The Politics of the Greatest Commandment

 

Many people fight about who will be first in line, first in the door, or first at the table because for them being ‘first’ is about privilege and control. To me it sounds a little silly that so many intelligent people get caught up in the race of “who will be first?” So, here we are coming to the end a of another political “silly season” inhabited by gubernatorial, mayoral and local candidates.

Not much has changed since the first-century Jewish world. In the context of (Mark 12:28-34), to be ‘first’ carries the weight of the first stone laid, the cornerstone upon which all of the other stones must rest. Consequently, the greatness of the love commandment lies not in its devaluing all other commandments of Jewish law, but, rather, in its ability to hold up all other commandments on a “pedestal.” It’s less about beating out all of the other candidates to the finish line and more about helping them to do their jobs.

Mark’s Gospel records how Jesus, in love, surrenders his life to bolster us up in our weakness. The two love commandments come first in the law because it is on them that all of the rest of the commandments of the Torah rest, and really it is all that God asks of His people.

Testament. The first, phileo, refers to ‘brotherly love,’ or a love between equals and expects reciprocity. (This is where the city of Philadelphia gets its name). The other, agapao, refers to a complete and selfless love and expects self-giving. Neither love reflects a solely emotional state, but rather, points to the relation in which one person lives toward another.

The scribe in Mark’s account appears sincere in his inquiry, although Mathew’s account suggests that the scribe is trying to trap Jesus into weighing in on the use of the word for love. The word love (agape) is derived from the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible with which Jesus and his contemporaries would have been familiar). On the cross, Jesus acts with this agape love.

But agape love doesn’t always have to mean death. At its heart, what it really means, is simply putting others first. This is countercultural today and especially evident in running a good political campaign.

Acting with agape love as means stepping back from any other code of conduct may characterize our personal ethics and ask: What does this mean for my neighbor? Or, even more potently, Is this me giving myself to my neighbor? Is this me giving myself to my God? Because to put love of God and neighbor first means not just providing what we think is best for our brethren, but rather, to act in such a way that we give our very self to our neighbor and to let that be the foundation upon which everything else is built. Wasn’t that Jesus’ ultimate “gift” to us? (Adapted from Amy Lindeman Allen, Political Theology Today, 2015)

 

We are free to fail

 If you knew that failure didn't matter, what would you dare, or try? What mission would you attempt, what venture would you risk; what great deed would you undertake?  Would you, like Bartimaeus in our Gospel (Mark 10:45-52), shout out for healing even though the people around you would try to silence you? I wonder, could it be that Bartimaeus was so used to failure and disappointment that he saw no reason not to try one more time? 

Would your cry out for healing or justice, peace, equality, or any of the things that the world calls idealistic? Or, maybe you would be more inclined to quietly volunteer at a food pantry, or help, to the extent that you can, minister to the sick or infirmed. Maybe you would opt to visit an elder who most have forgotten? Despite the feeling that the worst of Covid is behind us, we are still limited to what organized ministry we are able to volunteer. I personally miss our time at St. Mark's or our Hospital and Nursing Home ministries. But there are no shortages of opportunities that come to us when we least expect or are completely unprepared. I suppose like looking for the presence of God, the key is to be aware.

So often, these things – whether great or small – seem either so hopelessly impossible or so ridiculously insignificant that we just don't even try. Yet the promise of the Gospel is that we are free...free to risk, to dare, to love, to live, to work, to dream, and yes, free to fail, because we have God's promise that there is no small gesture and there is no impossible deed, and that the God who raised Jesus from the dead will also bring all things – even our failed efforts – to a good end.

So, if you're going to risk anything that matters, "not failing is not an option." Risk entails failure. Change entails failure. Creativity and innovation and experimentation all entail failure. And if we forget that, we will either never try anything that matters or end up sorely disappointed.
(Adapted from David Lose , Working Preacher, 10/23/12)

The First Will Be Last

Throughout our lives, most of us have been told by our teachers that there is no such thing as a stupid question. Well, in Mark 10:35-45 James and John blow the lid off that myth. They really did ask a really dumb question at an even more inopportune time. Jesus had just finished telling the twelve for the third time, that his destiny as a servant messiah would result in his suffering, death, and ultimately, resurrection. Yet, immediately following this profound revelation, they asked Jesus if they could sit on his right and left side when he came to glory.

Talk about not getting it! What do you suppose the "Zebedee boys" had in mind? They wanted a piece of the “messianic action,” and sit on either side of Jesus’ throne. Needless to say they were still relating Jesus destiny to an earthly king and despite their time with Jesus during his ministry, James and John still didn't really know what it meant to follow Jesus to the end.  

Jesus, as he tells James and John after their bold request, is a servant messiah, and to follow a servant messiah one must also become a servant: "whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:44-45). 

In fairness to James and John, answering the call to "servant-hood" does not come easy. Aren't we much like them in many ways? We would much prefer to be known as a great "anything" but servant. Yet, we will realize by the grace of the Holy Spirit, that we are in God's presence when we  are called to give of ourselves to serve the least of our brethren.

If we are truly in love with God, then the basics are not going to be enough. That love is going to want to be expressed in going above and beyond, in leaving the comfortable and familiar, in stretching and growing, and in following a voice other than our own. St. Teresa of Calcutta rightly instructs us that for “love to be real, it must cost, it must hurt, it must empty us of self.”  Being in love with God requires more than just checking the boxes. It requires a sincere and unconditional self-investment. Desiring God with our whole heart, mind, and soul means that I must also desire a relationship with my neighbor with that same degree of fervor. This is why following Christ can be difficult. It is less a matter of intellect and more a matter of heart and soul. (Weekly Bulletin, St. Benedict Church, October 10, 2021)