Sermon Introduction –
Sometimes we major in the minor things or get so bogged down in getting things perfect, or sidetracked by distractions that we forget all about our original purposes. This happens with people all the time and it happened in our gospel reading from Mark 10. Jesus needs to often remind us to live by God’s original intent which is relationship with God and each other.
Introduction to Readings –
Today’s gospel combines a saying that makes many of us uncomfortable with a story we find comforting. Jesus’ saying on divorce is another of his rejections of human legislation in favor of the original intent of God’s law. Jesus’ rebuke of the disciples who are fending off the children should challenge us a well. What does it mean to receive the kingdom of God as a child does?
Reading: Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12
Quoting from the Psalms, this passage from Hebrews emphasizes that Jesus, the one through whom God created everything and who sits at God’s right hand, is also the one who experienced human suffering and death in order to blaze the path of salvation for us.
Reading: Mark 10:2-16
Jesus announced and enacted in history the new reality of God’s surprising activity. These two stories demonstrate this new reality: Women and children are accepted and valued, not dismissed as inferior to adult men.
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