February 27, 2020
10:30 a.m. Worship
Preacher: Rev. Anne J. Scalfaro
Scripture: Mark 10:17-31 (NRSV)
Title: Anything But That
As we continue our journey through Mark’s gospel, we are met with a text that speaks to the heart of our struggles in discipleship. We can feel like we are doing all the right things and that we are more or less a “good person,” and yet still know that something is missing. We are not fulfilled; we feel empty, spiritually thirsty, and are left wanting for something deeper, something more.
In the case of the man who runs up to Jesus in Mark 10, he discovers that what he is missing is something that he doesn’t know yet if he is ready to give up – his wealth, his possessions. Jesus has compassion and love for this man; he knows it will be hard for him. He also knows that it is the only thing that will allow this man to inherit the life eternal he is so longing for. Jesus reassures us in our doubts that the most seemingly impossible things to us, are possible with God. So why do we still cling to material things as a means of reassurance and identity and comfort?
On this first Sunday in Lent we will grapple with this text as a way of taking stock of what we, too, must do to experience fullness of life with God. Just like the man in the text we will look at what we have already done and are doing now, and see still yet what is lacking. That will then lead us to look at those parts of our life that we really don’t want to change and ask the question: could that be the very area in our life where God could unlock for us a whole new depth of faith?