Sermon from 8th October
Today, one of our Lay Readers, Adrian Parkhouse, continues our study of Mark's gospel - the particular focus for us today is Mark 8: 38 – 50.
1. As we have a spare 15 minutes or so: what about English rugby? I mean who is fooling who, if they think there is any hope at all that England will retain the Rugby World Cup next year? What sign is there that the clubs and the RFU have built on the success in Australia to secure the future? How many players turned up for the squad training session last week, 18? 18 out of 32! What is going on? Do say, if you think differently.
To use the opportunity of the sermon spot to discuss such weighty matters is, of course, following the lead of the Vicar. Only last week he relied on sporting and political metaphors to engage our thinking. I take it only one step further.
But - to return to the topic for today. Obviously one theory about the decline of the game in England is the loss of Sir Clive Woodward, first to soccer (not sure he achieved all he might have done at Southampton?) and now to the UK’s Olympic Team. A motivational master; a man who was able to manage not just the players but also the back-room squad so that they peaked when it was needed. His team performed beyond what might reasonably have been expected from them as individuals: Woodward created self-belief, and self-confidence in the players as individuals and more so in the payers as a unit. Not an easy act to follow?
Can you imagine being in the locker-room ahead of the World Cup Final: about to walk out to face not only a highly talented opposition, but also a highly-biased home crowd. Sat there on your bench, concentrating on your role in the team: the first catch; the fist tackle, the first pass; get it right, you’re a professional, this is what it’s all about. Locked in your own thoughts.
2. And what would Sir Clive Woodward have added to these last few moments? Something like: “Whoever wants to be first, must be last,…the servant of all”, or “Don’t stop them…whoever is not against us is for us”; and “If your hand causes you to get it wrong, cut it off. It is better to play out the game with one hand.”?
3. Last week in our reading of Mark’s gospel we looked at the first of these teachings of Jesus. We saw how he addressed the quarrels among the disciples as to who would be top dog in the coming kingdom, by a challenge to change their thinking completely – to turn it on its head. To be first they had to be last; to be great they had to serve. It had to be their nature to welcome the least important in society as if they were Jesus themselves – like the child standing before them in the hug of Jesus.
4. I imagine our reading today as carrying on in the same scene: is John feeling awkward, because he can’t or doesn’t want to take on board what Jesus has said (remember later he and his brother renew the request for the best seats in the kingdom). Is he trying to change the subject with the boast about their policing of other exorcists? Or is a bit cross with them that they can do something the disciples had just found tricky (9:18,28). Has he perhaps understood that Jesus doesn’t want to hear about “me, me, me”, about their individual wants and desires; so instead he turns the topic to the team: “we told him to stop, because he doesn’t belong to our group/[ was not one of us].” To do so is very natural. My natural thinking can be diverted from my self; but when it is, it is usually transposed only to a “team” with which I am associated; my family, my firm, my friends, my church. And, thinking about it, it is often a direct transposition: the thinking is the same, though the object is not me but the team. Not me being the best, the most acceptable, the one who should get on, who should be defended at all cost: but my team being the best, the most acceptable, the ones who should get on, who should be defended at all cost.
5. John: we are special because we are with you Jesus.
Jesus: no you’re not. Anyone who, in my name (for I am special, I think we must read), does even the simplest thing – who because of me, gives only a cup of water, the simplest act, will be rewarded. And because it is in my name, we are all together, all as special.
And (Jesus goes on) while we are about it, it is very, very, very important that you take care not to be the reason why someone – this child here – doesn’t enjoy the kingdom of God, stumbles or sins. This is very, very, very important: understand? Very important.
6. This exchange raises a host of questions – not least interesting questions of literal interpretation, how many Christians over the years have maimed themselves in response to the closing verses?
But I want to go back to that locker-room and think some more about how we, the team, react to this motivational team talk. Here we are poised to go back into the world, part of Jesus’ team, and the what do we hear:
· Forget yourselves and be servants to everyone
· Your bit of the team ain’t that special
· Be careful, be very careful, not to cause harm, not to sin.
Motivated? You know, rather to my surprise, I am! I am not sure it would help me play a better game of rugby (already I am told off for being too nice to the opposition), but that isn’t what we are doing: out team is for a different game. Our team is about living the good news, the gospel, that the kingdom of God is here, that Jesus has won all people peace with God, that any barrier – of understanding, of guilt, of fear, of self-worth, of background – any block between any one and God the Father is cleared away. That the simple act of faith is all that is necessary to be part of Jesus’ team.
For that game, this team talk is one that Clive Woodward would envy:
· I hear that I can be that child, Jesus’ arms around me: it doesn’t all depend on me and my strength: I can always serve and that is what He wants.
· I hear that the team is pretty big: I may be saddened by the team’s tendency to argue amongst itself – but still it is a big team, all playing the same big game: what an honour!
· And I hear about the importance of avoiding hurting others: not easy, but I wouldn’t expect to play anything well, if it didn’t mean I had to train. Anything important needs some discipline. I understand that.
7. I re-read the first 9 chapters of Mark’s gospel this week, trying to re-live the experience from the perspective of the disciples. Not easy – there’s a lot of detail we are not told. I wanted to try and understand why, given the relatively rough treatment they get in these passages, they stuck around, why they continued playing hard. The best solution I found was that it comes down to what Cameron spoke of last week: once they met Jesus, once they had made that relationship, the changes He wanted to see in them were worth it: living with Him was worth all the mistakes.
8. OK, team? Let’s get out there and enjoy the game!
1. As we have a spare 15 minutes or so: what about English rugby? I mean who is fooling who, if they think there is any hope at all that England will retain the Rugby World Cup next year? What sign is there that the clubs and the RFU have built on the success in Australia to secure the future? How many players turned up for the squad training session last week, 18? 18 out of 32! What is going on? Do say, if you think differently.
To use the opportunity of the sermon spot to discuss such weighty matters is, of course, following the lead of the Vicar. Only last week he relied on sporting and political metaphors to engage our thinking. I take it only one step further.
But - to return to the topic for today. Obviously one theory about the decline of the game in England is the loss of Sir Clive Woodward, first to soccer (not sure he achieved all he might have done at Southampton?) and now to the UK’s Olympic Team. A motivational master; a man who was able to manage not just the players but also the back-room squad so that they peaked when it was needed. His team performed beyond what might reasonably have been expected from them as individuals: Woodward created self-belief, and self-confidence in the players as individuals and more so in the payers as a unit. Not an easy act to follow?
Can you imagine being in the locker-room ahead of the World Cup Final: about to walk out to face not only a highly talented opposition, but also a highly-biased home crowd. Sat there on your bench, concentrating on your role in the team: the first catch; the fist tackle, the first pass; get it right, you’re a professional, this is what it’s all about. Locked in your own thoughts.
2. And what would Sir Clive Woodward have added to these last few moments? Something like: “Whoever wants to be first, must be last,…the servant of all”, or “Don’t stop them…whoever is not against us is for us”; and “If your hand causes you to get it wrong, cut it off. It is better to play out the game with one hand.”?
3. Last week in our reading of Mark’s gospel we looked at the first of these teachings of Jesus. We saw how he addressed the quarrels among the disciples as to who would be top dog in the coming kingdom, by a challenge to change their thinking completely – to turn it on its head. To be first they had to be last; to be great they had to serve. It had to be their nature to welcome the least important in society as if they were Jesus themselves – like the child standing before them in the hug of Jesus.
4. I imagine our reading today as carrying on in the same scene: is John feeling awkward, because he can’t or doesn’t want to take on board what Jesus has said (remember later he and his brother renew the request for the best seats in the kingdom). Is he trying to change the subject with the boast about their policing of other exorcists? Or is a bit cross with them that they can do something the disciples had just found tricky (9:18,28). Has he perhaps understood that Jesus doesn’t want to hear about “me, me, me”, about their individual wants and desires; so instead he turns the topic to the team: “we told him to stop, because he doesn’t belong to our group/[ was not one of us].” To do so is very natural. My natural thinking can be diverted from my self; but when it is, it is usually transposed only to a “team” with which I am associated; my family, my firm, my friends, my church. And, thinking about it, it is often a direct transposition: the thinking is the same, though the object is not me but the team. Not me being the best, the most acceptable, the one who should get on, who should be defended at all cost: but my team being the best, the most acceptable, the ones who should get on, who should be defended at all cost.
5. John: we are special because we are with you Jesus.
Jesus: no you’re not. Anyone who, in my name (for I am special, I think we must read), does even the simplest thing – who because of me, gives only a cup of water, the simplest act, will be rewarded. And because it is in my name, we are all together, all as special.
And (Jesus goes on) while we are about it, it is very, very, very important that you take care not to be the reason why someone – this child here – doesn’t enjoy the kingdom of God, stumbles or sins. This is very, very, very important: understand? Very important.
6. This exchange raises a host of questions – not least interesting questions of literal interpretation, how many Christians over the years have maimed themselves in response to the closing verses?
But I want to go back to that locker-room and think some more about how we, the team, react to this motivational team talk. Here we are poised to go back into the world, part of Jesus’ team, and the what do we hear:
· Forget yourselves and be servants to everyone
· Your bit of the team ain’t that special
· Be careful, be very careful, not to cause harm, not to sin.
Motivated? You know, rather to my surprise, I am! I am not sure it would help me play a better game of rugby (already I am told off for being too nice to the opposition), but that isn’t what we are doing: out team is for a different game. Our team is about living the good news, the gospel, that the kingdom of God is here, that Jesus has won all people peace with God, that any barrier – of understanding, of guilt, of fear, of self-worth, of background – any block between any one and God the Father is cleared away. That the simple act of faith is all that is necessary to be part of Jesus’ team.
For that game, this team talk is one that Clive Woodward would envy:
· I hear that I can be that child, Jesus’ arms around me: it doesn’t all depend on me and my strength: I can always serve and that is what He wants.
· I hear that the team is pretty big: I may be saddened by the team’s tendency to argue amongst itself – but still it is a big team, all playing the same big game: what an honour!
· And I hear about the importance of avoiding hurting others: not easy, but I wouldn’t expect to play anything well, if it didn’t mean I had to train. Anything important needs some discipline. I understand that.
7. I re-read the first 9 chapters of Mark’s gospel this week, trying to re-live the experience from the perspective of the disciples. Not easy – there’s a lot of detail we are not told. I wanted to try and understand why, given the relatively rough treatment they get in these passages, they stuck around, why they continued playing hard. The best solution I found was that it comes down to what Cameron spoke of last week: once they met Jesus, once they had made that relationship, the changes He wanted to see in them were worth it: living with Him was worth all the mistakes.
8. OK, team? Let’s get out there and enjoy the game!
posted by Parish Administrator at 12:58 pm
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