The Message, September 29, 2024: "No Stumbling Blocks Here," Mark 9:38-50
Author: Rev. Scott W. Cousineau
October 01, 2024
“No Stumbling Blocks Here!”
A Message by Rev. Scott W. Cousineau
Mark 9:38-50
My guess is that some of you are
sick and tired of hearing me refer to my previous churches. “All he ever talks
about are those old churches that he served!” If you are among the sick and tired,
I ask you to bear with me. Today’s illustration is not really about the church
and its ministries. It is about where the church is located.
My former church is located in
Norfolk, Massachusetts. For those of you who are not familiar with the area,
Norfolk is next door to Foxborough, Massachusetts, the home of the New England
Patriots. Gilette Stadium is just a few miles from the church. In fact, there
were times when I could hear the concerts at the stadium from the backyard of
the parsonage.
As a lifelong Patriots fan, this was
a dream come true! I put it out to the universe that if the team ever needed a
chaplain to offer a pre-game prayer, all they had to do was call and I would
run right over. They never called. However, several of the members of the
church family were season ticket holders, so I was lucky enough to attend a few
games.
One lovely December day, the
doorbell of the parsonage rang. When I answered the door, I saw a friend and
colleague of mine standing there. He also happened to be one of the former
pastors of the church. He said that he was going to the game that evening and
asked if it was okay if he parked his car there. I replied that I was actually
going to the game as well. Why not go together.
When the agreed upon departure time
arrived, the doorbell rang again. I opened the door to one of the most horrific
sights that I had ever seen. My friend and colleague was standing there dressed
head to toe in New York Jets gear! (I had forgotten that he was a Jets fan.) I
said to him, “Is THAT what you are going to wear?!”
My friend had a long evening. He was
mocked and jeered as we walked toward the stadium. He was mocked and jeered
during the game. (Thank goodness his tickets were well away from where I was
sitting!) And since the Patriots won 45-3, he was mocked and jeered brutally as
we left the stadium. It was clear that he was not one of us!
I must say that he was a pretty good
sport about it, and I should also say that the Patriots fans were good sports as
well. The mocking was all in fun since the home team had won.
In our Gospel reading this morning,
the Jesus Team were not such great sports.
“Jesus! Jesus! You will never guess
what happened! We saw someone casting out a demon in YOUR name! But do
not worry … we told him to stop, because he is not one of US!” It is difficult
to tell if they were tattling … or bragging about what they had done.
Now, you may recall that last Sunday
we talked about how Jesus and the disciples made the turn from the north
country, Caesarea Philippi, and they were making their way toward Jerusalem. At
the same time, Jesus made a pivot in his ministry. He concentrated his efforts
and was teaching the disciples how to be disciples. Obviously, they had a lot
to learn.
Immediately prior to this passage,
Jesus asked the disciples what they had been arguing about on the road to
Capernaum. He knew that they had been arguing about which one of them would be
the greatest. That was when he taught them: “Anyone who wants to be first
must be the very last, and the servant of all.” (Mark 9:35) Then he took a
child and embraced it and said, “Anyone who welcomes one such as this child
welcomes me, AND welcomes the One who sent me.”
It was clear that the disciples were
still struggling with the issue of greatness.
The other day I saw a portion of a
comedy routine. I did not catch the comedienne’s name, but she said, “I used to
be a Christian. The good thing about being a Christian is that we are better
than everyone else.” (You notice that she said, “used to be a Christian.”)
The belief in demons and evil
spirits was very prevalent in the ancient world. The people believed that there
were demons and evil spirits everywhere, and they were just waiting for an
opportunity to prey upon any humans that they could get themselves into. It was
also believed that one could cast out demon, or an evil spirit, by invoking a
more powerful spirit. (Apparently, according to the law of the demons … the
lesser spirit was compelled to vacate their human host.)
So, whether or not the unauthorized
exorcist was an “accepted” member of Jesus’ followers, we do know that he
acknowledged the power and authority of Jesus. The unnamed exorcist had faith …
or belief … that the power of the spirit of Jesus would save the individual
possessed by the evil spirit.
But all that John and the other
disciples saw was that he was not one of them. John was erecting a fence around
Jesus and around God. John saw the Way of Jesus as an exclusive movement
limited to those who were “in.” But as we heard, and as we know, Jesus is not
about exclusion. That is not the Jesus Way. That is not the Way of God.
Jesus said to them, “John, do not
stop them. Do you not see? I just taught you about welcoming. Anyone who
performs an act of power in my name is with us. Anyone who serves in my name is
with us.”
John
and the others did not understand that they needed to expand the fellowship.
The Way of Jesus was going to need more than the twelve of them if it was going
to spread and reach out into the world. Jesus knew that, but the disciples were
still learning.
“Do
not hinder them. Do not be a stumbling block. Do not get between someone and
God. If someone is new to the faith … if they are one of the ‘little ones’ … do
not do anything that will make them stumble or fall.”
As
we can see, division and tension in the church is nothing new. It started even
before we had our first potluck supper. Just as the disciples, we too sometimes
fail to open the circle wider. We sometimes fail to understand that God is at
work in ways that we cannot possibly comprehend or imagine. We sometimes fail
to understand that when we cause others to stumble or fall, we may be placing a
stumbling block between God and the individual. When we are a hindrance in another’s
relationship with God, we may very well be working against the will and the way
of God.
Now,
let me be clear … we know very well that there are those in the world that will
seek to use the name and the Word of God for ill purposes. There are those who
invoke the name and Jesus and corrupt and manipulate his words for their own
personal gain. There are those who will try to deceive using God’s Word and
Jesus’ name. And Jesus is very clear that judgment awaits them.
We
also know that is not our Way. That is not the Way of Jesus. That is not the
Way of God.
We
are called to love and to serve. We are called to offer that cup of water, that
cup of refreshment. That is what followers of Jesus do. We offer love and life.
We offer welcome.
If
we believe that every person is a beloved child of God, then any act of
kindness or compassion that we offer is also offered to God. Likewise, any act
of cruelty or any act of omission that causes one to stumble or suffer is an
afront to God.
Jesus
calls us to be salt. It is a reference to ‘salt of the covenant.’ (Numbers
18:19; 2 Chronicles 13:5, Leviticus 2:13) In the Hebrew tradition, salt of the
covenant was added to their offerings to make them more pleasing to God. Salt
enhances, salt cures and preserves. Jesus said to his followers, “You are the
salt of the earth.” (Matthew 5:13)
Just
like John and the rest, we are still learning what it means to be disciples.
Thankfully, God is patient … and forgiving. God is merciful and gracious.
May
we possess hearts like Jesus.
May
our spirits mirror his spirit.
May
we remove barriers and obstacles that damage relationships with one another and
with God.
May
we love and welcome all who Jesus loved and welcomed.
May
there be no stumbling blocks here. Amen.
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