Proper 20B
by Linda Kraft

Mark 9:30-37

Here we are approaching the end of September.  Where has the year gone?!  I
know you’ve seen Christmas decorations in the stores already, right
alongside the Halloween candy and the gory items we’re encouraged to put on
display in our yards and in our homes.  Another staple for this time of year
is political rhetoric.  The candidates have been running commercials on TV
and radio, online and in print.  It’s difficult to avoid being aware that
another election is soon to take place.
	
Yard signs and bumper stickers fill our gaze wherever we look.  The
important message there, I think, is not which candidate you should
support – for we all have different opinions on that – but that you remember
to get out and put your mark on that ballot.  No matter what criteria you
use to judge a candidate’s worthiness, human nature is going to take its
course and life will still have disappointments and celebrations.
	
"What do you think of the candidates?" That's what a reporter for a news
magazine asked a young woman at Dartmouth University after a debate among
presidential hopefuls. She didn't say a word about their positions on the
issues or their skill at debate. She simply remarked, "None of them seems to
have any humility."
	
Benjamin Franklin, the early American statesman, made a list of character
qualities that he wanted to develop in his own life. When he mastered one
virtue, he went on to the next. He did pretty well, he said, until he got to
humility. Every time he thought he was making significant progress, he would
be so pleased with himself that he became proud.

Humility is an elusive virtue. Even Jesus' disciples struggled with it.
When Jesus learned that they had been arguing about who was the greatest, He
responded, "Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of
all." (Mk. 9:35). Then He took a little child in His arms and used the child
as an example.  (1)
	
You see, in Jesus’ day and for many centuries of human history, children
were not highly regarded within society.  If children survived their first
couple years, they were immediately taught some kind of chores that would
assist their family in making it through each day.  Whether that was
wandering through the nearby forest looking for tinder wood or picking
stones out of the dried beans or feeding the livestock, the children were
usually regarded only as fellow workers, and not very strong or smart ones,
either.
	
In many parts of the world, that is still the practice.  Infant mortality
is high all around the world, and surprisingly, it’s also high here in the
USA where we rank behind 23 other nations in having our children survive
until school age.  You’d think, that in this land of opportunity, we’d place
much higher on that kind of scale.  After all, we have so much modern
technology and lots of food and shelter and education and health care and...
But, in this land of opportunity, equality of opportunity is far from the
norm.  That’s something to think about when you’re evaluating candidates for
the upcoming elections.  When you find someone to back who knows about the
least of these, I encourage you to vote so that all of us can benefit.
	
By bringing that child to their attention that day, Jesus hoped his
disciples – and WE – would realize we need to humbly serve others as if we
were serving Christ.
	
If a news reporter were to talk to our friends, neighbors, or fellow church
members and ask them to describe us, would they use the word humble?

Some years ago St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City was seeking a new
president. Over one hundred candidates applied for the position. The search
committee narrowed the list to five eminently qualified persons. Then
somebody came up with a brilliant idea: let's send a person to the
institutions where each of the five finalists is currently employed, and
let's interview the janitor at each place, asking him what he thinks of the
man seeking to be our president. This was done and a janitor gave such a
glowing appraisal of William MacElvaney that he was selected President of
St. Paul's School of Theology.
	
Somebody on that search committee understood, in a flash of genius, that
those who live close to Christ become so secure in his love that they no
longer relate to other people according to rank or power or money or
prestige. They treat janitors and governors with equal dignity. They regard
everybody as a VIP. Children seem to do this intuitively; adult Christians
have to relearn it. (2)

What does it mean to be the greatest in the church?  How would you define
that term?  What criteria would you use?  Let’s see...
	regular attendance at worship?
	donating huge amounts of money?
	wearing fancy clothes?
	serving on every committee?
	reading the lessons or leading the prayers?
	organizing the annual tag sale or seasonal dinners?
	keeping the building and grounds beautiful?
	teaching Sunday School or leading the Youth Group?

All these things are, indeed, admirable.  But, what about the people who
	have to work on the weekends?
	don’t have much money to spare?
	have no fancy clothes?
	work two jobs to make ends meet and can’t serve on any committees?
	feel intimidated in front of crowds?
	like to follow rather than lead?
	don’t have a green thumb or a handy bone in their body?
	would rather learn than teach?

What about them?  Are they great?
	
Who determines greatness, anyway?  From today’s scripture readings, I think
it’s safe to say that the judge of greatness is NOT you or I.  The true
judge of greatness is our Creator.  And, if God is using Jesus’ own life as
a measuring stick for us to try to live up to — boy, we’re fried!
	
You and I don’t have a GREAT bone in our bodies.  That is, humanity in
general doesn’t have the ability to achieve greatness that will last into
eternity.  The only way you and I will achieve greatness is after we die,
when we stand before the judgment throne of God and face our Maker.  Then,
when all our sins and our shortcomings are laid out before that Almighty
Ruler, and we’re just SURE we’re not going to be welcome there, THAT’s when
we’ll find out what greatness really is.  That’s when Jesus will remember
giving his life for us, for each of us,
	for you, for me,
	for those children studying in the other room,
	for our neighbors in the church up the road,
	for the residents at the Rescue Mission,
	for the lonely, the abandoned, the addicted, the poor
	for the immigrants and the outlaws
	for the residents of Darfur and Pakistan and Iraq and Afghanistan,
	for all of creation.

When we’re ready to regard the least of these as our equal, truly knowing
that they are equally beloved by the One God and Creator of us all, then we
might be able to understand what Jesus meant by greatness.  For he is the
greatest of all, the one who became a servant to all, our Lord and Savior,
Jesus the Christ.  Amen

References:

 Mastering the Virtue of Humility, Our Daily Bread, November 3, 1998.
 "The Meaning of Greatness”, esermons.com.


Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, for all people
according to their needs.

Lord of Hosts, who judges righteously, you know our hearts and our minds.
You see who we are inside and who we present ourselves to be to the outside
world.  Help us to reconcile our inner and outer selves so that the world
may see your gracious love through our unselfish actions.  Lord in your
mercy, hear our prayer.  (Jeremiah 11:18-20)

God, our helper, we give you thanks for your loving kindness.  You have
protected your people from harm.  You encourage us to deal equally with all
people.  Turn our hearts away from what we fear and make us focus on your
love.  Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.  (Psalm 54)

Wise and understanding God, guide all those who seek to know your name.
Inspire teachers to show your love to their students.  Help us seek the
wisdom only you can give.  Teach us to share not only our material riches
but the good news you have given us in Jesus, your Son.  Lord in your mercy,
hear our prayer.  (James 3:13 - 4:3, 7-8a)

Welcoming Lord, you know us through and through; when we are healthy and
when we are ill.  We lift these, your children, for your tender care...

Are there others we should include in our prayers?

Let your healing arms embrace all who need your loving touch.  Lord in your
mercy, hear our prayer.  (Mark 9:30-37)

Into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your
mercy; through your son, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen

(Comments to Linda at Linda_Kraft@Ecunet.org.)
Linda Kraft, Pastor at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Trumbull, CT