The Sunday gospel lectionary reading for Trinity 17 in Year B is Mark 9.30–37. In our reading of Mark, we have leap-frogged from the confession at Ceasarea Philippi, over the Transfiguration (which is considered at other times in the lectionary) and the following deliverance episode, to a short cluster of sayings, though stopping short of ‘who is not against us is for us’.
The passage at first looks quite disjointed, but in fact holds together key theme illustrating Jesus’ inversion of our assumptions about life in the community of faith.
Come and join Ian and James as they explore these issues!
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Set Mind or Mind Set?
The set minds of the rulers and theologians rejected the teaching of Jesus which would not be for them be completely eradicated until he was dead.
In this passage we have another indication of the set minds of the disciples previously outlined.
A Set Mind, or one set in the finality of concrete, is very difficult to alter.
It takes a very powerful act to break a set mind.
Thankfully “Power belongs to God” along with “Salvation belongs to God”
In contradiction to set minds Jesus demonstrates a true Mind Set.
A child has a mind set which is not set in finality.
It is spontaneous, [throughout Scripture God acts spontaneously.]
It is open to receive all kinds of illuminations.
The quintessential illustration of a Set Mind is Paul
Act 26:9 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. He thought that he was serving God
Once enlightened he spent several years having his set mind converted into a mindset [world view] according to God’s view.
Paul’s driving passion was to Know Jesus Christ and have fellowship with His suffering of rejection and crucifixion, and to continually Know the Power of His Resurrection [Eternal life, the very life of God in the soul. ]
It is quite true that “the Church” would and did experience perilous times just as the ancient church did; but the resurrection power of God has and will always be its ultimate Salvation.
Our Vicar, yesterday, shared of her deep depression and could not see any good in Embracing God until during a convention she hid behind the Communion Table to hide from any human contact with her Set Mind.
God then shone a light into her that shattered her set mind spontaneously. To the end she gained a new mindset that ultimately resulted in her ordination as a Vicar.
Consequently, she exhibits a mind very much open to the spontaneity of God in her life.
In the “alternative, provocative” Blog; set minds are very much in evidence at times
Indeed, never the twain seem to meet.
We often fear that the trials and tribulations of “the Church” might end in its demise; but it must not be forgotten that the power that works in us is Resurrection Life and Power [Divine life]