20th October 2024
Reflection with readings below
‘Words without knowledge’
How well do we know – how well do we look at, observe and study – God’s creation? Recently I was watching a swan fly overhead and was struck by the way it stretched out its neck as straight as an arrow, and contrasted that with the way a heron bends its neck into an S shape to fly. Why the difference? It could be differences on the centre of gravity of each bird. Swans are among the heaviest flying birds and need to extend their neck (muscular and therefore heavy) out in front to optimise its centre of gravity vis a vis its wings. As the swan comes into land it begins to curve its neck in so shifting the centre of gravity to prepare it for a landing position.
Nature, the natural world around us, is often referred to as the first Bible – the first reference point for perceiving and understanding God and our relationship with the both the divine and creation. History repeatedly shows us that our knowledge is often partial and and that we need a greater and more sympathetic understanding of the world God is creating.
Currently our lack of understanding – or perhaps as importantly our failure to act sensibly upon what we know – about the human production of carbon emissions and climate change is causing significant harm to both the environment and to our fellow inhabitants of this planet. God might very rightly say to us ‘why do you darken counsel by words without knowledge?’
And similarly so when God looks at the state of biodiversity across the globe. Our human greed has extracted resources from the earth and displaced other beings such that our consumption levels are no longer sustainable – either for us nor for the rest of nature.
Both the passage from Job and the psalm invite it to look at, to contemplate, to marvel at the beauty of creation and in it to recognise God’s divine presence. How often do we set aside time for such worship? Time to engage with and encounter the divine in nature?
How often do we give ourselves the time and space to contemplate the natural world, to rest in its presence and so allow God’s Spirit to revive and re-create us?
And how often do we look and listen and learn from nature that divine wisdom which would help us live lives according to God’s way? To live lives which through God’s wisdom, would ensure a good life for everyone – for plants and animals, for fish and birds, for humans in the North and the South, for rivers and oceans, for agriculture and for commerce.
A better – a God-shaped – life is possible. That is what we might otherwise call ‘salvation’. Jesus came to save the world – not just some humans, not even just all humans, but all that has been created – the whole cosmos!
In this context humans cannot demand that they be seen as the most important species. Rather as in today’s gospel story, it is better if we follow the example of Jesus and be willing servants of all – human and non human, creaturely and earthly. This calling to follow Jesus will involve us in speaking up and speaking out about the value and importance of paying attention to and understanding the natural world God has created and in which we find the divine presence.
Jesus is the source of eternal salvation
Job 38:1-7, 34-41
The Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind:
“Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
Gird up your loins like a man,
I will question you, and you shall declare to me.
“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell me, if you have understanding.
Who determined its measurements—surely you know!
Or who stretched the line upon it?
On what were its bases sunk,
or who laid its cornerstone
when the morning stars sang together
and all the heavenly beings shouted for joy?
“Can you lift up your voice to the clouds,
so that a flood of waters may cover you?
Can you send forth lightnings, so that they may go
and say to you, ‘Here we are’?
Who has put wisdom in the inward parts,
or given understanding to the mind?
Who has the wisdom to number the clouds?
Or who can tilt the waterskins of the heavens,
when the dust runs into a mass
and the clods cling together?
“Can you hunt the prey for the lion,
or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
when they crouch in their dens,
or lie in wait in their covert?
Who provides for the raven its prey,
when its young ones cry to God,
and wander about for lack of food?”
Psalm 104:1-9, 25, 37b
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul; *
O Lord my God, how excellent is your greatness!
you are clothed with majesty and splendour.
2 You wrap yourself with light as with a cloak *
and spread out the heavens like a curtain.
3 You lay the beams of your chambers in the waters above; *
you make the clouds your chariot;
you ride on the wings of the wind.
4 You make the winds your messengers *
and flames of fire your servants.
5 You have set the earth upon its foundations, *
so that it never shall move at any time.
6 You covered it with the Deep as with a mantle; *
the waters stood higher than the mountains.
7 At your rebuke they fled; *
at the voice of your thunder they hastened away.
8 They went up into the hills and down to the valleys beneath, *
to the places you had appointed for them.
9 You set the limits that they should not pass; *
they shall not again cover the earth.
25 O Lord, how manifold are your works! *
in wisdom you have made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.
37b Hallelujah!
Hebrews 5:1-10
Every high priest chosen from among mortals is put in charge of things pertaining to God on their behalf, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is subject to weakness; and because of this he must offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not presume to take this honour, but takes it only when called by God, just as Aaron was.
So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him,
“You are my Son,
today I have begotten you”;
as he says also in another place,
“You are a priest forever,
according to the order of Melchizedek.”
In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
Mark 10:35-45
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to Jesus and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What is it you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptised with the baptism that I am baptised with?” They replied, “We are able.” Then Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptised, you will be baptised; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”
When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. So Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognise as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
