Lived Out Theology

This week, in the midst of lockdown and wondering what the future might hold, we leave John 6 where we gnawed on the theme of Jesus the living bread of heaven, and return to the gospel of Mark. We are again paying attention the beginning of the ongoing story of the good news about Jesus Christ. That story continues today with you and me. In Mark 1:15 we hear that “Jesus came into Galilee announcing God’s good news, saying, “Now is the time! Here comes God’s kingdom! Change your hearts and lives, and trust this good news!” (CEB). In light of that, the rest of the gospel reflects on what we might compare the kingdom of God with and “who is this man?”

This week in Mark 7 explores all this in terms of how we view law; how we read scripture; and the importance of character over everything we might do or say. Jesus is presented as the one whose life revealed the heart of God. It invites us to ask what our lives reveal of our hearts,  and how our hearts reveal God in our midst.  

Our Hebrew scripture builds on last week’s reading about Solomon, and begins a series where we hear some of the writings traditionally ascribed to Solomon: Song of Songs – which the rabbinic tradition says was written when he was a young man, Proverbs – from when he was a confidant king of some standing, and Ecclesiastes – when he was much older and less certain. There is nothing like some good love poetry in the midst of a pandemic.

We also begin 5 weeks in James. Tradition suggests this letter was written by James the Just, “brother” of Jesus, leader of the mother church in Jerusalem, to Jewish Christians across the empire and beyond. It is the only writing we have of this early leader. For James theology is not to be thought about but lived out. True holiness is not the absence of bad things, but living God’s compassion; loving God, and neighbour. Which takes us back to Mark and what motivates us.

So as we live slower lives, may we take time to examen our hearts each day to see God in our lives, to live compassion, and to allow that to be our motivation.