There's an underlying theme
throughout the readings this week... it's a theme that started last week, and
will continue for another few weeks. That theme is family. We're hearing about
what it means to be family: the good, the challenging, the not-always-pretty:
because Jesus wants us to know that we are part of the family of God.
So last week, Paul assured us that
"all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God."[1] And
Jesus reminds us of how faith brings us to eternal life in the Kingdom of God -
all of us there as a family.
And now this week we get some
challenging readings; but again the theme is there for us if we can dig deeply
and glean it out. We get the clear message here that the people are not
focusing on the right things: they are focused on the human, earthly realities
that seem like a good idea at the time... but they have lost their focus on the
truth of God's kingship. So they ask for an earthly king, and Samuel - well, he
gets frustrated, doesn't he? But God assures him that all is not lost; it's
just temporarily off-track. So God reminds the people through Samuel: if you
just focus on earthly gain, you will lose what is important: your family. You
will lose your daughters, your sons, your wives, your lands, your livestock,
etc. And yet: the people still demanded a king.
Now, in our scripture today, we
jumped a few chapters. So the folks demand a king, and then ... well, here's
the 'Coles Notes' of what we skipped... first Samuel sends them all home, then
he hears that the Lord will send a handsome man named Saul; the two meet and
share a meal, Samuel anoints Saul, Saul proves himself chosen by his prophesy,
there's lots of talk about donkeys and doing right by your family, the
Israelites get into a battle that they're losing, in their desperation they get
re-acquainted with Samuel and his buddy Saul, Saul helps them re-focus on
working together as one and they defeat their enemies, Samuel assures them
their deliverance came from God alone, through Saul, and THEN we return to the end
of the passage where Saul is proclaimed a king.
So: Keep God and God's family as
your focus, and you shall be saved.
Then we get another letter from
Paul. Different from last week: different time, different community, different
issues going on that need addressing. Yet: similar message. Focus on being the
family of God, and salvation can be found. Don't get caught up on what can be
seen, for that is temporary and earthly and we can't take it with us when we
go. But: look for what is eternal. Look
beyond the shiny trappings of this life, and focus on the house of God. The
family home: that "building from God, a house not made with hands,
eternal in the heavens."[2]
Again: keep God and God's family as
your focus, and you will be assured a space in God's family home.
Then we get this delightfully rich,
dense, almost confusing gospel reading.
It starts off with Jesus and his
disciples being SO busy that they don't even have time to eat. Forget napping,
forget a relaxing stroll along the beach; they're being hounded by the crowds.
It's been 24/7 for Jesus since his baptism. Here we are in chapter 3, and
already he's been tempted in the wilderness, called and appointed his
disciples, healed more folks than we can count, cast out demons, started a
preaching tour, and been teaching anywhere he can. It's exhausting just hearing
about it; imagine doing it. And then he tries to go home for a rest, and that's
where today's passage starts.
So Jesus, being Jesus, goes out to
help the people who are in need. And his family is simply trying to get him to
rest; they know that he is being set up to be tested and judged by the
Pharisees. But Jesus - he goes out anyway. So he denies their illogical accusations that,
because his ministry doesn't fit their understanding of God, he must be doing
something evil. Hence: "How can Satan cast out Satan?"[3]
It just doesn't work.
And so Jesus re-focuses on the
importance of being family, the family of God.
"If a Kingdom
is divided against itself, it will not be able to stand. If a house is divided
against itself, it will not be able to stand."[4]
What a great lesson in family for us
all, there. If we are fighting against our own families, we will weaken
ourselves: individually, as families, and as communities. If we speak ill
against one of our family, we will all fall. If we have infighting and gossip
and judgement against our own families: we will fall.
Because when we do this, when we
deny family, we are denying God's kingdom. When we put ourselves in a higher
state or status than others, we are denying God's family. When we refuse and
reject the Spirit active in others around us, we are refusing and rejecting
God: That is the blasphemy of which Jesus speaks; that is the sin which is
eternal: to deny the presence of God in all life is to reject God in any life.
Thus the message is re-affirmed when
Jesus' mother and brothers show up. He demonstrates the type of reaction we all
should have. He does not rebuke them, he simply reminds them - and all of us, as
his disciples - that we are called to BE the family of God, to encourage and
empower and build up the family. "Whoever does the will of God IS my
brother and sister and mother."[5]
As a colleague said this week: "any one (ANY one!) who goes around freeing
people... from the oppressive systems in life which stifle and deny the Spirit,
is part of Jesus' true family."[6]
For Jesus, the message is to live
out the reality of family. To go against anyone who would deny life and
community, to support anyone who seeks ways to be inclusive. So I think this
week our challenge and invitation is to focus on what it means to be family.
What it means to be part of the family at home, part of the family in church,
part of the family in the broader community. We're called to recognise how
sometimes our own actions can be exclusive - thereby breaking the family bonds;
and instead re-focus our energies in ways that are inclusive - thereby
strengthening those family bonds. We're invited to treat others exactly as we
want to be treated: as important, respected, beloved children of God, living in
God's household. We're encouraged to celebrate what it means to be family, to
be living members of the Body of Christ in the Household of God. We're called
to follow the teaching of Jesus, to look at those around us and say " Here are my
mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister
and mother.'"[7]
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