A Poem a Sunday

Sunday, September 13 - Pentecost 16 B

Mark 8:27-38 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Commentary:  Mark places this ‘Passion Prediction’ right in the middle of his Gospel.  Jesus declares his ‘Messiah-ship’ at Caesarea Philippi – the seat of power of the Empire.  He contrasts his way of being Messiah with the Empire’s way – he will expose the system of domination by taking on the symbol of domination – the cross.  This text is about a cruciform way of life.  It is about baptism into the way of Jesus – losing life to find life. 

This Sunday’s poem Breathing Lessons is a baptismal reflection on the words of Jesus.  We need to remember that there has to be ‘a death’ before there can be a resurrection.  Are we ready to travel that way?

Peter’s Declaration about Jesus

27 Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 28 And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” 29 He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.”[a] 30 And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.

Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection

31 Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”

34 He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, [b] will save it. 36 For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? 37 Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? 38 Those who are ashamed of me and of my words[c] in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Footnotes:

Mark 8:29 Or the Christ

Mark 8:35 Other ancient authorities read lose their life for the sake of the gospel

Mark 8:38 Other ancient authorities read and of mine.

A Poem a Sunday

Pentecost 16 B

September 13, 2015

Breathing Lessons

A man that is born falls into a dream like a man who falls into the sea.  If he tries to climb out into the air as inexperienced people endeavor to do, he drowns. …No, I tell you the way is to the destructive element submit yourself, and with the exertions of your hands and feet in the water make the deep, deep sea keep you up.”  [Lord Jim – Joseph Conrad, page 199]

Birth is breath

and breath is birth.

Focus point,

contractions,

breathe,

measuring the seconds.

Out of the water,

gasping for breath.

Breath is birth

and birth is breath.

Death is birth

and birth is death.

Focus point,

Invocation,

death,

measuring the three.

Out of the water,

gasping for breath.

Birth is death

and death is birth.

‘A Poem a Sunday’ – Kenn Storck – September 8, 2015