I
want to explore what words we might use to describe Jesus, and what images of
God that offers us. And then to ask
-Where have we experienced those qualities of that
in our lives?
-What is the invitation as we enter Lent?
Then explore the story, getting behind the healing, and
seeing it as a further example of what “Now is the time! Here comes God’s kingdom! Let that
blow your mind and change your hearts and lives, and trust this good news!”
might mean.
What images of God do our stories this Sunday offer us?
What I want to
happen:
How does all this help us be open
to invitation in Lent to
Mark 1:40-45 - Common English Bible
40 A man with a skin disease
approached Jesus, fell to his knees, and begged, “If you want, you can make me
clean.”
41 Incensed,[a] Jesus reached out his hand, touched him,
and said, “I do want to. Be clean.”42 Instantly, the skin disease left him, and he was
clean.43 Sternly,
Jesus sent him away,44 saying,
“Don’t say anything to anyone. Instead, go and show
yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifice for your cleansing that Moses
commanded. This will be a testimony to them.”45 Instead, he went out and started talking freely
and spreading the news so that Jesus wasn’t able to enter a town openly. He
remained outside in deserted places, but people came to him from everywhere.
The Sermon
1.Introduction:
If you were asked to describe Jesus
using 3 words – what would they be?
ðWhat images of God are offered in
these words
-Discuss
-Plenary
ðWhere do we experience this in our
lives?
ðWhat invitation is there in this as we
approach Lent?
2.Mark, Jesus and the Man with a Skin
Disease
What words are
offered in today’s gospel reading?
-Wonder images
of God it offers
-In particular
how it helps us understand Jesus opening teaching
“Now is the time!
Here comes God’s kingdom! Let that blow your mind and change your hearts and
lives. And trust this good news!”
Few things to
note
The point of this
story is not Jesus healing a man with a skin disease (leprosy)
Yes Jesus did
heal some people
-But also
did not heal lots of people
-All those
who were healed got sick and died
The healing is
not the point
It is a signpost
to something else
This is a story
about God’s kingdom
-Which is
coming now
-And blowing
our minds
-And we can
trust God.
What does it
teach us about God’s kingdom?
3.God’s kingdom in a man with a skin disease –
tell the story
Retell the story
noting
Not leprosy
Man with skin
disease is not doing what he should
-Leviticus
-Stay distant
-Unclean unclean
-Certainly not
initiate conversation
Jesus is…
-Filled with
compassion
-Incensed
Jesus is willing
Then snorts with distaste
or anger
Orders him to
tell no-one
And go to show him
self to the priest
-and offer
the sacrifice for cleansing that Moses commanded.
-This will
be a testimony to them.
Doesn’t do that
Goes around telling everyone
-Jesus no
longer able to teach in synagogues that Now is time….
-Instead switches
places with man
-Stays out
in wilderness
-Where spirit
forced him – al part of next weeks reading
Hugely costly for
Jesus
Willing to pay
that
Points ahead to
greater wilderness of cross
4.God’s kingdom
From first
stories in Mark
Which set out
what rest gospel enlarges on
God’s reign is restoration
of blessedness
-World where
all thrive and flourish
Sound alot like
Matthews beatitudes
All that brings
freedom to all
What angers Jesus
is everything that prohibits and inhibits that flourishing
Powers hold
creation captive
Expressed in illness
Systems and
values that ostracize because of
-Illness
-Caged by
unclean spits
-Poverty
-Gender
Powers that are
defeated on cross
So that good news
of God’s mind blowing kingdom can continue to spread
Bringing freedom
Offering life to
all
Begin that
journey today
5.Conclusion
we stand on verge of Lent
7 weeks prayer and fasting
7 weeks to reflect on who is God for
us
as we read Gospels
invited to join God in creating a world where all can flourish
Gate Pa – 11 th Sunday in Ordinary Time- Year A -2023 Readings: Psalm - Psalm 116:9-17 First Reading - Genesis 18:1-15 Second Reading - Romans 5:1-8 Gospel - Matthew 9:35-10:23 What I want to say: I want to talk about some of the themes from Phoenix Then explore the importance of Matthew 10:5-8 for Franciscans and in light of that what is living simply What I want to happen: We are today's “sent ones”/apostles. wonder what Jesus instructions offer us in our understanding of living the gospel? The Sermon 1. Introduction: Some of you know I was in Phoenix at TSSF Convocation - Why I missed two Sundays Hot – top temp each day was between 36 -40 – but very dry heat + David Rice – bishop who appointed me to be your vicar was there as Bishop Protector - Great to spend time with him - Took op
You can listen to this sermon here Gate Pa – Year B 2 nd Sunday in Lent, 2024 Readings: Psalm Psalm 22:23-31 First Reading: Genesis 17:1-7,15-16 Second Reading : Romans 4:13-25 Gospel: Mark 8:31-38 What I want to say: After watching Dean Richard talk abut the wilderness, I will offer some thoughts on how Genesis 17 and Mark 8 help us in this Lenten time. The Abrahamic Covenant offered in Genesis 12 and 15, and affirmed in Genesis 17 remind us that the blessing is so that the people of God will be a blessing for all people and all creation – so that humanity is restored, and creation renewed. Jesus reaffirms this when he says “Now is the time! Here comes God’s kingdom! Let that blow your minds and change your hearts and lives, and trust this good new
This Lent we continue reflecting on whose are we using or four words, who are we as people marked by those four words, and what is ours to do in light of all that. This week we are given the Decalogue - the 10 words or 10 commandments from Exodus - We too easily read these as legalistic or moralistic which need to be obeyed to earn something. Howard Wallace says they “were given so that people may live fully together and before God. They were not given so that people may be worthy to come into God’s presence. On the contrary … they are given after God liberated his people from Egypt and led them in the wilderness. Law or torah in the Old Testament, is always a way to live in the presence of the gracious God who first comes to us in our despair and need. They are also a reminder that living in the presence of this God brings responsibility toward God and toward all God’s creation.” 1 The 10 words are the way God shape the people of God to live out God’s graciousness and generosity fo
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