Scripture for May 22, 2008.

Scripture for May 22, 2008, Thursday of seventh week. James 5:1-6. Psalm
49:14-20. Mark 9:41-50. Lectionary # 344.

Mark's language is very strong. He presents Jesus telling his
disciples about the radical demands they are expected to accomplish in
order to bring about the kingdom of God. This realm or rule of God is
essentially the message of the Gospels especially the Gospel of Mark and of
Matthew.Today Jesus is preaching about this kingdom in strong and negative
terms of what the demands are. Perhaps, because the Gospel of Mark is for
beginners or those helping beginners to understand their baptismal
commitment Jesus uses such striking and dramatic imperatives. In contrast
to the positive presentation of Matthew in the Beatitudes seen in the
Sermon on the Mount (chapters 5-7) we are dumbfounded by today's Gospel of
Mark. Of course, it follows on the injunction of Jesus not to harm the
little ones, the children whom he has just spoken about.
At the end of the pericope the image of salt does have a positive
meaning and is an attractive metaphor for living out the commands and
demands of the kingdom. It gives, so to speak, flavor to our call to
follow Jesus and to listen to the Gospel and then to go and proclaim that
the kingdom of God is among us. We may wish to mull over this passage of
Jesus but to pay more attention to the image of the salt. Jesus tells us,
"Keep salt in your hearts and you will be at peace with one another."
The Psalm response is actually from Matthew and is a beatitude that
helps us through the more negative demands we have just heard or
read:"Happy are the poor in spirit, the kingdom of heaven is theirs." We
take this as the familiar "both...and" teaching of Jesus. Sometimes we
need the strong metaphors to wake us up. But it is always good to have the
promptings of the savory salt of the beatitudes. Amen.