be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. 

• SEE ALSO: spittle and mud also used to give sight to the man once blind (Mark 8:22-26)

And, importantly, in both cases of healing, the healings occur before someone has professed faith, confessed, apparently repented, offered a sacrifice or otherwise done ‘the right thing’ to deserve such healings… AND, the persons healed have not approached Jesus on their own – others have intervened on their behalf, bringing needs to the Lord.

• What meaning do you make out of healing (seeking to relief someone of suffering) before asking questions about a person’s faith or state of heart or mind regarding religion? Is this reflected in the mission priorities of this faith community? How?
• What other examples can you remember of people bringing needs to God on behalf of others / people asking Jesus for healing on behalf of others? What does this mean to this faith community here this morning?

So, what?  What are we hearing the Spirit say to God’s people this morning?  What are invited to do differently or better?

[humor] Perhaps at the exchange of peace this morning, we should spit on our palms and lovingly touch each other’s eyes, ears, and lips in Jesus name to open our minds and hearts.

“Lord of the changing, you help us find our voice that we might find our faith: we praise you for the Gentile woman who answered back the Son of God; release us from the crowds which command our silence and free our tongues to demand from you the healing of the earth; through Jesus Christ, the opener of the gate.”

(Shakespeare, Steven. Prayers for An Inclusive Church (NY: Church Publishing, 2009) p.35)      

AMEN