Mark 9:30-37 Sept. 20, 2015 St. Andrew
Is this your first time to Valencia Hall? If so please raise your hand. Now raise your hand if you have been here as part of Founder’s Day in the past. Now raise your hand if you worshipped in Valencia Hall back in the 60’s with Dr. Thomas and the chartering and faithful crew. I have heard some wonderful stories about those early years. First and foremost is what a wonderful organizing pastor Rev. Dr. Thomas was, complimented by his dear wife Jane. He was outgoing and gregarious, inviting all sorts of people to become part of this new and exciting church. He preached intellectual sermons and has been described as a man’s man which I think bodes very well for attracting the men of the young families. Thomas Lounge is named in honor of their faithful dedication.
Valencia Hall of course was not situated here when the congregation first met, rather on a steep slope which kept all the young moms on their toes chasing the many children running around. The Gruneys and Glaums and Cheneys would all want to get here first to start the big wood burning stove to heat up this charming chapel. The reward was getting a seat close to the fire. (We think our sanctuary gets cold in the winter.) The group might have needed more heat because there was an opening on one end of the building, to let fresh air in, but the mesh came down and one Sunday an owl decided to take up residence in the rafters…
Fifty years ago St. Andrew started worshipping in this building, with a long and rich history to share. Every faith community has both a unique story and is part of the larger story of God and Christ with the faithful. God freeing the Israelites from the Pharaoh, guiding the people to the promised land, the ups and downs of the prophets proclaiming God’s word, and ultimately the arrival of the Messiah. Our Psalm lesson is the first of the 150 psalms telling the twists and turns of this story; the joys and sorrows, the rewards and pitfalls. Starting with “Happy are those” it has the feel of a beatitude prescribing what will be, and it sets the tone for all that follows. We all want a happy history; we all want the happy ending. It is true that those who follow God, and meditate on his ways, will have a much better life in that God will be with them no matter what comes. This black and white thinking that the righteous are happy and the wicked shall perish does not always hold true. Hardships come. The sudden passing of Rev. Thomas, the untimely passing of his wife Jane, or even a beloved pastor leaving after just 18 month reminds us that things happen in life beyond the binary choice of righteous and wicked. I am sure there were times in your own life when you were somewhere in between. That is where history is made, when we discover who we are in Christ and the meaning of our life. Did you forgive that betrayal? Did you focus on others’ happiness? Yet the truth remains that when we delight in the Lord, see the world as God would have us see it, celebrate his claim on our life, greater happiness is ours.
In our Gospel lesson, Jesus tells the disciples for a second time what will happen to Christ as the Messiah. Jesus tells them the Son of Man is to be betrayed, killed and will rise again. The disciples do not understand. How could they? How could they see Jesus’ death as part of God’s plan? Not yet and surely not now. The part that rings true for me is, “They were too afraid to ask him.” Hasn’t that happened in your life, something is coming and taking it to God would certainly be the best choice, but we were too afraid, didn’t want to turn it over, really did not want the answer. Avoiding the hard questions because we are afraid, is not true discipleship and is not what God wants. God wants us to offer everything up in prayer and trust the outcome.
Christ was telling them he must suffer and die to bring them to new life, bigger issues than you or I will ever have. Yet at some level the disciples knew Jesus speaking of his death had ramification for them. They were starting to see Christ as their Messiah and so they wanted to know how to be a disciple. Of course their egos got the better of them and they wanted to know who would be the greatest. They were struggling with surrendering to Christ, just like we get to do when we come to faith. No longer is the question, “Who will be the greatest?” rather, “How will I be a disciple?” In the past 50 years many people have come to faith in Jesus, have asked the hard questions of surrendering their life to Christ. So this is a perfect time to hear Jesus’ words on how to be a disciple.
If we come like the disciples worried about our status and privilege we have missed the point. Jesus will not answer the question, who is the greatest? Rather he gives two examples of true discipleship. You are asked to be a servant, one who serves. Not the high servant, but the servant of all, the one who gets fed last, who is at everyone’s disposal. Jesus is making the point discipleship is not about us, but about the other, those less fortunate, those who suffer. We all know that when we get outside of ourselves and help others, serve as Christ asks, we find a greater sense of self and a greater sense of faith. Bringing in items for the hygiene kits for the homeless, sponsoring walkers to create clean water, calling someone you miss seeing at church – servants of service.
Then Jesus does something touching. Taking a child in his arms, the most vulnerable of the community, the one without social standing or economic worth, Jesus says to be like him. Jesus asks us to welcome him, like we are welcoming Christ or God. Discipleship is about receiving the least of these, the vulnerable and weak. It is not about arguing about who is the greatest, or worrying about our status.
Our happiest history is created when we surrender to Christ and become his disciples; as giving as a servant and as humble as a child. Amen.
