Called As Partners in Christ’s Service

CallingChristmas
December 26, 2014

Scripture Reading: Mark 13:24-37

 ‘But in those days, after that suffering,
the sun will be darkened,
   and the moon will not give its light,
and the stars will be falling from heaven,
   and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. — Mark 13:24-25

After recommending that we all see the movie, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, even though I have not yet seen it, I was pleased when my nephew, David, talked about it with some excitement at my Christmas party. It had made him dig deeper into what it meant and that is what I hope about all three movies mentioned yesterday. It also made me realize how very long ago it was that I had become acquainted with The Hobbit by J.R. R. Tolkien from which the movie was developed. The characters were fuzzy in my memory. I decided I wanted to read it anew before I saw any of its three movies. I had forgotten what a wonderful book it is. It deals with good and evil and finding and following the right narrow path.

And then the day after Christmas the lectionary gurus immediately force me to address not the birth of Christ but the promised return of Christ. For after all, it is all tied together in one package. While the book of Mark does not address the birth of Christ, I was not ready to jump to Jesus’ warnings at the close of his ministry on earth just before his arrest. Dark days of suffering are coming, he said. The path is narrow and there is evil as well as good awaiting us.

Called as partners in Christ service, we are not to burrow into our safe havens but seek that narrow path, take on evil with the help of God, and clear the way for making all things good, also with the help of God. Nobody said it would be easy. It seems we as the body of Christ in the world today cannot even agree on what is evil and what is not. I believe, there is purpose in such distraction and it is not good.

Called as partners in Christ service, we need to work together on those things with which we do agree and work with and through God toward discernment about those things with which we do not agree. Paul may have said it best in Romans 8:28: We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

Prayer:
Called as partners in Christ’s service,
    Called to ministries of grace,
    We respond with deep commitment
    Fresh new lines of faith to trace.
    May we learn the art of sharing,
    Side by side and friend with friend,
    Equal partners in our caring
    To fulfill God’s chosen end.

     Christ’s example, Christ’s inspiring,
    Christ’s clear call to work and worth,
    Let us follow, never faltering,
    Reconciling folk on earth.
    Men and women, richer, poorer,
    All God’s people, young and old,
    Blending human skills together
    Gracious gifts from God unfold.

     Thus new patterns for Christ’s mission,
    In a small or global sense,
    Help us bear each other’s burdens,
    Breaking down each wall or fence.
    Words of comfort, words of vision,
    Words of challenge, said with care,
    Bring new power and strength for action,
    Make us colleagues, free and fair.

     So God grant us for tomorrow
    Ways to order human life
    That surround each person’s sorrow
    With a calm that conquers strife.
    Make us partners in our living,
    Our compassion to increase,
    Messengers of faith, thus giving
    Hope and confidence and peace.* Amen

* Called as Partners in Christ’s Service, Composer: John Zundel, 1870, Author: Jane Parker Huber, 1981 Available at: http://worship-organizer.awtrey.com/hymnal/?number=343

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.