Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5, Cycle B
Isaiah 40:21-31
God is acclaimed in this text as not only the Creator of all of the splendor of the universe, but also as the one who watches over and actually mini-manages everything, without ever growing weary or lacking in understanding. Although even young men and women become tired and weak during strenuous activity, all persons, whether young or old, who trust in the Lord God will rise up and soar with wings like the wings of eagles.
Psalm 147:1-11, 20c
God is acclaimed in this psalm with words that have many similarities to the Isaiah 40:21-31 text. These words of praise must be read with much joy and enthusiasm. A perfunctory responsive reading will not suffice. Preparation in advance with lay readers, choirs, and worship committee members is always necessary, but especially when the lections are as joyful as these. The time and effort of preparation will be well spent! The use of lectionary aids such as this by pastors, members of worship committees, lectors, organists, music directors, and choirs can improve the quality of the readings greatly, with reasonable expenditures of time and effort and without embarrassment to any reader.
Mark 1:29-39
Basically, what is attributed to the Lord God in Psalm 147 is attributed to Jesus in Mark 1:29-39. For the members of the Markan community, Jesus heals, casts out demons, and provides hope. Jesus, in turn, is to be praised and served, just as it is said in Isaiah 40 and in Psalm 147 about the Lord God. We will certainly want to share this in our message this coming Sunday within the setting of the congregation at worship, as well as in private counseling situations.
Nevertheless, as the Mark 1:29-39 text indicates, none of us can keep Jesus to ourselves. He withdraws from us to a lonely place. He moves on to other people to serve them also.
1 Corinthians 9:16-23
It was obviously of great importance for the Apostle Paul in his relationships with the followers of Jesus at Corinth not to receive any financial assistance from them during his ministry among them. We know from the letter that he sent to the Philippians later in his life that he did accept assistance from the Philippians for a different reason and in a different situation. Apparently Paul refused assistance from the Corinthians in order that he would have the maximum freedom and flexibility in his difficult ministry among them. He wanted to be able to say what he believed that God was calling him to say and to offer the gospel and himself to many types of persons and in many different ways, without being financially dependent on them.
What are the implications of this for us? What do these texts say to us about our mission? How can we attain the maximum freedom and flexibility in our mission within a changing, merging, and emerging Church?
Not only should we continue to be concerned about our priorities and about our mission. We should also clarify and communicate carefully — as in our reaction to the texts of the previous Sunday — that only God is the absolute authority for us. We are actually called and “hired” by God before we are called and hired by the Church or by a congregation or agency of the Church. We work for God. We work for God among a particular group of people in a particular place at a particular time. When we remember this, we will have the courage and the maximum freedom and flexibility as inspired individuals, with appropriate humility and without arrogance, to be of service in many different ways to many different people, as Paul provided the example for us. We must exercise within the emerging Church of our time the freedom and flexibility that Paul described in 1 Corinthians 9:16-23.
