READINGS: 10/17/2021 ~ Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time ~ Twenty-Second Sunday
after Pentecost (Proper 24) ~ Job 38:1-7, (34-41); Psalm 104:1-9, 24, 35c; Isaiah 53:4-12; Psalm
91:9-16; Hebrews 5:1-10; Mark 10:35-45.
Service
October 17, 2021
South Freeport Congregational Church
Rev. Joseph Connolly
“Anyone among you who wishes to aspire to greatness must serve the rest; whoever wants to rank
first among you must serve the needs of all. The Promised One has come not to be served but to
serve—....” — Mark 10:43a-45.
[1]
In my comments today I will sharing two very personal stories about my family. But you
need to hear some background information for these stories to make sense. I am the first of three
children. My brother is 14 months younger; my sister 4 years younger.
The stories: my mother died at a relatively young age, 58. I was 35. She had cancer of the
bladder which, even when she died in 1983, was fatal only 10% of the time. She simply was on
the wrong side of the bracket when it came to those odds.
Not long before Mom died, and she knew she was dying, she had a conversation with me
which I think was cathartic for her. My judgment is she felt had to say this to someone. In the
chat my mother described her three children in this way.
She labeled me, her firstborn, as her experiment. She had not seen a child being raised as
she, herself, was the lone child of a single mother, so I was her experiment. She said my brother,
the second child, was her baby. Then she said my sister, the third born, was her enjoyment.
I am not saying that any of this was good or even healthy. But I am convinced she was
trying to explain how she related to us as individuals. I think what she said illustrates how much
she loved each of us differently and loved each of us deeply. (Slight pause.)
Here’s a second story about my family background. When I was five or so my father had
what they called in the early 1950s a nervous breakdown.
Today we would have recognized this as the onset of a mental illness known as Passive
Dependency or Passive Aggression. As can be the case with mental illness, he remained
functional in society but he was clearly hurting.
One consequence of this was, as the next oldest male in the family in this very different
era, the 50s, the family members looked to me for leadership. Or at least they invested me with
and groomed me for that role.
I could tell tales about what that looked like. Suffice it to say Mom chose to have the
aforementioned conversation with me. It illustrates my place in this family structure.
But my place in that structure is not the point. The point is in this structure I fulfilled a
leadership role. That was certainly true by the time I was in my early teens.
I need to be clear— I am not saying any of that was good or healthy when it comes to
family dynamics. I am offering these stories to illustrate two aspects of family dynamics. And
not just in my family but in any family, family dynamics develop.
One aspect of these dynamics could be labeled as relationship— that story about my
mother. A second aspect of these dynamics could be labeled as structure, the story about my
father and leadership. Relationship and structure are present in all families. In fact, relationship
and structure are present in any organization and in any church.
That opens this question. “Which will be the driving force in any family, in any
institution, in any church— relationship or structure?” (Slight pause.)
We find these words in the work known as Mark. “Anyone among you who wishes to
aspire to greatness must serve the rest; whoever wants to rank first among you must serve the
needs of all. The Promised One has come not to be served but to serve—....” (Slight pause.)
There are three scenes in this reading. First, there is the request of James and John for
prominence. There is also the anger expressed by other disciples at this audacious request. Last
we have Jesus. (Quote:) “Anyone among you who wishes to aspire to greatness must serve the
rest;....”
Please note, Jesus does not rebuke the brothers. We might want to— not Jesus. But Jesus
also confronts them with reality.
And then there is the anger on the part of the other disciples. It’s likely this reflects
jealousy rather than indignation— jealousy about the proposed structure.
Again, Jesus resists a rebuke. Jesus instead uses the pagan authorities as models of how
not to exercise leadership. So Jesus does it again: confronts with reality.
You see, the criterion for leadership is not effectiveness of structure, who gets the job done
the quickest, who has the better program. Rather, in the Dominion of God we are called to be
faithful.
The text even says faithfulness is a style of leadership, a style which runs counter to the
prevailing wisdom of the day. I would suggest it also runs counter to the prevailing wisdom
today since effectiveness, speed, programs are highly valued.
This may not make much sense to those who are stuck on effectiveness, speed, programs.
And these all consider the bottom line... but we need to realize all these go no further than the
bottom line.
In the Dominion of God the needs of people and how service can be rendered to meet
those needs are vital. In short, priority is given to relationships. (Slight pause.)
I want to go back to the earlier discussion about my family. Clearly there was structure.
But the problem with that structure was not even the fact that when I was young the family turned
to me.
The problem with that structure is my family was not looking for a leader. The problem of
any structure which does not rely on relationship is that structures which rely on effectiveness,
speed, programs are simply in search of a fix. Structures which try to find fixes also try to find
someone to fix things. These are structures in search of a hero.
Let me substitute a theological term for the word hero. To be searching for a hero,
searching for someone to fix things, is to be looking for... a savior. Jesus does not have a hero
complex. In fact what makes Jesus Savior is a willingness to be a servant.
We call Jesus Savior because of the willingness displayed by the Christ to concentrate on
relationships, explore relationships, be in relationships, a willingness to say we need to support
one another. The reason we call Jesus Savior is because of the willingness displayed in the Christ
to not be served but to serve. (Slight pause.)
I have one more observation. Did James, John and the disciples completely miss the point
of the preaching of Jesus or the actions Jesus took? Did they completely miss the point when
Jesus blessed the children who seemed a nuisance, miss the point Jesus made when Jesus spoke to
the rich man about the need to break with possessions?
My answer is ‘no,’ they did not miss the point. Rather, they willfully ignored the point.
Why? You see, we are human.
We are imperfect and in our imperfection we believe structure is or at least can be a
perfect solution. The very thought of structure gives us great comfort. We assume structure will
be a solution for everything.
And we, therefore, do seek the comfort of structure rather than what is often the
haphazardness found in relationship. But relationship is what Jesus relies on.
Relationship is what Jesus teaches and more importantly acts out. Jesus teaches and acts
out relationship with God and one another. And you know what that is— relationship with God
and with one another— right? Yes— it’s that word you’ve already heard me use: covenant.
Covenant— it is about relationship. Amen.
10/17/2021
South Freeport Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, South Freeport, Maine
ENDPIECE: It is the practice of the Pastor to speak after the Closing Hymn, but before the
Choral Response and Benediction. This is an précis of what was said: “Today we welcomed new
members. And together the members of the Congregation said (quote:) ‘We are one body in
Christ, acting both individually and in groups, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and with mutual trust.’
Relationships are based in trust. So that covenant stuff— love God love neighbor. It also means
trust God, trust neighbor. After all, can there be love without trust? I think not.”
BENEDICTION: There is a cost and there is a joy in discipleship. There is a cost and there is a
joy in truly being church, in deeply loving one another. May the face of God shine upon us; may
the peace of Christ rule among us; may the fire of the Spirit burn within us this day and
forevermore. Amen.
[1]1. This was the Gospel reading and the translation used.
Mark 10:35-45 [ILV] ~ The Gospel makes a point like this quite often, so the sentiment addressed
by this passage was probably a truth found in the communities of the early church: any kind of
power structure was not welcome. Hear now this reading from the Gospel we have come to know
as Mark’s.
[35] The Children of Zebedee, James and John, approached Jesus. “Teacher,” they said, “we
want you to grant our request.”
[36] “What is it?” Jesus asked.
[37] They replied, “Grant to us that we sit next to you, one at your right and one at your left,
when you come into your glory.”
[38] But Jesus told them, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup I
will drink or be baptized in the same baptism with which I am baptized?”
[39] “We can,” they replied.
Jesus said in response, “The cup I drink you will drink; and the baptism with which I am
baptized, you will share; [40] but as for sitting at my right or at my left, that is not mine to grant;
it is for those for whom it has been reserved.”
[41] The other ten, on hearing about this, began to be indignant with James and John.
[42] So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that among the Gentiles, those whom
exercise authority, those who are domineering and arrogant, those who are perceived to be ‘great
ones,’ they know how to make their own importance felt. [43] But it cannot be like that with
you. Anyone among you who wishes to aspire to greatness must serve the rest; [44] whoever
wants to rank first among you must serve the needs of all. [45] The Promised One has come not
to be served but to serve— to give one life in ransom for the many.”
after Pentecost (Proper 24) ~ Job 38:1-7, (34-41); Psalm 104:1-9, 24, 35c; Isaiah 53:4-12; Psalm
91:9-16; Hebrews 5:1-10; Mark 10:35-45.
Service
October 17, 2021
South Freeport Congregational Church
Rev. Joseph Connolly
“Anyone among you who wishes to aspire to greatness must serve the rest; whoever wants to rank
first among you must serve the needs of all. The Promised One has come not to be served but to
serve—....” — Mark 10:43a-45.
[1]
In my comments today I will sharing two very personal stories about my family. But you
need to hear some background information for these stories to make sense. I am the first of three
children. My brother is 14 months younger; my sister 4 years younger.
The stories: my mother died at a relatively young age, 58. I was 35. She had cancer of the
bladder which, even when she died in 1983, was fatal only 10% of the time. She simply was on
the wrong side of the bracket when it came to those odds.
Not long before Mom died, and she knew she was dying, she had a conversation with me
which I think was cathartic for her. My judgment is she felt had to say this to someone. In the
chat my mother described her three children in this way.
She labeled me, her firstborn, as her experiment. She had not seen a child being raised as
she, herself, was the lone child of a single mother, so I was her experiment. She said my brother,
the second child, was her baby. Then she said my sister, the third born, was her enjoyment.
I am not saying that any of this was good or even healthy. But I am convinced she was
trying to explain how she related to us as individuals. I think what she said illustrates how much
she loved each of us differently and loved each of us deeply. (Slight pause.)
Here’s a second story about my family background. When I was five or so my father had
what they called in the early 1950s a nervous breakdown.
Today we would have recognized this as the onset of a mental illness known as Passive
Dependency or Passive Aggression. As can be the case with mental illness, he remained
functional in society but he was clearly hurting.
One consequence of this was, as the next oldest male in the family in this very different
era, the 50s, the family members looked to me for leadership. Or at least they invested me with
and groomed me for that role.
I could tell tales about what that looked like. Suffice it to say Mom chose to have the
aforementioned conversation with me. It illustrates my place in this family structure.
But my place in that structure is not the point. The point is in this structure I fulfilled a
leadership role. That was certainly true by the time I was in my early teens.
I need to be clear— I am not saying any of that was good or healthy when it comes to
family dynamics. I am offering these stories to illustrate two aspects of family dynamics. And
not just in my family but in any family, family dynamics develop.
One aspect of these dynamics could be labeled as relationship— that story about my
mother. A second aspect of these dynamics could be labeled as structure, the story about my
father and leadership. Relationship and structure are present in all families. In fact, relationship
and structure are present in any organization and in any church.
That opens this question. “Which will be the driving force in any family, in any
institution, in any church— relationship or structure?” (Slight pause.)
We find these words in the work known as Mark. “Anyone among you who wishes to
aspire to greatness must serve the rest; whoever wants to rank first among you must serve the
needs of all. The Promised One has come not to be served but to serve—....” (Slight pause.)
There are three scenes in this reading. First, there is the request of James and John for
prominence. There is also the anger expressed by other disciples at this audacious request. Last
we have Jesus. (Quote:) “Anyone among you who wishes to aspire to greatness must serve the
rest;....”
Please note, Jesus does not rebuke the brothers. We might want to— not Jesus. But Jesus
also confronts them with reality.
And then there is the anger on the part of the other disciples. It’s likely this reflects
jealousy rather than indignation— jealousy about the proposed structure.
Again, Jesus resists a rebuke. Jesus instead uses the pagan authorities as models of how
not to exercise leadership. So Jesus does it again: confronts with reality.
You see, the criterion for leadership is not effectiveness of structure, who gets the job done
the quickest, who has the better program. Rather, in the Dominion of God we are called to be
faithful.
The text even says faithfulness is a style of leadership, a style which runs counter to the
prevailing wisdom of the day. I would suggest it also runs counter to the prevailing wisdom
today since effectiveness, speed, programs are highly valued.
This may not make much sense to those who are stuck on effectiveness, speed, programs.
And these all consider the bottom line... but we need to realize all these go no further than the
bottom line.
In the Dominion of God the needs of people and how service can be rendered to meet
those needs are vital. In short, priority is given to relationships. (Slight pause.)
I want to go back to the earlier discussion about my family. Clearly there was structure.
But the problem with that structure was not even the fact that when I was young the family turned
to me.
The problem with that structure is my family was not looking for a leader. The problem of
any structure which does not rely on relationship is that structures which rely on effectiveness,
speed, programs are simply in search of a fix. Structures which try to find fixes also try to find
someone to fix things. These are structures in search of a hero.
Let me substitute a theological term for the word hero. To be searching for a hero,
searching for someone to fix things, is to be looking for... a savior. Jesus does not have a hero
complex. In fact what makes Jesus Savior is a willingness to be a servant.
We call Jesus Savior because of the willingness displayed by the Christ to concentrate on
relationships, explore relationships, be in relationships, a willingness to say we need to support
one another. The reason we call Jesus Savior is because of the willingness displayed in the Christ
to not be served but to serve. (Slight pause.)
I have one more observation. Did James, John and the disciples completely miss the point
of the preaching of Jesus or the actions Jesus took? Did they completely miss the point when
Jesus blessed the children who seemed a nuisance, miss the point Jesus made when Jesus spoke to
the rich man about the need to break with possessions?
My answer is ‘no,’ they did not miss the point. Rather, they willfully ignored the point.
Why? You see, we are human.
We are imperfect and in our imperfection we believe structure is or at least can be a
perfect solution. The very thought of structure gives us great comfort. We assume structure will
be a solution for everything.
And we, therefore, do seek the comfort of structure rather than what is often the
haphazardness found in relationship. But relationship is what Jesus relies on.
Relationship is what Jesus teaches and more importantly acts out. Jesus teaches and acts
out relationship with God and one another. And you know what that is— relationship with God
and with one another— right? Yes— it’s that word you’ve already heard me use: covenant.
Covenant— it is about relationship. Amen.
10/17/2021
South Freeport Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, South Freeport, Maine
ENDPIECE: It is the practice of the Pastor to speak after the Closing Hymn, but before the
Choral Response and Benediction. This is an précis of what was said: “Today we welcomed new
members. And together the members of the Congregation said (quote:) ‘We are one body in
Christ, acting both individually and in groups, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and with mutual trust.’
Relationships are based in trust. So that covenant stuff— love God love neighbor. It also means
trust God, trust neighbor. After all, can there be love without trust? I think not.”
BENEDICTION: There is a cost and there is a joy in discipleship. There is a cost and there is a
joy in truly being church, in deeply loving one another. May the face of God shine upon us; may
the peace of Christ rule among us; may the fire of the Spirit burn within us this day and
forevermore. Amen.
[1]1. This was the Gospel reading and the translation used.
Mark 10:35-45 [ILV] ~ The Gospel makes a point like this quite often, so the sentiment addressed
by this passage was probably a truth found in the communities of the early church: any kind of
power structure was not welcome. Hear now this reading from the Gospel we have come to know
as Mark’s.
[35] The Children of Zebedee, James and John, approached Jesus. “Teacher,” they said, “we
want you to grant our request.”
[36] “What is it?” Jesus asked.
[37] They replied, “Grant to us that we sit next to you, one at your right and one at your left,
when you come into your glory.”
[38] But Jesus told them, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup I
will drink or be baptized in the same baptism with which I am baptized?”
[39] “We can,” they replied.
Jesus said in response, “The cup I drink you will drink; and the baptism with which I am
baptized, you will share; [40] but as for sitting at my right or at my left, that is not mine to grant;
it is for those for whom it has been reserved.”
[41] The other ten, on hearing about this, began to be indignant with James and John.
[42] So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that among the Gentiles, those whom
exercise authority, those who are domineering and arrogant, those who are perceived to be ‘great
ones,’ they know how to make their own importance felt. [43] But it cannot be like that with
you. Anyone among you who wishes to aspire to greatness must serve the rest; [44] whoever
wants to rank first among you must serve the needs of all. [45] The Promised One has come not
to be served but to serve— to give one life in ransom for the many.”