Friday, September 25, 2015

A Poem a Sunday
Pentecost 18 B – September 27, 2015
Mark 9:38-50 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Commentary:  Could Jesus be using hyperbole, extreme exaggeration, even sarcasm to make his point about allegiance?  One could call this Sunday ‘Pledge Allegiance Sunday.’  Will we pledge our allegiance to following temptations to sin, or will we pledge our allegiance to follow the Christ?

Another Exorcist

38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone[a] casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” 39 But Jesus said, “Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 40 Whoever is not against us is for us. 41 For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.

Temptations to Sin

42 “If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me,[b] it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell,[c] to the unquenchable fire.[d] 45 And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell.[e][f] 47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell,[g] 48 where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.
49 “For everyone will be salted with fire.[h] 50 Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it?[i] Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

Footnotes:

  1. Mark 9:38 Other ancient authorities add who does not follow us
  2. Mark 9:42 Other ancient authorities lack in me
  3. Mark 9:43 Gk Gehenna
  4. Mark 9:43 Verses 44 and 46 (which are identical with verse 48) are lacking in the best ancient authorities
  5. Mark 9:45 Gk Gehenna
  6. Mark 9:45 Verses 44 and 46 (which are identical with verse 48) are lacking in the best ancient authorities
  7. Mark 9:47 Gk Gehenna
  8. Mark 9:49 Other ancient authorities either add or substitute and every sacrifice will be salted with salt
  9. Mark 9:50 Or how can you restore its saltiness?

A Poem a Sunday
Pentecost 18 B
September 27, 2015

Imagine Jesus, the comedian,
speaking in hyperboles
with mumblings, groans,
and laughter from the crowd.

Out loud he speaks these
ridiculous notions
and for so many ages they
will create a commotion.

Hand cut off, an eye that offends
better to do now than to end
in Gehenna, that unquenchable fire
outside Jerusalem an eternal pyre.

It is a pity that we
divide our allegiance
between self and Yahweh,
but we have our reasons.

When we follow the Way,
there will be a price to pay.
It will be like open hands,
new eyes that really see.

So will your pledge be to self or cross?
Will you question the ‘Evil Powers that Be’
and suffer the loss of allegiance to Christ
not in creeds but in deeds?


A Poem a Sunday – Kenn Storck

No comments:

Post a Comment