Mark 10:35-45

Our beautiful Autumn leaves here in southern New England are rapidly filling the lawns, forests and roadways. The bright colors, at their peak just last week, are beginning to fade. The year is racing through its cycles, and this year I wasn't caught unawares. Finally, this year, I remembered to take my video camera along with me when I drove around town several days ago. This is my fifth Fall in New England. I've had a video camera now for two years. And each year I try to remind myself to take it with me when I go leaf peeping so I can capture some of the earth's beauty on film. But, sometimes I'm a slow learner. Sometimes I'm just plain dense. Good thing the people around me are patient with me. I think I may get the hang of being a New England resident one of these days. Well, even if I haven't remembered the camera each year, that doesn't mean I'm not learning or that I'm not enjoying the beauty that surrounds me.

Our gospel lesson takes us on the road again with Jesus and his disciples. We've been following their progress for the past few weeks as the gospel writer, Mark, has led Jesus through one challenge after another. His disciples are supposed to be learning the lessons Jesus is trying to teach them. The people God sends to Jesus to challenge him are persistent. Their questions and traps give Jesus opportunities, time after time, to teach his followers what they need to know about being a part of the kingdom of God. Jesus is patient with his slow learners, his disciples. Jesus knows it will take a while before his followers fully understand why he came to walk alongside them.

In today's lesson we hear James and John behaving in a very human way. Within the past few days' journey they had witnessed Jesus debating with church leaders about God's law and bringing joy to children, the least members of society. But, James and John must have been a lot like me with my video camera. They were slow learners. Their minds just weren't ready, yet, to grasp the joy in Jesus' message. They were earth bound, tied to life-long assumptions, closed minded. They had one thing on their mind - the here and now.

Now, we might expect better of these two brothers, the sons of Zebedee the fisherman, who left everything behind to follow Jesus. It seems, occasionally, that they get a glimpse of what Jesus and his message are all about. They have moments of comprehension. But, today's scene is not one of them.

It looks to me like James and John have been arguing on the road again, just like Mark reported the rest of the disciples had been doing a few paragraphs earlier. Evidently they thought they had this whole thing figured out - about Jesus' mission and what would come next. Just before our reading for today begins, Jesus has told his disciples, for a second time, that he will be handed over, condemned to death, mocked and spit upon, and finally killed. Jesus has also predicted his resurrection. Maybe that's what sparks James' and John's questions. Maybe they're afraid of what's to come and they think they'd better get their own futures well in hand before Jesus' predictions come true.

So our two disciples, James and John, come running up to Jesus and challenge him. They're as persistent as the church leaders who've been pestering Jesus with all their questions. Jesus looks at the men and patiently asks, "What is it you want me to do for you?" (Do you get the idea Jesus already knew what was coming?) James and John boldly barge ahead with their presumptuous question: "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left - in your glory." Maybe these guys HAVE been listening a bit. They seem to understand that Jesus will be in a position of power. They also seem to be ignoring the road Jesus will have to travel to get there. So Jesus, in turn, challenges them. "Do you know what you're asking? Are you able?"

"Oh, yes! We're ready for anything!" the brothers assure him.

Once again Jesus is patient. He's helping these slow learners to stop and think, to really consider what it is they have asked of him. "You're ready to be arrested, condemned to death, mocked and spit upon and killed?" he asks. Then he makes them a promise, one they'd probably prefer would never come true. "You will be challenged, persecuted, overwhelmed by the world - and all for my sake. But, after all that I cannot promise you positions of power. That honor is already prepared for others." Jesus was persistent in this case. This was not the first time this or a similar suggestion had been made. Jesus repeated his promise to be present with the disciples through all the trials to come. But, he reminded them, the outcome might not be what you would wish for yourselves. Jesus' patience reminded them of the promise of pardon yet to come.

Meanwhile, the other ten disciples are getting angry with James and John. Are they angry that the two brothers should even presume to ask such an honor, or are they angry because they hadn't thought to ask first? It doesn't really matter. The twelve of these guys together are a good example of humanity as a whole. Here's Jesus walking among them day by day, and these guys have the advantage of hearing him - first hand - explaining God's plan of salvation for the world. Yet, they're such slow learners, so dense, that they can't seem to understand what his presence among them really means.

These guys have been called to follow Jesus. They are to learn from his words and from his actions what it is to be a child of God. Yet, they persist in challenging Jesus with their disobedience, their disbelief and their disdain for the "rest of the world." Jesus' response is to be patient with them. It seems Jesus never tires of reminding them of God's love, of God's promise and of God's constant presence. That's a good thing, because 2000 years later, you and I are in the same shoes as James and John and we need Jesus to be patient with us, too.

You and I may not have the physically-present Jesus walking beside us each and every day. We cannot look over to the next desk, or to the kitchen table, or to the work space around the corner and see Jesus reaching out to give us a hand with the job we have to do. But, he's there nonetheless. You and I have been exposed, repeatedly, to Jesus' teachings about obeying the commandments. We know we are to be faithful and believe in God's promises. We know we are to regard each person in this world as a fellow child of God. But, we're often as dense as James and John.

We designate those teachings as having their place. They belong within these church walls. They're good things to know and to practice in here, but not very realistic in the "real world." And, to be truthful, sometimes that attitude even invades this space as we fail to treat each other as Christ would have us do.

It's a good thing Jesus is patient with us, because we're still learning the lessons he was trying to teach his disciples all those years ago. James and John were going to learn that the world is a challenging place to live when you try to live each day as a faithful Christian. Being a disciple of Christ means we must be "on guard" and "on duty". People are watching us.

How will that Christian respond to their family's needs?

How will that Christian respond to their community's needs?

How will that Christian respond to their country's needs?

How will that Christian respond to the world's needs?

Will that Christian react with compassion and caring and offer a helping hand? Or will that Christian look our for their own needs first?

In the past few days the news has been reporting deaths and atrocities in the Middle East. You've heard reports of Israeli and Palestinian confrontations. Have you, in a very human way, placed blame for this tragedy on one group or the other? Just over a week ago the news reported the bombing of a US Navy ship in Yemen. Have you remembered to pray not only for the families and friends of the US sailors who were injured and killed, but also for the family and friends of the people who chose to give their lives for a cause they believed in, so their voice would be heard?

In just over two weeks you and I have the opportunity to elect a president to guide this nation over the next four years. Have you studied the candidates and their positions, the issues and the personal needs of not only our American neighbors but of the way America will respond to the rest of the world? Have you even registered to vote? You have until Tuesday to register in Connecticut.

You and I are persistent in challenging Jesus' teachings. Sometimes we're just as dense as James and John. We want all the glory of being identified as followers of Christ, but we're not willing to suffer, to offer ourselves in service to others, or even to include all of God's children in our prayers. But, Jesus is as patient with us as he was with James and John. He will continue to give us chance after chance to learn the lessons he came to help us understand. He will walk beside us while we try over and over again to be like him. Because, you see, Jesus knows WE know we have already been pardoned. He's just waiting for us to fully understand that promise of freedom and grace.

When we KNOW we are pardoned, we are loved, our future is secure, then we can reach out in love and serve others. We can help them see that God's promise is for them, too. By our efforts to overcome prejudice, to pray for all God's people, and to work together for peace and justice, the world will see Jesus.

Don't give up trying. Our Lord walks with us, just as he walked those challenging paths with James and John. Amen

Let us pray for the whole people of God, for all people according to their needs:

Compassionate Lord, around the world and here in America people are suffering. They struggle to feed and clothe themselves and their families and to provide adequate health care. They live under governments that show no consideration for their needs. They look for a better future, but they doubt they will live to see it. Reach out to them as you reached out to your people throughout history. Give them hope. Let them see in us a willingness to share from our bounty so that they may live. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. (Isaiah 53:4-12)

Lord most high, our refuge and our dwelling place, we call on you to protect the innocent, to guard them so they will not be harmed. In homes where violence is waged toward children, partners and the elderly, we ask you to be present. Help us to work as your hands on this earth to prevent physical, emotional and sexual abuse wherever they tear lives apart. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. (Psalm 91:9-16)

Jesus, our Great High Priest, you alone can provide forgiveness of sins through the sacrifice of your life which you willingly offered. You saved us out of love and not to bring glory to yourself. You have called us to be faithful followers along the path you walked. Give us courage to confess our shortcomings and to look to you for guidance. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. (Hebrews 5:1-10)

Great Healer, you sent Jesus to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. Your love is boundless. Be present with these who need your healing touch:

Are there others we should include in our prayers?

Lift them by your constant presence. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. (Mark 10:35-45)

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.
Pictures and formatted info to kkraft@ct2.nai.net.)

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Stafford Springs, CT
Secretary, Slovak Zion Synod, ELCA;
Board Member: ELCA Division for Higher Education and Schools