In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit

Proper21BPentecost18, September 26, 2021, St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, Moses Lake, WA by Annette Fricke Jesus is running out of time. He is on his way to the cross. We understand that Jesus had a lot of disappointing moments with the disciples. Yet here they are again when they come back from a mission trip, not gleefully rejoicing that people are out doing works in Jesus’ name but trying to stop them because they were not following Jesus with them. They were a different group of followers doing exorcisms. If we imagine a close-knit community behind Mark’s gospel with a particular iteration and understanding of its heritage and tradition, then we might understand their anxiety or jealousy arising from encountering a community with similar claims. Mark has no time for such anxiety, jealousy, or elitism. Jesus’ response encompasses a rather expansive, universalistic view of the church. As long as something is being done in the name of Christ they will “by no means lose the reward” (Mark 9:41). It was the summer of 2008. Judy became a theology student staff camp counselor at the ripe age of 50. She was assigned to outreach, which meant being in a different congregation and staying with parishioners in their houses a week at a time. As the summer season of church camp was ending, she had the opportunity to see something she’d never witnessed before. This time, she was staying with a Roman Catholic family who babysat kids for the neighborhood and took the kids to several of the area summer Vacation Bible Schools. In the Roman Catholic tradition, grace before all meals was begun with the words, “In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” She marveled at the creative, inclusive Christian ministry of this family. It reached beyond Roman Catholicism. This summer experience was truly a ministry both given and received. Last Sunday the gospel lesson was about welcoming children. “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes not me but the one who sent me.” By contrast, here, the admonition is from the negative—not about what we should do, but what we should not do in very graphic, strong language. Many people find it objectional verbiage. Keep in mind that Mark is writing to a specific audience and is likely doing what he can to convince his audience that what we say and do as Christians is important. Simply put, we are not to put a stumbling block before the ‘little ones’ who believe in him. The meaning of ‘little ones’ actually goes beyond the restrictive meaning of ‘children’. It implies all of those considered to be ‘lesser’ in our community and world. We are admonished to “take a hard look at our treatment of little ones who believe in Jesus. Are we supporting them as they totter, or strewing rocks and fences and walls that break them down?” I have a saying on my white board in my office that says, “Growth begins where comfort ends.” This gospel challenges us who may be too comfortable in thinking things are great just the way they are. We need a balance, so that we are welcoming to all. It is a call by Jesus to remember in whose name our actions are done. It is a reminder that we do not in any sense own Jesus or are part of an exclusive club. We belong to Jesus. From the very beginnings of Christianity, there were different factions, and each had their followers. There were those who followed Peter and those who followed Paul. At St. John’s, a Benedictine seminary in Minnesota, a professor pointed out that the Roman Catholic Church has newly discovered and is studying the books attributed to Paul. Reconciliation between the Lutherans and Roman Catholics has progressed by way of the work of the theologians for both sides of a once united church. Each church is learning from the other what beliefs they have in common and are learning to appreciate the others’ viewpoint. Professor Dr. Walter Bouman used to ponder a possible futuristic view of the “Lutheran Rite of the Roman Catholic Church.” Many things are possible when we are open to the working of the Holy Spirit. In our regional diocesan gathering, the question posed by our bishop was this, “How has God transformed us during the COVID pandemic?” A further question is, “How can God continue to transform us as the pandemic continues?” Maybe it can happen on an individual level. Perhaps, as we connect at a deeper level with each other, God’s transformation of us will have a chance. Perhaps that vision of reuniting former split-offs of denominations really can happen. God has already begun to work in us. With God’s help, we can transform the world, one life at a time, one family at a time, one congregation at a time. There is work to be done in the name of Jesus.