Take a moment to center yourself in prayer:
Eternal One, whose thoughts and ways are not ours,
you alone are God, awesome, holy, and most high.
School us in the ways of faith and wisdom,
that we, like Job,
may learn to truly see and hear,
and in seeing and hearing may find find blessing. Amen.
Our gospel this week includes the story of Jesus and the children. Take a moment to consider the artist`s depiction of the scene.This painting "JESUS MAFA" is a response to the Gospel reading by a Christian community in Cameroon, Africa.
This weeks readings are Job 1:1, 2:1-10 • Psalm 26 or Psalm 8 • Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12 • Mark 10:2-16
Job 1:1, 2:1-10:
The book of Job is about suffering. It seeks to answer the question: why does God allow the faithful to suffer? Or, as Rabbi Harold Kushner asks in his book “When bad things happen to good people.”, which is a reflection on the Book of Job, "why do bad things happen to those who have done nothing to deserve it? Why do the innocent suffer?"
The first two chapters of Job tell the story of a man called Job. In this story (which may be extremely ancient), a very righteous man is tested: is he as godly as he seems? Or is his faithfulness to God only an appearance, a result of his having lived a very blessed life?
“Job” is a foreigner; he lives in “Uz”, south-east of Palestine. As such, he is drawn to God by faith, not ethnic origin. He is “blameless” (perfect in integrity, consistent in character) and “upright”. He has a right relationship with God. He shows God reverence and obedience. He deliberately and consistently chooses to do good. But worthy as he is, Satan suggests to God that his faith be tested. Satan contends that Job’s faithfulness will fade away if his blessings are taken from him.
• Satan, in the book of Job, isn't a creature of hell, but part of the heavenly council, "the devil's advocate" in a way. He is the “Tester”. How does this differ from our typical conception of Satan?
• "He will curse you to your face." Satan is trying to figure out what will push Job to curse God. What would make you curse God? Falling short of curses, how mad have you ever gotten at God? Is it okay to get angry with God?
• "In all this Job did not sin with his lips." Job does not curse God when bad things start to happen to him. Of course, we're only on chapter two. But, still, sometimes people can handle a remarkable amount of pain and still remain hopeful. Do you know people who “have the patience of Job”, who keep going and keep positive in spite of numerous challenges and hardships? How do you think people do this? Where does their strength come from?
Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12
The letter to the Hebrews is addressed to the Christian community in Jerusalem. Its first audience lived in the shadow of Jerusalem’s Temple. The letter uses language and images that were familiar to Jerusalem Jews who worshipped in the Temple with its High Priest and its animal sacrifices. Basing his argument on the Old Testament, the author argues for the superiority of Christ to the prophets, angels and Moses. Christ offers a superior priesthood, and his sacrifice is much more significant than that of Levite priests. Jesus is the "heavenly" High Priest, making the true sacrifice for the sins of the people, but he is also of the same flesh and blood as those he makes holy.
• Our passage from Hebrews talks of Jesus as the reflection of God's glory. We are made in the image of God. Are we not also reflections of God's glory, if we let ourselves be? This is what it means to be created in God's image, isn't it? Have you ever caught a glimpse of God in another person? Do you think you have reflected God’s glory and love to another?
• Quoting Psalm 8 the writer records:"What are human beings that you are mindful of them, or mortals, that you care for them?” In this grand and great universe, God cares for you. Jesus said that God numbers the hairs on our heads, meaning that God cares for each person in an intimate way. How does that make you feel?
• We are brothers and sisters with Christ, children of the same Parent. How intimate is that? We are called many things in the modern world: “consumers”, “citizens “and things less pleasant. Sometimes we are made to feel nameless and insignificant. What difference does it make that you are a “child of God”? What difference doe it make that others a re also children of God, your sisters and brothers?
• With that intimacy comes responsibility; we are part of God's family so we have to help wash the dishes…What responsibilities do you have as a member of God’s household?
Mark 10:2-16:
This reading has two sections. The first is concerned with divorce and the second is concerned with welcoming children.
The Pharisees were divided ...” While all Pharisees in Jesus day would agree that divorce was legal, the school of Shammai permitted it only if the wife were guilty of unchastity or gross immodesty, while the school of Hillel held that a man might divorce his wife even if she spoiled the food. Jewish marriage was not a contract between equals: a woman was given in marriage, she did not marry. Further, while a wife could not divorce her husband, she could go before the court and force him to divorce her if he engaged in certain occupations (such as tanning), had certain diseases, took vows to her detriment, or forced her to take such vows. Furthermore, the rabbis bitterly condemned indiscriminate divorce, even if it was legal.
In that women in Jesus day were seen to be little more than property that could be exchanged and discarded with ease, Jesus call to faithfulness in marriage can be seen as call for women to be honored and not devalued.
The Pharisees’ question may have been designed to bring Jesus into conflict with the much-divorced Herod family.
"Some Pharisees came, and to test [Jesus] they asked… “These teachings from Jesus are hard for modern-day congregations to hear, because so many have experienced the pain of divorce themselves, or in their families. When preaching on these texts, it is important to be clear that Jesus is not saying that people belong in abusive, harmful relationships at all costs. (Surely Jesus would condemn the violence and not condemn the victim!)
• What are your reflections and thoughts on the teachings of Jesus around divorce?
Then Jesus welcomes children. What does it mean to welcome a child? This is the third week in a row that the gospel lesson mentions children and the importance of welcoming them to really understand the kingdom. The repeated emphasis tells us Jesus thinks this is REALLY important.
In the writings of Jesus day, children are portrayed as examples of unreasonable behavior or as objects to be trained, but here with Jesus they are persons who enjoy a relationship with Jesus and they are part of the Kingdom of God.
• The world might discard women in divorce or ignore children, but Jesus sees value in these… Who are those in our time who are devalued or avoided? Who would Jesus have us welcome today?
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