In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus continues his journey to Jerusalem, crossing and exploring the boundaries where God’s people are found. Even Jesus is surprised when he encounters Gentiles who are full of faith, a faith that appears to be lacking sometimes in his own people and even his own disciples. Several times, Jesus has to show his own disciples what having faith really means and get them to stop worrying about their own status.
Jesus preaches a reversal of Judaic code and culture: greatness and service are reversed… compassion and commitment that lies at the heart of his peoples’ faith are emphasized.
Returning from this exploration at the margins of society and known territory, Jesus speaks from the heart of Jewish faith with a clarion call for compassion and justice for all God’s children. This doesn’t sit well with the authority structure, and tension mounts. How much more tension can there be before something gives way?
To accompany this journey, we read from some of the Wisdom books of the Old Testament. Proverbs and Job: the human task of faithful living in ordinary times and in the midst of extraordinary challenges. We also hear about women who are heroes of the faith.
The Letter of James has been called “Wisdom Literature for the New Testament” with its emphasis on practical living for faithful Christians. The letter to the Hebrews is thought to be an extended sermon, with creative images drawn from scripture and a clear exhortation to hold fast to the faith, to draw close to Christ as we move about in a world that sometimes challenges our commitment and confession.