 |
 |
||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
The Gospel of Mark Bible Studies
January 2006
February 2006
March 2006
April 2006
May 2006
June 2006
July 2006
August 2006
September 2006
October 2006
November 2006
December 2006
|
The 17th Sunday after Pentecost (B)
[Pr. 21] So what are we to make of today’s gospel text? It is a truly complex passage! As one commentary puts it, we start with demons and a cup of water; and end up with fire, salt, and peace. Along the way, we visit millstone, sea, and hell, and a communion of stumbling, chopped-up saints. So many images, so little time! Which shall we use…or take with a grain of salt?! The image that I would like to most focus upon in my message today might seem to be a rather obscure one, but it is one I believe is very important. Sandy Nypen inadvertently pointed it out to me during our staff meeting devotions this past Tuesday when she asked why two verses (verses 44 and 46) of today’s gospel seemed to be missing from the text. I hadn’t noticed their omission, but sure enough, she was right. So I looked it up and found that those two missing verses are identical with verse 48, which reads: “where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.” In the New Revised Standard Version translation of the Bible that we are using, those two verses are mentioned as a “footnote” instead of being included in the actual text. Be that as it may, I think that this phrase is very important. “Where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched” is a vivid portrayal of what hell is like. The “worm” describes something that might be “eating inside” a person – such as envy, bitterness, or self-condemnation. The “fire” describes that burning pain of never having satisfaction and peace in one’s life. Are these images possibly true of people we know? Are these images possibly true of any of US? At the end of last week’s gospel text, the disciples had been arguing with each other as who was the greatest among them. And now immediately afterwards in the first part of today’s gospel, they are again concerned about their greatness – their status – this time as compared to outsiders. As we heard – John (speaking for all the disciples) said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” Earlier in the ninth chapter of Mark, the disciples couldn’t cast out an evil spirit who was convulsing a boy (Mk. 9:14-29). Now they are perturbed and jealous that an outsider is succeeding where they have failed. They would rather stop someone who shows them up than have the suffering of a possessed person come to an end. They need to realize that doing God’s work is not a competition. Jesus, after telling his disciples NOT to stop the “unauthorized” person from casting out demons, then gets to the root of the problem – their constant concern for prestige and status. He uses the example of a grasping hand by saying: “If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire, (and then the first missing verse – #44) where their worm never dies and the fire is never quenched.” Jesus here seems to be referring to the sin of ENVY at the success of others. ENVY is a condition that “eats and burns inside” of us and keeps us from experiencing God’s love and peace. And we are all prone to this from time to time. It is easy for us to feel upset and even angry when someone else gets recognition and praise that we feel should be rightfully ours. But when such a feeling “eats and burns” inside of us, it destroys the relationships we have with each other – and it also destroys our relationship with God. That certainly was the case with Jesus’ disciples in today’s gospel. Their constant desire for recognition and status and their envy of each other and others was keeping them from experiencing God’s love and peace. Jesus in essence is telling them that they need to get rid of that desire – even if doing that is as painful as cutting off a hand. Otherwise their envy will continue to torment them for as long as they live, and even beyond. “Where their worm never dies and the fire is never quenched.” So it is with us in our lives. I have known some persons who were just like those disciples. They always seemed to be upset about someone who has something that they do not have – or who receives recognition and praise that they do not receive. “It’s not right!” they would say – “It’s not fair!” And perhaps it wasn’t. But when we feel that way, we need to move beyond that. We need to “cut that feeling off”! It is better to suffer unfairness, than to let that feeling obsess and consume us – so that “the worm never dies and the fire is never quenched.” Life in God’s kingdom is worth much more than having status or receiving recognition. May we understand this – and live by that understanding! Jesus next goes on to say: “And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell (and then the second missing verse – #46) where their worm never dies and the fire is never quenched.” Perhaps Jesus here is referring to the sin of BITTERNESS about what others have done or may do to us. This condition, like that of envy, poisons our relationships with each other. One example of this condition that I have often seen is when members of a family fight over an inheritance. One person is suspicious that his brother or sister will inherit his parents’ estate or the family farm, while he or she will be left out in the cold. Or perhaps that person is mad because that has already happened. And they brood upon it and obsess about it – it eats and burns inside of them. “Their worm never dies and the fire is never quenched.” Other persons seem to keep lists of every hurtful word, or action, or perceived slight that someone may have ever done to them. Or perhaps they are upset because someone has NOT done something they think should be done for them. But instead of getting past their feelings of anger and bitterness, they obsess about them. They are unable to forgive. And as long as they feel that way, they will never experience God’s peace in their lives. But nothing here on earth is worth the destruction of friendships and relationships. No earthly possessions are worth the loss of our souls – of our peace with God and with one another. It may be better to lose money or property (to “cut it off!”) than to continue in that feeling of never-ending bitterness and anger – “where the worm never dies and the fire is never quenched.” May WE be willing to move beyond bitterness that we might have towards anyone who has ever wronged us. May we be willing to forgive them – even when this is hard and painful to do. For then, and then only, will we be able to experience God’s peace and love in our lives. In our gospel, Jesus goes on to say a third time: “And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.” Perhaps Jesus in this third saying about the eye (the “I”!!) is referring to the condition of obsessively blaming ourselves for our own sins and failures. Sorrow and repentance is certainly a good thing when we have done wrong – but THEN we need to accept God’s forgiveness and move on. But some people are unwilling to accept that forgiveness. They keep wallowing in their sins and failures – so that “their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.” The fact is that most people – including most of us – have done things in our lives that we deeply regret. I certainly have. I know that during my life I have sometimes failed in major ways that have brought hurt to myself and many others as well. But because of God’s forgiveness and grace, we do not have to dwell upon those times. We do not have to let them define who and what we are today. I do not have to let them destroy my hope for the future. I have heard it said that, “forgiveness means giving up the hope for a better past.” We cannot undo what we have done and experienced in the past, but we CAN – with God’s help, tear out the eye (that is, focusing upon the “I”) and let God’s forgiveness renew us and transform us! Despite our past sins and failures, God can make us into new people who can experience the blessings of the present and who can look forward with hope to the future! And despite our past sins and failures, God can also use us to BE blessings for people of the present and in the future as well. I know that this has certainly been true for me in my life, and I hope that it will be for you as well! As Jesus says: “If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off…if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off…if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out… It is better for you to enter life – the kingdom of God – with one hand, foot, or eye… than to have two hands, feet, or eyes and to be thrown into hell, where their worm never dies and the fire is never quenched.” With God’s help, may we daily struggle to “cut off” those conditions of envy, bitterness, and focusing upon past sins and failures – those conditions that cause us and others so much pain. And may we know that as we do, God will give us the “salt” of his love and peace that we need to “kill and quench the evil worm and fire” that is hurting us in our lives. Through Jesus Christ, God offers us new life – life that will “season” us and others and the whole world in a wonderful way! May this be so for us – starting today, and always. In Jesus’ name. Amen! -------------------- George R. Karres, Pella Lutheran Church 418 W. Main Street Sidney, MT 59270
|
||||
