Scripture texts: Numbers 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29, Mark 9:38-50
Our Gospel lesson today is a bit of a mashup of two teachings of Jesus that don’t seem to fit all that well together. Our story begins with an encounter with a man who is using Christ’s name and power to cast out demons, despite not being one of the disciples, and then concludes with a rather hyperbolic teaching about the dangers of sin and putting obstacles in the path of others.
They may not match up very well, but I can’t imagine a more appropriate text for recent events than this one. We have seen over the last few days and weeks two very contrasting images of Christianity in the public square. Two images that highlight precisely what Jesus has been talking about.
The first is Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis, who has been in the news of late for her adamant refusal to issue marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples as mandated by the recent Supreme Court ruling. She claims that this violates her religious convictions, which is all well and good except that she has used the authority of her office to refuse anyone of her subordinates from issuing said licenses as well. That interference with the function of her government office landed her in jail for several days for contempt of court and gave her an opportunity to claim that she is being persecuted for her faith. A claim often mocked and derided by people who find it ridiculous at best.
The second is the Bishop of Rome, Pope Francis, whose historic visit to our nation has dominated the news cycle for the past week or so. He has visited three of our major cities: Washington, New York, and now Philadelphia (just a stone’s throw away from us here in York county.) He spoke before a joint session of congress, the first pontiff of Rome to do so in history. The new Pope has not been without controversy either. His statements on economics, immigration, and climate change are particularly unsettling to many of the politicians in that chamber on Thursday and his more relaxed attitude towards moral questions like abortion, divorce, and homosexuality is often galling to hardliners in his own church. Many of these opponents have not been silent about what they think of the new Pope and their comments are not very complimentary.
Two images of the Church. Two Christian individuals under critique or perhaps even attack for what they believe. And yet, utterly opposite one another. Neither is part of our particular branch of Christianity, so we could (perhaps somewhat condescendingly) claim that they are like the man in the first part of the Gospel lesson: someone who is not “one of us” who speaks in Christ’s name.
And yet which one better reflects the Christ we serve? Jesus gives us that very criteria. Which one metaphorically gives water to the thirsty in the name of Christ? Which one places a stumbling block before the little ones? The answer should be obvious.
And yet, in fairness to Mrs. Davis, she undoubtedly takes Jesus’ warning about sin in this very passage very seriously. She is quite willing to metaphorically cut off her arm or pluck out her eye to avoid what she sees as sin, desperately trying to save her own soul. But in that act, I feel she’s missed the point of it all.
Because it’s not about us. It’s about them. It’s always about them.
The question Jesus’ teaching here drives us to ask is “who is it for?” Who benefits? Who is harmed? The man who casts out demons in the name of Christ, disciple or not, is helping others; he’s helping “them.” He is harming no one, aiding many, and expanding the kingdom of God. That precisely what Jesus wants. You can almost hear him echo the words of Moses from our first lesson, “Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit on them!”
And yet, so many Christians fastidiously seek to avoid sin, in both themselves and others. They stand in judgment over their fellow human beings and slam doors in their faces when they do not meet a particular standard of morality or righteousness. Who is it for? Who benefits? Often the intended beneficiary of such behavior is one’s self. It’s all about me. Look at how much sin I’ve avoided. Look at how good I am.
But who is harmed by such behavior? Everyone, for not only have we placed a stumbling block before someone who might otherwise find God through us, we have ourselves missed the point of the Gospel entirely. In doing so we have committed the very sins Jesus is compelling us to avoid.
On the cross, as Christ struggles to breathe his last breaths, he cries out “It is finished!” Those are some of the most powerful words in all the Gospels. For what do they mean? They mean God’s plan is accomplished and the good news has come to pass for all. Sin is forgiven. Mercy is the order of the day. Because Christ dies, because he gives up his very life for your sake and mine, we don’t have to worry about ourselves. God’s taken care of us. We’re good.
I believe the whole Gospel can be summed up by God saying to every one of us, “You guys can chill. I got this.” But the freedom that comes with that also carries with it a responsibility. We don’t have to worry about ourselves, so we can focus that energy on others.
The Bishop of Rome embodies this very dynamic. The Pope’s positions on many of the most divisive and political issues of the day reveal a deep concern for the care of other people. Why is climate change important to him? Because we need to preserve the earth for the sake of future generations. Why do economics matter to a theologian? Because poverty kills and life is what we are about as Christians. Why does he downplay these age-old sins like divorce and abortion? Because it is far more important to open the door of the church as wide as possible and welcome sinners inside so they may hear the Gospel and become a part of the kingdom.
He’s criticized for those positions, but Jesus too faced his critics for his compassion and care of others. If we are to be condemned by the world for what we believe, then let it be for the right reasons. Let it be because we reflected Christ in what we do and say. Let it be because we cared for others, loved our neighbors, and welcomed the stranger into our midst.
That is what we’re called to be as Christians and that is what Jesus is saying to us in this Gospel lesson. Let others see God through us and let them see care, compassion, healing, peace, justice, forgiveness, mercy, and grace. Not blind legalism, harsh judgment, and self-righteousness, for these are the very stumbling blocks we are called to avoid. Christ came to save the world and he invites us to be a part of that process. And we do that by showing the world who he is by who we are. Amen.
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