Clergy - Sinners in the need of God's Redeeming Grace - August 25

Today’s Readings AM Psalm 140, 142; PM Psalm 141, 143:1-11(12); 2 Samuel 19:24-43; Acts 24:24-25:12; Mark 12:35-44

I’m not the biggest fan of the passage for today.  Jesus is pretty critical of the scribes.  That’s a word that doesn’t make much sense in our context in a world with spell check and grammar applications and tools that harness Artificial Intelligence.  The scribes had a much bigger role than just figuring out mistakes or ‘scribal’ errors in copies of sacred text. After the Babylonian exile, scribes became teachers of the law.  They are religious leaders. 

Scribes also had a legal role in the community. It was a scribe that could draft a legal document such as a marriage contract or divorce, or even a loan. Maybe this is the origin of clergy signing marriage contracts in every state in the United States except Alabama (all you need in Alabama is a Wi-Fi connection, a printer, and a notary!) 

Jesus holds up the scribes as the hypocrites who have not only failed to live out a life of caring for those who are in need, and warns people to not be like them, it hits home.  Jesus is critical of the religious leaders, the ones who have taken on a voice of authority. Three times a week, our clergy (religious leaders) write reflections, we preach, we teach, and I pray that we help you deepen your relationship with God.  And we are as far from fully embodying Jesus as everyone else. 

The litmus test for your faith is not a sermon or a reflection, or something said in passing, and dare I say it’s not your imperfect clergy – it is the love and compassion of God in the life of Jesus Christ.  If what the church proclaims does not muster up to God’s unconditional embrace and love for all people, especially those who suffer and are on the margins, then we have missed the boat.  Remember, Jesus is most critical of the religious leaders of his time, a helpful reminder for us who try to be faithful. And we are all human, sinners, in need of God’s unconditional love and redeeming grace, a freedom from having to be perfect. 

John+

Questions for Self-Reflection:  How do you reconcile when your church doesn’t live up to the expectations that you believe it should live up to?  Have you seen the church ever act in a way that doesn’t model God’s unconditional love?