The Gospel for October 16, 2004 (Hugh Latimer, Nicholas Ridley, and Thomas Cranmer)
Luke 9:37-50
Now it happened that on the following day when they were coming down from the mountain a large crowd came to meet him. And suddenly a man in the crowd cried out. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I implore you to look at my son: he is my only child. A spirit will suddenly take hold of him, and all at once it gives a sudden cry and throws the boy into convulsions with foaming at the mouth; it is slow to leave him, but when it does, it leaves the boy worn out. I begged your disciples to drive it out, and they could not.’ In reply Jesus said, ‘Faithless and perverse generation! How much longer must I be among you and put up with you? Bring your son here.’ Even while the boy was coming, the devil threw him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and cured the boy and gave him back to his father, and everyone was awestruck by the greatness of God. ‘For your part, you must have these words constantly in mind: The Son of man is going to be delivered into the power of men.’ But they did not understand what he said; it was hidden from them so that they should not see the meaning of it, and they were afraid to ask him about it. An argument started between them about which of them was the greatest. Jesus knew what thoughts were going through their minds, and he took a little child whom he set by his side and then he said to them, ‘Anyone who welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and anyone who welcomes me, welcomes the one who sent me. The least among you all is the one who is the greatest.’ John spoke up. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘we saw someone driving out devils in your name, and because he is not with us we tried to stop him.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘You must not stop him: anyone who is not against you is for you.’ -- The New Jerusalem Bible. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1995, c1985
A Study
I am at a [direly-needed!] Lay Preachers Conference at The College of Preachers in Washington, DC. Originality in this blog will suffer for a few days.
The incidents following the transfiguration show, however, just how much these three, along with the rest of the disciples, have to learn. Luke, unlike Mark (cf. Mk 9:14), places the story of the disciples’ inability to expel a demon on the following day and thus does not exclude the three from its failure (v. 37). Again, their failure to understand Jesus’ prediction of his suffering and their refusal to ask him about it shows how little they have learned (v. 45). The contrast between what Jesus is saying and their inability to enter into it is further strengthened by their discussion about their relative greatness (vv. 46–8) and by the attempt of John, one of the witnesses of the transfiguration, to remain exclusive (vv. 49–50). It is possible, of course, that the exorcist was using Jesus’ name in a magical way rather than expressing a genuine response to Jesus. This appears to be the import of a similar situation in Acts 8:14–24. Here, however, in this particular context it seems that Luke is thinking not so much of an opportunist as of one who was not ‘following with us’, namely a disciple from that wider group that did not travel with them on the road but was influenced and moved by Jesus. Jesus’ answer looks for a greater openness and is a rebuke of all exclusiveness. The disciples clearly have much to learn as they follow Jesus on the road. -- Barton, J., & Muddiman, J. 2001. Oxford Bible commentary . Oxford University Press: New York
A Reflection
Jesus' injunction to his own men about others calling themselves His disciples is most instructive for us, today.
How often have we said, "Those Baptists!" or "Darned Roman Catholics!" with just the least bit of contempt? Even the best draft horse strays from the track a little with every step. Most of the things that threaten schism never happen, and the ones that do are illogical and won't respond to reason anyway. This kind comes out only with prayer.
The Collect
Keep us, O Lord, constant in faith and zealous in witness, after the examples of your servants Hugh Latimer, Nicholas Ridley, and Thomas Cranmer; that we may live in your fear, die in your favor, and rest in your peace; for the sake of Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
3:54:01 PM 
|
|
