Opening sentence. Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers; but their delight is in the law of the Lord. Psalm 1:1-2
Collect. God and Father of all, you have willed that the last should be first, and you have made a little child the measure of your kingdom. Give us that wisdom which is from above, that we may welcome the word of your Son and understand that, in your sight, the greatest of all is the one who serves. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Reading. James 3:13 to 4:3, 7-8a. James in this short reading begins by contrasting two types of wisdom. The first is human wisdom, what we might call common sense. That’s what we call it but it is surprising how uncommon, common sense is. Common sense is often conservative and cautious. You have heard the saying “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread” Actually the bible says. “The wise are cautious and turn away from evil, but the fool throws off restraint and is careless.” (Proverbs 14:16) This “common sense” wisdom is revealed by the love and action of a person and ideally should be honouring to God. If it is not honouring then such wisdom, no matter how well meaning, is really in opposition to God. This wisdom then contrasts with the wisdom from above which goes with a life of harmony and peace and does honour God. To receive such wisdom requires a heart and mind that is open to be guided by God.
It seems that James as he writes had the view that the evil one is always working in opposition to God and so disharmony and aggression flow from that perverse influence. He does not mince words as he describes the outcome of such aggressive disharmony. Then at the end of our reading for today James comes to what is perhaps the key reason for writing. From his descriptions it reads as if James is describing a present conflict within a known congregation. James offers a four stage plan with which to address disharmony within the congregation.
Submit to God and so resist the devil. Cultivate a closer and closer relationship with God. On reviewing your life confess all that is contrary to God’s will and way and so accept the new start that God in his forgiveness offers. Though forgiven continue to be humble recognising that every aspect of life must be under God’s direction.
These four steps are perhaps easy and obvious to contemplate as principles yet if we face the true reality of life as James is doing in this short passage then we quickly see how difficult they are to achieve.
How many of us have ever truly submitted ourselves to God, walking without question the life that God has set before us. In the business of life to develop a close relationship with God even when well intentioned is at best fragmentary. The discipline of regularly giving time to God and for God does not come easily. And yet despite all these factors which James would have been keenly aware of he holds out the prospect of a life of peace and harmony if with God’s help members begin to live a life in submission to God and his will. A congregation of believers who together determine to follow James’ advice would find a blessing that would honour God and bring peace and harmony. Such a godly outcome is worth striving for.
Prayer. Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we are to pray, and have a holy inclination to give us more than we either desire or deserve: pour down upon us the fullness of your mercy; forgiving us those thing that we are afraid even to think of; give us those good things that we are not worthy to ask from your hand. Join us together with you and with each other through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord Amen. (Adapted from the Book of Common Prayer 1662).
Reading. Mark 9:30-37. This section of Mark’s Gospel follows on from Peter’s revelation that Jesus is the Messiah and then Mark’s description of the transfiguration. Jesus is still resolutely on the way to Jerusalem and his passion and death. As such Jesus now begins in earnest to teach the disciples about the events that will unfold as Jesus comes to the end of his earthly ministry. Betrayal, rejection and death, followed by “rising again” is a lot to fully understand. Though there are scriptural echoes of suffering and adversity, tradition had taught that Messiah would be the conquering hero who would without doubt save the people and give a resounding victory to the Jewish nation. Jesus’ teaching cuts across these traditional assumptions. Also the suggestion that an individual would rise from the dead was not in their thinking. The tradition taught that at the end of the age all the righteous would rise together and live in peace under God. It was a national rising and so the teaching of Jesus was not simply hard to understand it ran counter to the theology of the day. Thus, Jesus is teaching profound truths that the disciples really don’t understand and because they don’t understand their minds are distracted and they argue about who is the greatest. The tradition would be that Messiah would come and reign on earth and so within that reign positions of power and prestige become quite significant. In a human way they can understand that and also in a human way the struggle for supremacy comes quickly to mind. When Jesus asks what the argument was Mark records that the disciples were silent. The text suggests that in the face of Jesus’ question they are ashamed and perhaps embarrassed.
Mark paints Jesus’ response very clearly. Jesus sat down, a position that the rabbis took whenever they proposed to teach. With the disciples standing around him Jesus teaches them that key Christian leaders are those who serve in humility. As we serve others in humility we are serving Jesus himself. It is by trusting in Jesus that struggling to be greater than those around is put into perspective.
A child who welcomes a simple embrace from the Lord teaches an example of trust. In a family setting which is what Mark has described that a child comes to Jesus shows that Jesus cared for the child and the child understood and welcomed that care. In the ancient world a child did not have great significance and so to care for a child brought no advantage to the carer. This example works against the way of the world for in the world to have pre-eminence is seen as success. For Jesus, it is those who are prepared to serve others for the sake of the other who are considered to be great.
Prayer. Gracious Lord, surrounded by our failures we look to you for the mercy that your love affords us. Help us in all our dealings to give to others that same comfort and forgiveness that you yourself give to us. Forgive our complacency as we deal with the needs and hurts of others. Strengthen those who are surrounded by temptation, comfort those who are embarrassed by events or actions conducted either by themselves or by members of their families for whom they feel responsible. Make us true disciples so that in word and deed we might be like Jesus. Grant that in all we do we may honour him Amen.
Collect. You show us a child, Jesus, to show us how to live; save us from our false ambitions and desires, that we may receive the pure heart which comes with true wisdom; this we ask in your name. Amen.
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