Proper 9B - July 9th 2006

Readings:

Ezekiel 2:1-5
Psalm 123
2 Cor 12:2-10
Mark 6:1-13

Sermon for July 2006 by David Burkhill-Howarth

Paul often reflects on the weakness of strengths and the strength of weaknesses. I suppose one of Paul's strengths was his sense of conviction - but this made him responsible for the persecution of followers of Jesus. He knew from his own experience the trouble caused by his strength.

Paul's strength (like all our strengths) are also our weaknesses. They make us think we are good. Pride comes before a fall and Paul speaks of his own experience of God strengthening him. So, to his friends at Corinth he writes: "I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Cor 12:10)

Nathan Nettleton's paraphrase of Paul's letter:

........There was a certain person ? a Christian person who I know well ? who fourteen years ago was swept up into the heights of heaven. I?m not sure whether this was a physical experience or an ecstatic vision. Only God really knows.
........As I say, God only knows whether or not it was a whole-body thing, but this certain person was snatched up into Paradise, and there he heard things that are too wonderful for words, things that he dare not repeat to a living soul. Now if you want to hear about such amazing things, then I?m willing to talk freely about this certain person, but I don?t want to go blowing my own trumpet. Of course if you want me to talk about weaknesses I could talk about myself all night!
........Mind you, there is no reason to think I?d end up with egg on my face if I did talk big about my own experiences. It would be the whole truth and nothing but the truth, but don?t get me started! I?d rather let my actions do the talking for me. Let me be judged simply by the value of what I teach and what I do. Any spectacular revelations I may have experienced in the past should not inflate your opinion of me.
........And believe me, God has seen to it that they haven?t given me an over inflated opinion of myself. To balance them out and keep my feet firmly on the ground, I have been given a special gift ? a real thorn in the flesh, a condition that torments me and causes great anguish in my body. Satan used it to try to derail me, but it is probably what has kept me on track. Of course I couldn?t see that at first. Three times I put everything else aside and gave all my time and energy to seeking the Lord for healing and deliverance. But the Lord said to me, ?My generous love is enough for you. Your weakness clears the deck and opens you to my strength.?
........So then, if it means that Christ?s strength will be all the more active in me, I will gladly wear my weaknesses like a badge of honour. Indeed, given the opportunity to talk about them, you can?t shut me up! So nowadays, what ever comes my way ? failure, bad-mouthing, tough times, harassment, tragedy ?I take it all in my stride and just allow Christ to come to the fore. You see, it is when I am at my weakest that I find the greatest strength.

©2000 Nathan Nettleton www.laughingbird.net

Jesus wasn't able to do anything in his own village.

He went round teaching from village to village and sent his disciples out in pairs. He told them to take nothing for the journey - not even bread, bag or money. It's strange how much we, today's disciples, try to carry around.

When we listen to the exalting music of Handel's Messiah, we usually assume it was surely written by a man at the pinnacle of his success, but that is not the case. In fact, it was written after he had suffered a stroke. It was written while Handel lived in poverty amid bleak surroundings. He had suffered through a particularly deep night of gloom and despair over his failure as a musician, and the next morning he unleashed his creative genius in a musical score that continues to thrill and inspire us generations later

(Peter Rhea Jones, Ministers Manual 1991, p. 58).

No Bags Please

Crossan draws attention to Jesus's instruction to his disciples to not take any bag with them. Apparently Cynic disciples (followers of Diogenes) did carry a bag. For them the bag symbolised their self-sufficiency, with them taking their "home" with them. The bag carried the message "We may be travellers, but we've got all we need, thanks."

On the other hand, Jesus' disciples lack of a bag meant they were dressed to show communal dependency.

Go now, and wherever people will hear you,
proclaim the life-changing love of God.
Do not fear your weakness,
for when you are weakest, Christ?s strength is known.
Travel lightly, live simply,
and honour those who welcome the gospel.

And may God be your protection and safe haven;
May the power of Christ Jesus dwell in you;
and may the Holy Spirit be your guide forever.
©2003 Nathan Nettleton www.laughingbird.net