Proper 20 Year B

Proverbs 31:10-31, Psalm 1, James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a, Mark 9:30-37

 

“But they did not understand what Jesus was saying and were afraid to ask him.”

It’s amazing how often the disciples don’t understand what Jesus is talking about. They have been traveling around with Jesus, teaching and healing, eating with unclean people, and being welcomed into strangers homes. And even with all of this time with Jesus and seeing and experiencing all of these things, the disciples still have questions.

In this particular instance we shouldn’t be too surprised that they have questions. Jesus has just told them for a second time that he will soon suffer, die, and then be resurrected. Even though this is the second time that Jesus has told them this, the disciples cannot grasp what he is saying because no one expected that the promised Messiah would redeem Israel through suffer, they thought he would rise to power like King David.

But if they were confused about what Jesus was saying, why didn’t they ask him to clarify? Why were they afraid to ask, as our gospel today says.

Part of this may be because Mark often focuses on the faults and failings of the disciples. But are we all that different? I know far too many Christians who are also often afraid to ask questions. Sometimes it's because they believe they should already know the answer and they don't want to look dumb. Sometimes it's because people are nervous that their question isn't okay, or that maybe there is something wrong with their question.

Why is that? I think it might be because as a culture, we tend to associate intelligence with knowing things. I understand that to some degree. Smart people seem to know a lot of stuff. But what if we could also imagine that intelligence is measured not simply by what you know, but also by how eager you are to learn more. That is, it's at the edges of what we know that there is the greatest chance to grow in understanding. Which is why questions are so important. Questions are not the mark of a lack of intelligence but of a curious and lively mind. 

Another aspect to asking questions, and perhaps the bigger reason why we and the disciples didn’t ask more is that we think that by asking a question we are being unfaithful. This is probably because at some point we heard or were taught that questions are a sign of doubt and doubt is the opposite of faith. I’d like to take a moment to offer another way of looking at it. Question are often far more a mark of curiosity than they are of doubt and doubt is not the opposite of faith. Faith, in fact, grows in the soil of doubts and challenges. Given that faith is "belief in things not seen," doubt seems to be an essential ingredient.

I’d like us to do something a little different today. For the next few moments I would like you to think of a question that you have had on your mind lately. It could be about God or the church or something you saw on the news, any question that you’ve been wanting or maybe even not wanting to ask, but one that has nonetheless stuck with you. When you have thought of the question I’d like you to write it down on a small part of your bulletin. And finally, if you feel comfortable, I would like you to tear off your question and place it in the offering plate to be brought forward as part of our offering. I ask that your questions be part of our offering because we are to offer our entire selves to God, not just the parts that we think God wants. If you do not feel comfortable putting your question in the offering, that is ok.

I will now give you a few moments to think to yourself and to write something down...

     So where is the good news in our gospel today and in our question writing? The good news is that Jesus welcomes us even when we do not understand or do not know. Our gospel today closes with Jesus embracing a child, the ultimate symbol of not knowing and not understanding. We need not fear our questions, our misunderstandings, our confusion or our curiosity in the presence Jesus because he welcomes and loves us no matter what.