Reflections for Sunday 17th October from Jacquie Brown
Sunday 17th November 2021 – 20th Sunday after Trinity
Collect:
1984 Prayer Book
Almighty and everlasting God,
mercifully look upon our infirmities, and in all our dangers and necessities
stretch forth thy right hand to help and defend us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Readings:
Old Testament: Job 38. 1-7, [34-41];
Psalm 104. 1-9, [24, 35c];
New Testament: Hebrews 5. 1-10;
Gospel: Mark 10. 35-45
Reflection:
If your teacher says something that you didn't understand, what do you think is a good thing for you to do at that point? That’s right!
Ask for help to better understand what's being taught, that is a really smart thing to do.
Would the teacher be very helpful if s/he always said, "No, you cannot ask me questions and I’m not answering them if you do"?
No? Right. A teacher who won't let you ask questions at any point about what’s being taught isn’t doing everything they can do to help you learn.
So, in today's Gospel story we see two of Jesus' students, James and John, ask their teacher, Jesus, a question.
They asked him if they could be his favourite disciples. And what is important to note is how Jesus responds to their question.
Firstly, he doesn't get cross with his students for asking him this question.
And secondly, he answers their question, even if their question probably wasn't what Jesus wanted them to be thinking about.
He tells them that they are asking for a difficult thing and that ultimately it is not Jesus who decides who his best students are, but for God to decide.
Sounds like a good answer, right? But it turns out the other disciples get upset with James and John for trying to be the favourite disciples, just by asking.
Jesus, though, tells the other disciples it’s not good to try and stop people from asking questions.
He tells them this by saying “whoever wishes to become [a] great [teacher] among you must be your servant.”
You may not know this, but answering lots of questions or even a few difficult questions can be a hard thing to deal with – so much so that it is like a service.
To answer questions well and with patience is one way we can serve others.
Which is one of the ways Jesus served his disciples as their teacher.
We also see him tell his disciples to be like him and serve others – even to those who ask lots of questions.
One of the reasons Jesus answered so many questions and wanted his disciples to do the same, I think, is because he wanted to make sure his disciples knew it was always ok to ask him questions about God.
And, we want to share that same invitation with you, right now: It is always ok to ask questions about God.
So, if you have a question about God, ask your family, Sunday school teacher, or ask the vicar - and if they don't know the answer, then they should go and ask others until they have something to share with you.
It is good to ask each other questions about God and it is good to share our thoughts about the questions, because that’s an excellent way for us to learn about God.
Collect:
1984 Prayer Book
Almighty and everlasting God,
mercifully look upon our infirmities, and in all our dangers and necessities
stretch forth thy right hand to help and defend us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Readings:
Old Testament: Job 38. 1-7, [34-41];
Psalm 104. 1-9, [24, 35c];
New Testament: Hebrews 5. 1-10;
Gospel: Mark 10. 35-45
Reflection:
If your teacher says something that you didn't understand, what do you think is a good thing for you to do at that point? That’s right!
Ask for help to better understand what's being taught, that is a really smart thing to do.
Would the teacher be very helpful if s/he always said, "No, you cannot ask me questions and I’m not answering them if you do"?
No? Right. A teacher who won't let you ask questions at any point about what’s being taught isn’t doing everything they can do to help you learn.
So, in today's Gospel story we see two of Jesus' students, James and John, ask their teacher, Jesus, a question.
They asked him if they could be his favourite disciples. And what is important to note is how Jesus responds to their question.
Firstly, he doesn't get cross with his students for asking him this question.
And secondly, he answers their question, even if their question probably wasn't what Jesus wanted them to be thinking about.
He tells them that they are asking for a difficult thing and that ultimately it is not Jesus who decides who his best students are, but for God to decide.
Sounds like a good answer, right? But it turns out the other disciples get upset with James and John for trying to be the favourite disciples, just by asking.
Jesus, though, tells the other disciples it’s not good to try and stop people from asking questions.
He tells them this by saying “whoever wishes to become [a] great [teacher] among you must be your servant.”
You may not know this, but answering lots of questions or even a few difficult questions can be a hard thing to deal with – so much so that it is like a service.
To answer questions well and with patience is one way we can serve others.
Which is one of the ways Jesus served his disciples as their teacher.
We also see him tell his disciples to be like him and serve others – even to those who ask lots of questions.
One of the reasons Jesus answered so many questions and wanted his disciples to do the same, I think, is because he wanted to make sure his disciples knew it was always ok to ask him questions about God.
And, we want to share that same invitation with you, right now: It is always ok to ask questions about God.
So, if you have a question about God, ask your family, Sunday school teacher, or ask the vicar - and if they don't know the answer, then they should go and ask others until they have something to share with you.
It is good to ask each other questions about God and it is good to share our thoughts about the questions, because that’s an excellent way for us to learn about God.
