“Love in Action Is What Matters”
by Bruce J. Johnson
(Mark
There have been times in my life during which I have struggled to see things clearly, to keep things straight and to do the right thing. How about you? Do you have periods of time like that?
As
we read through these middle chapters of the Gospel according to Mark, the
disciples seem to be experiencing such a time in their lives. One story after
another depicts the disciples as a band of merry men who are struggling to see
things clearly, to understand what Jesus is not only teaching them but is
requiring of them. Last Sunday, after discussing among themselves who might be
the greatest among them, Jesus tells them that they must focus their lives and
love on the needs of those who might be least.
Then
no sooner had he finished telling that youngster that she could go home, John
pipes up saying:
“Teacher, we saw a man casting out demons in your
name, and we forbade him because he was not following us.”
Of course, this isn’t a statement without a history. Indeed, earlier in the same chapter, Mark tells the story of Jesus coming among a great crowd of people and asking about what they were discussing. And they tell him. What they were discussing was a particular failure of the disciples. There was this father who had a son who had been possessed by a demon since childhood. He first brought the boy to the disciples pleading, begging them to cast that demon out of the boy but they were unable to do it. So, when Jesus arrives, the dad runs up to him and tells him his sad story, appeals to his pity and Jesus heals the boy…. And the story ends with that wonderful line, somewhat confusing but still wonderful:
“And when Jesus had entered the house, his disciples
asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” And he said to them, “This
kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”
You can almost here the disciple’s response---- OH!!!!! And then the whispers among themselves--- How were we to know that?
So
when they saw this guy do what they couldn’t do, their pride was hurt. The
exorcism that the disciples had been unable to do is done by an anonymous
exorcist who invokes the name of Jesus as the source of power behind the deed.
Instead of celebrating the healing and the potentially new partnership with
this healer, however, the disciples react negatively. In an effort to justify
their rebuke of the man, they say to Jesus, “He was not following us.” Note
that last word carefully. It is not ‘you’ as in he was not following Jesus, but
‘us.’ He is not one of the twelve, not one of the inner circle.
Can
we see what’s really going on here? It is the old “us and them” issue and we
can be sure that Jesus isn’t going to let it pass unchallenged and uncorrected!
Interestingly,
this passage comes up on a weekend that is really important for our Jewish
brothers and sisters. It is called Rosh Hashanah--- the Jewish New Year, the
start of Ten Days of Repentance that ends with Yom Kippur. In yesterday’s
Hartford Courant there was somewhat of an amazing article about what some
synagogues do in observing the High Holy Day Services--- sometimes selling
seats for as much as $150. The headline for the article, though, was “Synagogue
Offers Free Holiday Seats.” (HC, p. B7)
But
the main theme for the season is simply this:
“Search your deeds, take stock of your soul, remember God and change
what needs to be changed.”
I
enjoyed reading an op-ed piece the other day about how this is such a challenge
these days. Listen to this observation by Peter Steinfels:
“Most religious traditions have their penitential
seasons and regular occasions, when the faithful are enjoined to ‘search your
deeds.’ But taking stock of one’s soul, regularly and systematically, is not
exactly encouraged by a culture that makes, “I’m learning not to be hard on
myself” a guiding principle.” (NYTimes,
It seems to me that Jesus is always challenging the disciples to search their thoughts and attitudes and deeds. Today’s lesson is but another case in point. Jesus is essential saying: “Look at what you have done and why you did it! There is no ‘us’ and ‘them’ and the proof is in the deed this man did!”
As
much as we know that this is true, I think that we continue to struggle with
both the attitude and the behavior. And sometimes it shows up in how we
function as the body of Christ that is made up of so many different
denominations--- many of whom are so distrustful of, if not hostile toward one
another.
I’ve
always liked that story that goes as follows:
“Once there was an ecumenical crusade that was being
held in a large city. Every imaginable denomination was in attendance for this
unprecedented spiritual event. During one very well attended event a secretary
suddenly rushed in shouting, “The building is on fire! The building is on
fire!” At which point:
The Methodists gathers in
the corner and prayed.
The Baptists cried, “Where
is the water?”
The Quakers quietly praised
God for the blessings that fire brings.
The Lutherans posted a notice
on the door declaring that the fire was evil.
The Roman Catholics passed a
plate to cover the damage.
The Congregationalists
shouted, “Every man for himself.”
The Fundamentalist
proclaimed, “It’s the vengeance of God.”
The Episcopalians formed a
procession and marched out.
The Christian Scientists
concluded that there was no fire.
The Presbyterians appointed
a chairperson to appoint a committee to look into the matter and make a written
report.
And the secretary grabbed a
fire extinguisher and put the fire out.
It is amazing the multitude of different groups there are, all calling themselves Christian. And each one, of course, feels it has a corner on the truth or deserves special favor and privilege, even if it is at the expense of others. But Jesus is always pushing us to ‘search our deeds, take stock of our souls, remember God and change what needs to be changed.”
In
yesterday’s New York Times there was this really wonderful account of what
evangelical Christians are doing in
(from
“Mention the words ‘evangelical missionary’ and many
Americans conjure up an image of redneck zealots forcing starving children to
be baptized before they get a few crusts of bread.”
In reality, the wave of activity abroad by US
evangelicals is one of the most important—and welcome--- trends in foreign
relations. I disagree strongly with most evangelical Christians, theologically
and politically. But I tip my hat to them abroad.
In a house beside filthy garbage dump here in
“We didn’t have any money to pay for a taxi to go to
the hospital, Ms. Angeline recalled, noting that her family’s savings at any
moment are typically worth about 10 cents…
Fortunately, at that moment Katrin Blackert , a 23
year old volunteer for Iris Ministries, an American mission, dropped by as part
of her regular visits to children living at the dump. Miss Blackert rushed Ms.
Angeline to the hospital, paid the bill for the emergency Caesarian out of her
own pocket (O.K. it was only $4), and saved the life of both mother and baby.
The help was extended solely on the basis of need,
for Ms. Angeline doesn’t attend church. Moreover, Ms. Angeline is living in new
home built by Catholic missionaries to replace her old thatch hut--- not
because she’s a Catholic, but because she is needy.”
(NYTimes,
Sound familiar? I think that Jesus said something just like that when he talked about those who give that “cup of water to drink!”
On
Friday I received my most recent copy of Habitat World and the very first
article was titled: “We Were Strangers… Then We Were One.”
“For the past two decades, during one magical week
each year. A microcosm materializes as thousands of people gather to achieve a
common goal: to build houses with people in need during Habitat for Humanity’s
annual Jimmy Carter Work project.
Often representing nearly a quarter of the globe’s
nations, volunteers
unite despite differences of culture, language,
race, creed or doctrine. In those five days, they become one, eager to
contribute with their hands and to give of their hearts.
It’s ‘love in action’ at its best.”
(Habitat World, October/November, p. 2.)
That’s what Jesus was always trying to show and teach--- “love in action’ at its best--- transcending our differences and divisions--- that old “us and them” issue through acts of love, and kindness and generosity.
Let
us go and do likewise. (And, by the way,
Ms. Angeline named her daughter Katrin!)
Amen