PENTECOST XVI

Lamp of Wisdom -- statue in Waterperry Gardens, Oxford UK

• Proverbs 1:20-33 and Psalm 19 or Wisdom of Solomon 7:26 - 8:1  • 
• Isaiah 50:4-9a and Psalm 116:1-9  • 
• James 3:1-12  • 
• Mark 8:27-38

This week’s three readings are linked by an unmistakable purpose; they all issue stern warnings. The Gospel even expressly describes Jesus as ‘sternly’ ordering  the disciples not to tell people that he is the Messiah. This is somewhat strange, though. Has he not just invited them to name him in this way, and aren’t they supposed to be spreading the Good News of his Messiahship?  So why the stern warning? The answer becomes almost immediately apparent. Jesus does not want the disciples proclaiming him to be the Messiah until they fully understand what that means, and Peter’s response to the prospect of Christ’s sufferings and death shows very clearly that they do NOT understand. The famous instruction about Christian discipleship -- ‘To save your life, you have to lose it’ -- is given partly to correct this deep misunderstanding.

‘Losing your life to save it’ is a paradox that lies at the very center of the Gospel. There is no saying of Jesus that warrants closer attention. In the context of this week’s other warnings, however, our attention is being directed to a more general lesson. The Old Testament lesson warns us about the costs of seeking wisdom only after our own foolishness has led us into disaster, while the Epistle of James warns us about the special danger attached to setting ourselves up as teachers -- that we 'will be judged with greater strictness'. The talents that are most effective in imparting wisdom and teaching the truth are the very same talents by which we convince ourselves, as well as others, of things that are in fact false and foolish.

Taken together, the message is this. Be sure you really know what the Christian Gospel truly teaches, especially if you set yourself up to teach it. Being sincere and well intentioned in what you believe and what you tell others is not enough. Sincerity and error often go together.

This is a message that runs strongly counter to contemporary opinion. Nowadays the ideas of truth and wisdom have generally abandoned in favor of personal sincerity and good intentions -- a doctrine that contemporary Christians sign up to as readily as non-Christians. But today’s lessons say to all of us – You have been warned! This is not enough.