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Isaiah 53:4-12, Hebrews 4:12-16, Mark 10:35-45
St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, West Valley City, UT
The Rev'd W. Lee Shaw
Our passage from the Hebrew Scriptures today is one of the most
beautiful of Biblical writings, the Suffering Servant.
It
outlines with painful poignancy the suffering of the servant for the
sake of God's people. Christians generally read this passage as a
foretelling of the suffering of Christ for the sins of the world.
It is reasonable to see the Passion and Atonement in the poetry
of this passage. However, an equally compelling interpretation
would be the servant as the exiles of Israel in Babylon. They are
taking upon them the sins of the entire nation as they are in exile.
A third, more universal interpretation could be the servant as the
Jewish people, who through their suffering have brought the world
to a sense of regret and repentance, especially after the Holocaust
of WWII.
I will leave it to you to read and be moved by this passage in your own way and in your own interpretation. What I feel is key here, however, is that one passage can have multiple valid interpretations as we read Scripture. The truth revealed in all three of those interpretations is there, depending on how you choose to read it.
Our Gospel reading offers the same type of possibility of multiple interpretations. At our Diocesan Council meeting yesterday, the Bishop used this passage for our own reflections in small groups. My small group, which included the Bishop, had four distinct insights on this passage. All valid all moving and all appropriate.
The passage points to the very human characteristic to be recognized
and rewarded for perceived service and worth. It also points to the
suffering that Jesus will undergo. James and John want assurances of
their reward in glory. Jesus talks of suffering and he assures them
of their own suffering yet to come. But he does not assure them of
a reward of being on his right hand and his left hand. That is not
his to give. As I reflected on this I went to who was on Jesus'
right hand and left hand. It was two thieves at the crucifixion.
For me this opens the passage to a deeper insight into the person
and ministry of Jesus. One of the prayers for mission in Morning
Prayer reads: Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of
love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within
the reach of your saving embrace....
It would seem this saving
embrace is first extended from the cross to the two thieves.
It is that very extension of the love of Christ to all persons that moves me as a follower of Christ. Jesus continually surrounded himself with those who others considered unworthy, unclean and unfit for the Kingdom of God. Many in this room would also be considered to be unworthy, unclean and unfit for the Kingdom of God by some people holding certain rigid theological positions.
What we say in our life and ministry in this place is that all are welcome. Whoever you are, where ever you are in your spiritual journey, you are welcome to come to the Lord's Table. You are welcome not because of who you are&emdash;or are not&emdash;but rather for who God is.
Last December at my Celebration of New Ministry as Rector, we had
a litany which included these petitions: Bring to our house all
those who hurry or hobble behind you, that we may meet you as the
savior of all. Bring to our house your Holy Spirit, that this may
be the cradle of love. With friend, with stranger, with neighbor,
and the well-known ones, be among us tonight, for the doors of our
house we open and the doors of our hearts we leave ajar.
This summarizes my theology of hospitality and welcome at St. Stephen's. All are welcome. The doors of our house we open and the doors of our hearts we leave ajar. All are welcome to join us for prayers, for fellowship, and for the sharing of the bread and wine. All are welcome in God's house, not because of who we are, but for who God is; the God who loves us that we might then love others. The God who serves us that we might then serve others. The God who died for us, that we might then live for others.
As we heard in our epistle, Let us therefore approach the throne
of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace
to help in time of need.
We are called to live with boldness into
the good news of God in Christ. We are called to seek and serve
Christ in all persons, loving our neighbor as ourselves.
As you consider your financial support for St. Stephen's for the coming year, I hope and pray you will do so with boldness. I hope and pray you will do so with a heart open to the tradition of hospitality and graciousness that are marks of this community. So that we can keep the doors of this house open&emdash;and the house heated and lit&emdash;as we keep the doors of our hearts ajar to welcome friends both old and new.
Stewardship is the disciple's response to accepting the Good News of
Christ.
Stewardship is what we do after we say, I believe.
Stewardship begins within you, not within your checkbook.
Stewardship continues in your relationship with one another.
Stewardship is, finally, an act of gratitude for the blessings already
given you by a very gracious and generous God.
I believe this calls us to be gracious and generous in our giving.