Bible Study Guide for Oct 7, 2018: Proper 23 Year B

Proper 23: Sunday, October 14

• Amos 5: 6-7, 10-15

• Psalm 90: 12-17

• Hebrews 4: 12-16

• Mark 10: 17-31

 

The unknown author of the Letter to the Hebrews this week captures the essence of many of our recent scripture readings from the Revised Common Lectionary: “The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” In his Galilean ministry as shown to us by Mark, Jesus has certainly been carving away at some of our deepest attachments: earthly notions of status and authority, the bonds of hometown and family, temple ritual. In the Chapter 9 lesson for Proper 21(September 30), he says “if your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.” His point is not amputation. He is instead attacking any understandings or compulsive attachments separating us from living fully into the Kingdom of God – synonymous in Mark’s understanding with “eternal life” as mentioned this week by the nameless man with many possessions.

 

The insight of the late political activist and bible scholar Walter Wink is helpful here. In his books which include The Powers that Be he understands “powers” as corporate intelligences embodied in social institutions like companies, churches, nations, and cultures. Idolatrous allegiance to such “powers,” submits Wink, limit our capacity to live fully into the image of God, the first and ultimate creator and giver. Wink understand the mission of Jesus as “freeing” the powers, and us from the powers, versus “combatting” them. This idea is evident in Mark’s gospel this week: “Jesus, looking at him [the wealthy man], loved him and said ‘You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give your money to the poor…’” Jesus’ love of the man is not contingent upon his divesting or not; it simply exists and cannot be earned through good behavior or right action. The man’s peace of mind and spiritual growth into a citizen of God’s kingdom (“freedom”) is another matter altogether. That he was “shocked” and “went away grieving” imply all that he is not free to do.

 

• Do you identify or not with the man who kneels before Jesus? How do you understand “compulsive attachment” as a force in your own life?

• Read this assigned portions of Amos. Compare and contrast the prophet’s writing on wealth with Mark’s story of Jesus and the wealthy man.

• In which ways might you free yourself from the “powers” of wealth and money?