What changes have there been over the past year. We have had a number of lockdowns where …we have looked to get fit, enjoyed too much food perhaps, found some new hobbies…well perhaps not. What choices have we made? It could have been as simple as Control Alt Delete.
I remember I started on my personal journey of ministry there was a phrase that I heard often : “change is constant“…what? Changes are occurring all of the time, but often we don’t spot the change as it has developed so slowly.
Name Changes
When I was young, I was always known as Robert. Eventually that became Rob but Robert was used when I was in trouble. As I went to work, in the Royal Air Force, I was known as Bob.
I used it as it gave a separation between work and home. If someone rang up asking for Bob I knew it was work, whereas Mandy and family would refer to me as Rob…or Robert… So my name was changed, but did it mean a real change in me, did my behaviour change or my inherent character? I hope not. I hope that I was more consistent, and people could see the real me, regardless of the name they used. I regard this was a translational change, just a name change. What choices have we made?
In the Hebrew Scriptures today (Genesis 17: 1-16) we would have heard of Abram and Sarai’s names being changed to Abraham and Sarah. It highlighted a moment in their lives when God spoke to them, and they had to make that choice to realise those aspirations.
Must…Should…Could…?
From Mandy, my wife’s thoughts
As we reflect on our lives and the choices we’ve made, I’m reminded of how I lived for over 50 years, the way my Mum wanted me to. It was only when I began working for a mental health charity 2 years ago that I realised the things I thought I must do were not vital to my life. I could live in freedom, not worry any more about what others would say about me. I could take on a new role in a community, link with other people and walk alongside them in an environment that we could all flourish in. You see, I learnt to stop saying I must, I should, I could do this or that.
I began to realise that I had a choice. I could live life to the full and encourage others through workshops to do the same. With this, I could enjoy life wholly with God, listening and reflecting on his word as I went. Now I was free to be myself, take on new roles, learn new hobbies, meet and chat with new people. Once I stopped limiting myself with should do, must do, could do, I was free to be me. What choices have we made?
Now, as I lead services I use new ways of worship that involve the hobbies that I love. Please imagine some coral, I have some from the Circuit Knit & Knatter group which meets each week. The fronds on that coral reach out to others in their community.
Who will we reach out to today?
Mark 8 : Take up Thy Cross?
In our reading of the Gospel of Mark, over the past few months, we have seen that the disciples, chosen by Jesus, haven’t been their sharpest, they struggle to grasp the underlying message of Jesus. When Jesus heals someone, they are told not to tell anyone. What? Why keep this secret, why not tell the world?
Recall that healers were quite common in the land, the NHS at the point of need – as we acknowledge now – just wasn’t there then. Was Jesus just one of those healers, amazing but one of many? [More on healers such as Asklepious here] No, Jesus had a different objective: to bring about God’s kin_dom, to show that God’s power was far greater than anything here on Earth, far greater than the Roman Empire. Jesus wasn’t a political Messiah, one whom would overthrow the Roman Empire, Jesus was there to heal the world.
Violence is good, yes?
In our passage of Mark 8:31-38 today, Jesus is aware that his end was to die a gruesome death on the Cross. His followers were all for striking first, cutting off the ear in the Garden of Gethsemane is one example. Peter is reminded, in the strongest manner, that he is focused upon human things not on the divine. It can all too easy to think of what is expected, our human response, rather than to stop, pause, and consider what God might desire of us. In fact our lives today are governed by such perspectives. For example, have you see a Tom and Jerry scene, where Tom strikes Jerry with say a hammer, whereupon later Jerry returns and strikes Tom with a hammer, and all is well.
Hold it, so hitting another with a hammer if it is Tom is wrong, but it’s ok if Jerry does it? Many films portray the goodie as one who is initially hurt by violence, but then exacts revenge through similar violence. It’s getting even. And that is our choice every day. What choices have we made?
Do we want to get even, or go with God?
Choices for Jesus?
And Jesus is asking us to take up your Cross, not a physical cross as is so easily and readily portrayed, but one that is so difficult to carry in society, then and now. It is one which Jesus clearly demonstrated. To be crucified, and for God not to seek revenge upon the Romans, for Jesus not to strike them there and then.
For Jesus to die on that cross was a choice of the Romans.
God’s choice was to show us what was needed. To show others that God’s kin_dom isn’t one of violence or revenge, or to be a doormat, but one of being in relationship with God – the essence throughout the Gospel of Mark.
It is not redemptive violence but restorative community – living life in all its abundance.
Our choice is whether to trust that God is with us. As Abram and Sarai could trust in God in that future they could never even imagine. That Jesus would so show that love is far greater a power than anything the Earth could deliver. What a response. And what’s ours? What choices have we made?