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Morning Devotion for the Season After Pentecost
August 9, 2023
The Invitatory
The mercy of the Lord is everlasting: O come, let us adore him.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.
Reading: Mark 8:34-9:1
He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.’ And he said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.’
Meditation: Jo Ann B. Jones
When we are admitted to schools or join organizations or enter certain careers and professions which establish rules, norms of behavior and have means by which to enforce these standards and, when necessary, exact punishments, we agree to be so governed within these groups or societies. Often there is a ceremony in which individuals acknowledge their acceptance of the standards of behavior. When the time comes to amend them the members may participate in that process, hopefully, with the objective of best serving the norms and goals of the body. It does happen that some members revere the standards of behavior over the larger common good that the organization seeks to uphold.
It is immediately noticeable from Jesus’ invitation to discipleship that this will not, and cannot be the case. Jesus’ invitation seems entirely open-ended. The expectations are not explicit. What does it mean to deny oneself and how can human beings take up the cross?
It is very difficult to grasp that this discipleship means God’s fashioning a covenant of grace in which God makes a choice to die so that we might live. We are confused about God. God offers us freedom. That is to what Christ is calling these disciples.
Sometimes the removal of constraints creates a kind of resistance. Jazz legend Miles Davis was famous for leading his ensembles by withholding the kinds of direction that musicians were accustomed to receiving. Miles gave his musicians only the most general indications of what he wanted them to play and gave those just hours before recording. As pianist Bill Evans explains in his liner notes to the 1959 album Kind of Blue, ”Therefore, you will hear something close to pure spontaneity in these performances.” The freedom was the constraint, and the freedom was imposed by a leader whose authority was unquestionable.
Jesus introduces a different valuation for honor and work. It will not be the court of public opinion, the societal elite, or the Roman government. It will be God who determines what is honorable. That is why Jesus will be raised from the dead and will come in the glory of his father. This, then, will be the true measure of their discipleship.
Nonetheless, any “would be” follower should be prepared for the possible consequences. Undoubtedly there will be social and physical repercussions. Here is a new realm with very different expectations: the disciples must not allow society to dictate their actions or allow societal standards to determine their sense of self-worth. They also must be prepared for the physical consequences of discipleship including death.
Earlier in Mark’s Gospel, Jesus has asked the disciples ‘Who do people say that I am?’ And they answered him, ‘John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.’ He asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ If they have misunderstood, “Who is Jesus?” then they have also misunderstood “Who is a disciple?” Jesus explains what this means by contrasting those who secure physical life and possessions but lose their soul, with those who lose their physical lives but gain their soul through self-denial for the sake of the gospel. Eternal life is in view.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
22, 2022 Issue
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