Epworth United Methodist Church

Epworth United Methodist Church
Rev. David Weekley, Pastor
World Communion Sunday
Psalm 26
Mark 10:2-16

Communion Reflection

The gospel reading this morning has often been used both to shame persons whose marriages have ended in divorce, for whatever reason, and to argue against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Christians as genuine persons of faith.

Interestingly, there is nothing in these passages that addresses LGBT people, and not even an indication about how many wives a man may have!

Remember, Levirate marriage was common [where a man would marry the wife of a deceased brother and produce children in his name], as was polygamy.

In these verses Jesus is explicitly answering a question about how a husband should treat his wife: this is a passage about intimate, covenanted relationships.

Jesus emphasizes that when two people vow to become one, God is in that union.

Because of this sacredness, neither person is free to treat the other as disposable property.

This is the real point: that we, as hard-hearted humans, would and do treat one another as disposable property.

During Jesus’ lifetime this was especially true of people like wives, women, and children.

In this chapter of Mark, Jesus calls attention specifically to such persons.

When we are in covenanted relationships, no-one is free to treat other people as disposable property.

Just before these verses, Jesus illustrates the same teaching by taking children into his arms and blessing them. In the culture in which Jesus lived, children, like women and wives, were considered property- property to be protected and well taken care of when profitable, and turned out and ill-treated when considered a liability.

I wonder: where in our society do you see evidence of people being treated as disposable property? Do you see signs of hope that such use and misuse of people is being transformed into healthy relationships?

Remember, this is not Jesus’ last word about relationships. Jesus will not allow us to use Scripture to continue to use and misuse any of God’s children.

He reminds us that his words about the divorcing of wives, is really about the hard-heartedness of some people.

We need to remember that God moves among us, and through us, through our limitations and limited understanding to create new perceptions.

No Scripture passage is the last word. We must search all of Scripture in order to comprehend the community into which God calls us and invites us to represent.

How does your life and your relationships reflect the open community that God desires?

Today is World Communion Sunday, a good time to think about our human relationships even at global levels.

I have been reminded again and again in recent days and weeks of the smallness of our world: as I shared with you last week, I have received so many emails and cards from other places- other states and countries, it is sometimes almost overwhelming.

Deborah and I have reached a decision not to do any more interviews, at least for awhile.

There does not seem to be any greater purpose to serve at this point- the story is out, people are thinking about it, discussing it, many are taking hope from it; not a few are surprised by it! [read letter from Arlene…]

What a wonderful example of genuine human relationship, held together in Christ.

Then there are these two emails, from a mother and son, each one writing to me unknown to each other…[read emails]

This is the reason for sharing such a personal story, just as so many of you understand the importance of sharing your personal stories around the internment and other issues; it is truly the only way things will change.

We need to become aware of how God loves us all, and calls us all to love and support one another.

On this World Communion Sunday, may we rededicate ourselves to reaching out in new ways of understanding and community, remembering that through Jesus, God calls, invites, and embraces every person at this table.

Today we know there are special needs for prayers and practical support for our sisters and brothers in Samoa and Sumatra.

So as we gather together, we keep all of them prayerfully in our hearts: we are collecting clothing, and non-perishable food for the next two weeks.

Please bring your donation to service, or call to make other arrangements during office hours.

Something I cherish about our United Methodist Church is UMCOR, the United Methodist Committee on Relief.

All gifts to this disaster response agency go directly to the cause/area, there is no administrative overhead.

If you would like to make a donation to the UMCOR South Pacific Earthquake and Tsunami advance, please mark your check or envelope: UMCOR Advance # 982450 [you can ask me for this information also following the service].

The United Methodist Committee on Relief is an expression of those three basic rules of faith John Wesley wrote about and spoke of in his journals and sermons.

Remember those three basic rules of faith John Wesley taught as the root of the gospel?

Do no harm

Do good

Stay in love with God…

This is an opportunity for us to do good, as we celebrate the unity of our faith on World Communion Sunday…

The Great Thanksgiving…