Isaiah 53:4-12

Hebrews 4:12-16

Mark 10:35-45

Psalm 91 or 91:9-16

Pray for me, that the words I speak may be those God wants us to hear.

Today’s lessons speak to us of servanthood, and of the innocent who suffer for the sake of others as atonement for sin.

The Old Testament lesson is from the 4^th servant song of Isaiah, the suffering servant song. These words are familiar to us: they are often read on Palm Sunday or Good Friday, and those of you who are familiar with Handel’s Messiah may recognize that 3 chorus pieces come from this passage. It awesome to think that these words, that fit Jesus so well, were written about 500 years before his time. So…who was the suffering servant the prophet was writing about in his own time? The suffering servant is thought to be not just one person, but the nation of Israel This is true of all 4 servant songs. They tell of a servant who is sent by God much as a king sends a royal emissary. The servant’s mission is to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to bring a light to the nations, that God’s salvation may reach to the ends of the earth. The servant is sometimes rebellious, and at other times suffers innocently. At the time this passage was written, it spoke to the suffering, exiled Israelites, who were bearing the sins and mistakes of the generations that went before them. It reminded them who they are in the life of the nation. They are the ones who are bearing the sorrow today; but soon, they will see the light; they have a future, they will see their offspring; ultimately, through all they are enduring now, they will make many righteous. God’s people will bring light to the world. God, working through the

In today’s passage from the Gospel according to Mark, Jesus and his disciples are on their way to Jerusalem Jesus has just told the disciples that i Jerusalem he is will suffer and die. He understands that he is carrying out a mission like that of the suffering servant, but this makes no sense to the disciples; they are in denial. Surely if this is the Messiah they have been waiting for such things will not happen. They are looking for a Messiah who will restore the nation of and overthrow their Roman rulers.  Things may get grim, yes; notice that James and John, who are putting in their bid for the places of honor when all the hard stuff is over, say they are ready and willing to undergo what Jesus faces. They can drink the cup, they can be baptized with the same baptism. But greatness looks different in the

Kingdom

, and Jesus brings them right back to the servant image; the suffering servant, who gives his life as a ransom for many.

Sometimes we confuse the idea of servanthood with the idea of servitude. Servitude is akin to bondage, slavery, being compelled to work but given little regard. Servanthood is willing service, taken up voluntarily. Servants choose to serve.

Jesus wants his followers to choose a life of love and service, following His example. Followers of Jesus, the gathered community of God’s people, are to bring light to the world.

What does it look like to be a servant of God? This servanthood will look as different as each servant who chooses to work for God, using the gifts given to them for the welfare of the body of Christ and the work of that body in the world. We are given some clues in the baptismal covenant, especially in the last 2 promises.

Will you seek and SERVE Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?

Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?

And the answer is, “I will, with God’s help!”  If we are God’s servants, we listen for God’s instructions and watch for God’s help. And, working through our meager efforts, sometimes through our suffering, through our putting up with things we are not always happy about but we hang in there anyway, God will do this.

In 2 weeks delegates from

St. Paul

’s, along with delegates and clergy from all over the diocese will travel to

Redding

for our annual diocesan convention. There are 2 resolutions before convention this year. Both resolutions urge each congregation to adopt a vision for mission that looks outside itself. One resolution urges each congregation to make a commitment to campus ministry in some way. The other resolution, which recognizes actions passed at the 75^th General Convention last summer, states priorities for budgetary spending in carrying out the mission of the church. The priorities are 1) Justice and peace 2) young adults, youth and children 3) reconciliation and evangelism 4) congregational transformation, and 5) partnerships.  The resolution urges every parish in the diocese to examine their budgetary priorities in light of these

National

priorities and when possible to adopt the same, with particular attention given to the 8 Millennium Development Goals contained in priority #1, Justice and Peace.

The 8 United Nations Millennium Development Goals, or MDGs as they are being bantered around, are these:

I have posted both these resolutions in the nave for your examination, along with other materials for convention. You can also read these resolutions at the diocesan website.

The program of convention this year will contain time to learn about and discuss the MDGs and to think about ways our congregations can work towards these goals now, and as part of our vision for mission in the future. We will let you know how those discussions go, and what we learn.

Let us pray.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God: help us this day to love and serve you in everyone we meet, and to rejoice in your promise to be with us always, as our Savior and Lord. Amen. ¹

¹ A Companion of Prayer for Daily Living, by Massey H. Shepherd, Jr. Harrisburg, PA: Morehouse Publishing, 1978. Prayer #24, page13.