Sunday, September 19, 2021 was the Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost and the last Sunday of the 'official' summer season.
Our scripture reading came from Mark 10:32-45, another pericope from the Gospel's 10th chapter that explores the themes of Jesus' journey to Jerusalem, the disciples' desire for greatness, and the kingdom's insistence on service as an alternative to dominion.
The passage inspired Pastor Derek to write the following poem and our Musician, Andy, to set the poem to music.
Astonished and afraid,
Twelve disciples and a crowd,
follow Christ who leads the way,
Ain't no way to turn around.
Up, Up, towards Jerusalem.
The Holy Hill that boasts,
Temple Mount and Lynching Tree,
Life and death is now the toast.
Behind the Dead Man Walking,
Jesus told them where to go.
Stay awake and pray he said,
But even now eyes are closed.
Sleepwalking in his footsteps,
Glory now is the intent,
To forget dire predictions,
They sing a song of ascent:
“Do for us whatever we ask,
Fill our empty spaces!
Do for us whatever we ask,
In Glory prepare our places!”
Jesus now stops the march,
and turns to face the two,
Eyes wet with tears he asks,
“What do you want me to do?”
“Up, Up, towards glory,
We want to be with you!
So when the kingdom comes,
Reward us with a view!”
“Reserve two seats of honor,
Give us prominent places!
People will look up to us,
Let them see our faces.”
The teacher’s reply was simple,
“You don’t know what you're asking.
My glory will be on a cross
Between two criminals I will be gasping.”
“That is the cup I will drink,
The baptism in which I will drown,
This water flows only one way
And that direction is down.”
Down, Down, is the call,
To become the last and least,
Do not sit at the place of honor,
Be the servant at the feast.
Another way is possible,
A cloaked and hidden glory,
Dominion not through domination,
But an alternative type of story.
The least will be the greatest,
At the front a Child will lead,
Glory to the lamb who was slain,
And all creation will be freed.
Love and liberation,
This is the only way,
Let go of your expectations,
And join this passion parade.
