Many Scriptures name God as a hiding place or refuge to help us when we are afraid. Others call us to do leave those 'safer' spaces and do brave things in the world. When have you had to leave safer spaces to come out into the open to do something you felt right, or called to do? How did you find your courage?
When I was little, my grandparents would watch over me, entertain me and spoil me while my parents were at work. My grandfather was quite the storyteller. He often regaled me with the tale of the time his family, when he was little, left their cabin in the Mississippi woods to enjoy the circus in “town”. He had to stay home because he was ill, but said he felt their house was a safe place. But during the evening hours, before they returned, he heard an animal growling and dragging a loud chain under the house. He could easily hear it through the floor, and it terrified him. I remember being breathless with fear as he recounted this story. Eventually, he could hear the noise becoming less pronounced, and the rattling sound eventually receded into the woods. When this family returned, he told them his frightening story. With their eyes opened wide, they told him that a lion had escaped from the circus. They commended him for his bravery. Like any decent storyteller, I’m sure my grandfather could embellish a detail or two, but the story has always evoked in me questions of fear and bravery.
In the Gospel passage for Sunday in worship at St. Mark’s, Jesus clearly calls for his followers to undertake a life that includes sacrifice and risk. There’s not as much as a hint in his words about “safe space”. Instead, we read about self-denial, about taking up a cross, and about losing our lives for the sake of the Gospel. I don’t count these two spiritual values of finding safe space, on the one hand, and taking up the cross, on the other, to be in conflict. They are, however, in clear creative tension, as Jesus calls us to be willing to take risks as disciples. In the midst of this tension are some important lessons for following Jesus.
We’ll talk about this in worship, as the sermon is titled, “The Seduction of Safety and the Promise of Courage: Discipleship in our Contemporary World.” The sermon arises from Psalm 34: 1-10, to be read by Liz McDaniel and Mark 8: 31-38, to be read by Kaden Lang. The Chancel Choir, conducted by Gerry Sousa and accompanied by Lois Leong, will lead us musically. Hudson Lang will present a piano piece for us. We’ll sing, pray and have a time for children.
We’d love for you to connect with St. Marks. Worship begins in the sanctuary at 10:30. To connect online, visit www.smumc.church, and click on the Live Stream banner. We look forward to connecting with you.