Good News - Week of 6/3/2018

PRAYER OF THE WEEK
Fill my eyes and my heart with your true Self, O God. Amen.

Binding the Strong Man

NOTES ON THE SCRIPTURES

1 Samuel 8:4-20: The people of Israel demand a king and God concedes, instructing Samuel to tell them how hard it will be to have a king ruling over them. Then Saul is appointed as king.

Psalm 138: Praise and thanksgiving for God’s unfailing love, God’s promises, God’s answers to prayer, and God’s protection.

​2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1: Paul explains his hope and faith in God that compels him to preach, for as God raised Christ, so God will raise all who believe in Christ. This gives us hope and perseverance in the face of the troubles we must deal with in this life.

Mark 3:20-35: In response to the religious teachers who claim that Jesus is possessed by a demon, Jesus teaches that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand, and that Satan cannot fight against Satan. Then, when his mother and brothers come asking for him, Jesus declares that all who do God’s will are his siblings and parents.

Reflections
Each day brings with it myriad challenges to our allegiance to God’s Reign. In our relationships, we are constantly challenged to abandon our commitments to integrity, fidelity, and mutual submission in favor of “no-strings-attached”, instant gratification of our own desires and urges. In our homes we are tempted to give up our quest for intimacy and mutual support, care and interest in favor of the passive and seemingly easy alternative of “entertainment” or completely independent activities. In our neighborhoods, it is tempting to avoid the struggles of learning to understand and listen to each other by grouping together with those who think like us, look like us and hold the same values, while separating ourselves from those who are different. Even in our faith communities, we easily turn away from the tough inclusivity and love that the Gospel demands in favor of exclusivity, legalism, hypocrisy and judgment of others. Ultimately all of these challenges to our allegiance to God’s Reign appear to promise life, pleasure and/or security, while, in fact, they rob us of life and move us further away from the life-giving activity and presence of God. This week we face the call to examine our hearts, get honest about where we place our allegiance, and ensure that we turn soundly back to God in any and every area where our allegiance may be faltering. Such self-examination (personal and communal) can be painful, but it is also the only way to remain connected with God’s life-giving Spirit.