A story from Noah benShea in a book called, Jacob the Baker: Gentle Wisdom for a Complicated World (paraphrased): Jacob was planting a tree outside the town when a young man approached him and asked, "Why are you doing this? You are old and will never enjoy the shade of this tree." Jacob paused for a moment, looking at the young man and said, "But someday, someone will." And then Jacob went back to planting the tree. The young man stood there, wanting to continue the conversation but not knowing what to do next. Finally he said, "Well, what am I supposed to do?" Jacob look up surprised, like he forgot about the young man. "Oh, you," he replied, "I am going to continue to plant the tree and you will go and find someone to chop it down."
We have three stories in today's scripture, yes a long reading. What is the thread that runs through all three beside Jesus? It is the contrast about the values by which the communities and society is governed by. Jesus, when returning home, is not welcomed with a ticker-tape parade, but with suspicion and unbelief. "Where did he get this wisdom? Isn't he just a lowly carpenter?" Nazareth is stuck in its traditions that if you are a carpenter, then your son and grandson are carpenters, if you are a baker or a farmer, then your children will be bakers and farmers. So Jesus can do very little there, because of his hometown's unbelief.
The second story about sending out the disciples is about hope. Jesus' reputation is starting to grow and those sent out in his name carry that hope and authority, so just like an expert, who comes from a distance, they are expecting something new and different. The communities in which the disciples peace is accepted are those who are willing to open their hearts and souls to something that isn't the same ol' same old. The disciples are welcomed and have their consent to preach and heal by the power of the Holy Spirit.
The third story is about power, corruption, and death. Not just the death of John the Baptist, but a culture and governance of death. King Herod has lots of power, but it can be taken away by the Roman government. It is all about court intrigue and positioning and currying favors. Life has no meaning in this way of governing; well, only the individual's life, but it is not concerned about protecting or bettering the life of the people. King Herod is more concerned with how other's view him than with the life of John the Baptist, even though he admires him and listens to him. But for King Herod, John the Baptist is not his counselor or advisor, just a quaint person who says interesting things that don't mean much in the end. Once John the Baptist is beheaded, King Herod just went on to find the next novelty.
The Common English Bible interprets Jesus saying, "If a place doesn't welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet, as a witness against them." Most other translations will tell us that the disciples are to offer their 'peace' to the village. If the village doesn't accept the 'peace', then the disciples are supposed to let the peace return to them and move on. With Jesus in the Gospel of Mark, he is not concerned about saving souls or making sure everyone is following him. It's not, 'my way or the highway.' It comes down to: God is offering you love and healing, are you down with that? No? OK, I will seek out others.
We live in a culture where we have to win. If we can't win with the facts, we will then seek to tear you down with shame and bullying. American society is caught up in a cycle of culture wars, politics is a shit-show, but we have to engage to get ours, doing whatever we have to, to get followers on social media, and work to exclude as many people who are different so there is more for us. This is not the way of Christ, but of greed, power, fear, insecurity, and hierarchy. The way of Christ is about love and freedom, true freedom, even to reject Christ, and loving everyone, but never forcing our views, our interpretations, our theology, our culture on others.
So let's not lose our heads and believe that it is up to us to make everyone agree with what we believe or what we proclaim as the love of God and following Jesus Christ. We can plant trees for social justice for the harvest of peace. We can plant trees that will grow the fruit of Open and Affirming long after we are gone. There will be those who come to seek to cut them down, but we will continue to plant and they will grow and flourish. If our peace, if our love is not accepted. OK. We shake it off and move on. I know, I know that even though there are many who do not come to this church, especially on a Sunday morning, there are many in our county who are so glad that we are here, proclaiming the gospel, working for peace and justice, and loving everyone, especially our LGBTQ+ people. Our job is not to judge, but to love. We invite and allow them to make the decision. We love. We love. We love, just like Jesus. Amen.
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