This blog provides a meditation on the Revised Common Lectionary along with a headline from world news:

SUMO WRESTLING FIX SCANDAL

Galatians 6:11-18

11 See what large letters I make when I am writing in my own hand! 12It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that try to compel you to be circumcised—only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13Even the circumcised do not themselves obey the law, but they want you to be circumcised so that they may boast about your flesh. 14May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything; but a new creation is everything! 16As for those who will follow this rule—peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

Girl from Christian family attacked: the marks of Jesus

17 From now on, let no one make trouble for me; for I carry the marks of Jesus branded on my body.

18 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.

In Paul’s belief the cross of Jesus marks the values of the world and his own selfish desires as negligible. This is not just talk: in his life he proved that he was free of worldly values and that he counted his personal needs as disposable, for the sake of his calling. He feels justified in “boasting” of this so that his readers may know he’s genuine. Over against those who want people to mark their bodies by circumcision, Paul sets the marks on his own body, the weals and wounds gained in the service of Christ. Wrestling fans in Japan want to think that Sumo wrestling is a real contest. Paul asks his readers to see that his contest with evil is real while circumcision is just a religious game.

Mark 9:30-41

30 They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it; 31for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, ‘The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.’ 32But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.

33 Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, ‘What were you arguing about on the way?’ 34But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. 35He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, ‘Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.’ 36Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, 37‘Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.’

38 John said to him, ‘Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.’ 39But Jesus said, ‘Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterwards to speak evil of me. 40Whoever is not against us is for us. 41For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.

6 feet above contradiction

The classical temptation of religion is to characterise God as the most powerful. The Egyptian pharaohs were considered divine because of their power. Those who come close to such a God feel that they have gained power and status, which often leads to power struggles amongst believers. In the face of such mistaken thinking by his disciples Jesus re-defines God: Through his son, God identifies himself with the least powerful, with the child. This is no play-acting. Jesus emptied himself of power and prestige and was on the cross wholly identified with the least important. This is one of the most important stories in the Gospel. It’s hard to reconcile it with the continued power-dressing and power-seeking of Jesus’ 21^st century ministers, priests and popes.

Another temptation of religion is sectarianism: we only have the right way, anyone different is damned. John tries that on Jesus and gets a quick slap-down. We are to cooperate and appreciate the goodness of others, as God does. Oh, if only the churches would listen to Jesus!