At the edge

It is sponsored by a very successful businessman who wants to encourage initiative, entrepreneurship, innovation, technological advancement, and small business.

His point of view is that this is how the nation can succeed, by giving the best possible training to folks and setting them loose, and perhaps employing some of them in his business.

Anyone can apply to get this free education; he is not predisposed toward any particular person, race, or gender.

But there is a weeding-out process to determine who gets in for this free college education.

The school begins by asking the candidates to sit down and write and test computer code for three days and nights.

Then he can tell who has the drive and determination, who he can train and give them encouragement, and the watch out as they become the ones who will develop the next big innovations...and who does not have that drive, and therefore need to melt back into the pack and be “average” cogs in the wheel of some business.

Lots of folks crowd around Jesus, at least initially.

They want to see and hear, for awhile.

But Jesus has this uncanny ability to say and do things that will not allow people to be simply spectators, or to be “average.”

They must respond, either in faith, or turning away in sorrowful disbelief.

Remember the story of the rich young man who came to see Jesus, and after their conversation about treasure that is somewhere other than in a bank account, he was shocked, Mark says, and went away grieving, for he had many possessions, (or rather, they had him).[Mk 10:22]

So many, who had been part of the adoring crowds, begin to fall away.

Remember that Jesus has to tell Peter “Get behind me Satan....” when he tempts Jesus to go for the world's way of power.

Remember that Jesus then gave a series of advance warnings, we call them the Passion predictions, where he says what will happen with him...and none of it is enticing for a follower.

Remember how the religious authorities are watching, watching all the time, looking for the opportunity to catch Jesus in a wrong word or action which they can exploit to bring about his downfall.

Remember how the disciples urge Jesus to stay away from Jerusalem, and Jesus responds that he must go there.

So in this situation of tension and anxiety, Jesus has a conversation in today's Gospel with some of those who would like to bring about his destruction.

And he hands them this stinging rebuke: “I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going to the kingdom of God before you.”

He was addressing those who were at the very center of the nation's life, the very best they could put forward.

But Jesus is not looking there, but rather at the margins, the people at the edge of things.

He is looking at those who are lean and hungry, whom he can take and train to be first in the kingdom of God.

They will become the ones who will tackle any challenge.

They know that they have nothing about which they could brag; they know that they do not do it on their own, but empowered only by God's Holy Spirit.

There are two different ways to hear Jesus little parable in today's Gospel reading.

The first certainly has a message of Good News: that there is opportunity for repentance, for turning life around, for following Jesus.

There is the son who initially said NO but who later repents and does what is asked by the father. Another chance! Yes we need to hear that, and it is Good News.

How many different ways are there for US to say No to God?

As many as the day is long.

But still, there is the opportunity to be turned around, to hear God's Yes in spite of the Nos we have been piling up from the past.

And there is another way of hearing this story from Jesus.

It is this: there is no room for anyone to boast.

The first son initially shamed his father by refusing; the second son brought shame by refusing later.

Neither one consistently honored the father.

And there is a third kind of person, not discussed in the parable, that is also present.

At any given time, in addition to those who have said no initially and have reconsidered, and those who said yes but gave up, are those who say yes and are continuing in that “yes”.

They are the ones who are moving on down the road with Jesus.

Remember that Jesus did not stay in one place.

A few days here, and then he is off to there, both figuratively and literally.

He does not allow the disciples and others to become comfortable, but constantly moves to the margins where he challenges each person whom he encounters to ponder the meaning of discipleship in that particular day, and to respond in appropriate action.

Our “yes” may be faint-hearted and uncertain-sounding, but that does not deter the Lord.

Even as he forgives and offers another chance to those who say “no' and relent, he can take our weakly positive “yes” and accomplish his will even with it.

Let's take this as a bit of good news for us.

After all, we are here this morning.

We may gather with an assortment of mixed motives; some may be strongly “yes” to Jesus, others, not so much.

On any given day, one member of the family may be truly delighted to be engaged in worship, while another is here reluctantly; but at least, both are here ... and Jesus will feed and direct and work with them both, sending them both out to continue the work he intends.

There is no room for pridefulness here.

Our third sort of pilgrim cannot think himself superior to others just because he has not taken a detour recently.

Keep listening for the voice of our guide, who will not lead us astray.

Keep coming to his table, from which we receive the sustaining food we need for the journey.

Keep coming to the assembly of those who intend this trip together, so that we can comfort one another on the difficult days and rejoice with those who forge ahead.

Lots of folks have Tom-Tom or a similar digital device these days, either as a separate thing, or a permanent part of the vehicle, or even in a cellphone.

One enters the goal and the gadget calculates the route.

But there is not just one route; for if one takes a detour, the gadget will find another route in order to arrive at the destination.

Oh, yes, there are times when one gets too far off the track that it says ever so gently, “Um, I think you should have followed that last direction. Look for a place and turn around.”

That insistent voice could be the description of the church word “repentance”, turning around and getting on the route toward the goal again.

Repentance is a motion-word, at the frontier crossroads of “Faithful Engagement” with “Detachment.”

(another way of naming “Yes” or “No!”)

And as one part of our ”Yes” response today, we join in singing the next hymn, one which is based on one of the very oldest hymn-texts of the church, embedded in our Second Lesson today.

With its bold text and confident melody, it helps us to recognize that we are a part of this great procession, pulled by our Lord Jesus toward the edge of things where he is, with the greatest of goals in mind.

On with the journey! Amen.

Please note: The preceding sermon is provided as a resource for the thought, prayer, and meditation of the members and friends of St. Mark's. It is the residue of a verbal event, and thus it does not have academic footnotes and other details that would be expected in a written document. The writer gladly acknowledges the prior thought and work of many Christians before him.