Scripture
Mark 9:42-50
42“If any of you put a
stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it
would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck
and you were thrown into the sea. 43If 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. 45And
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. 47And
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, 48where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched. 49‘For everyone will be salted with fire. 50Salt
is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it?
Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.’” (NRSV)
Devotion
Today's scripture reading is one of those passages that can make us cringe. The disciples have been arguing about who is the greatest among them. This jockeying for position among the disciples is an unfortunately common occurrence in Mark, and Jesus has had enough of it. He responds by reminding them that to follow him means to become a servant of all. Then, he goes on to describe a good servant of all as someone who builds other followers up instead of tearing them down or putting obstacles in their way.
Verses 42-49 go one step further by saying what the disciples should do with the things that get in the way of their attempts to be servants of all. Jesus uses vivid imagery as he encourage the disciples to cut off and tear out anything that causes them to stumble in their witness to the Good News. There have been people down through the ages who have taken Jesus quite literally. But we don't have to remove body parts in order to follow this teaching.
Jesus's point is that we need to remove the things that get in the way of our call to Christian love and service...even if those things feel like a integral part of who we are. If something causes us to look scornfully at others or set ourselves in competition with them, we need to get rid of it. If our affiliations, privileges, or actions hurt or subjugate people, then they need to go. Removing these things from our life may be painful, but the judgement Christ's followers will face for withholding the Good News of the Gospel from people will be much worse.
If Jesus's words cause us to shift uncomfortably in our seats, then good--because that is the point. Like the disciples, we all have biases, affiliations, and practices that cause us to stumble in our efforts to follow Christ. We have personal issues like a strong dislike for someone or an obsession with winning. There are also biases and assumptions built into our political, social, and religious systems--things like systemic racism, classism, sexism, and homophobia. We are so used to the way things are, we may have difficulty noticing some of these "isms" at work. It's even harder to admit that certain structures have given us an unfair advantage over others...especially when we have struggled to overcome our own obstacles. Digging out the things that privilege us while acting as stumbling blocks for others can feel painful...even downright impossible. This painful work, though, is exactly what Christ calls us to do if we are to truly be servants of all.
So how do we tear out the personal proclivities and systemic injustices that cause us to stumble in sharing the Good News of God's love, mercy, and justice with the world? We can start by searching ways we harm others or benefit from an unfair advantage we have over someone else. This work might mean reading or watching some things that makes us uncomfortable...even defensive. We will need to hold our tongues and quiet our minds as we listen to people who do not share our perspectives or backgrounds. As we try to put ourselves in another person's shoes, we will undoubtedly face some uncomfortable truths about both the world around us and our own unacknowledged biases and privileges. Then, when we have identified that things that are keeping us from being the servants Christ calls us to be, we can surrender them to God. After we acknowledge our sinful biases and mistakes and repent of them, we can work with others to right what is wrong.
Personal experience has taught me that that such life-altering work can leave us feeling rather maimed. At the same time, such painful work is a necessary part of our faith journey. Jesus explained that the consequences of putting off that work are much worse than the discomfort of serving others and learning to be at peace with one another. Our discomfort helps transform us into people who remove the various stumbling blocks that we and our society have put in front of Christ's little ones. With time, effort, and prayer, we can become true servants of all.
This day, let us commit to doing the hard work that it takes to be true servants of the risen Christ. Let us talk the talk, walk the walk, and repent of all the things that cause ourselves or others to stumble along the way. Together, we can help build up the Kin-dom of God. The work may be painful, but it is definitely worth the reward. With God's grace and Christ at work within us through the Holy Spirit, we are up to the challenge.
Prayer
Today's prayer is Hillsong UNITED's "I Surrender" May it help us surrender all our sinful ways and make room for Christ into our hearts.
Down on my knees again
Surrendering all
Surrendering all
Lord as You draw me near
Desperate for You
Desperate for You
As mercy and grace unfold
I hunger and thirst
I hunger and thirst
I know You hear my cry
Speak to me now
Speak to me now
I surrender
I wanna know You more
I wanna know You more
Jesus breathe within
Lord have Your way
Lord have Your way in me
Stir within my soul
Lord have Your way
Lord have Your way in me
I surrender
I wanna know You more
I wanna know You more
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