Doing Things Wrong

AM Psalm 55 • PM Psalm 138, 139:1-17(18-23)
Gen. 41:1-13 • 1 Cor. 4:1-7 • Mark 2:23-3:6

Today’s message from Mark 2 offers a very contemporary piece of wisdom.  I can recall times of participating in worship in different protestant denominations—as a choir director, worship leader, or as a lay participant in worship—and have been “spoken to” for my actions. I was admonished by a leader for “stepping out of place,” when in my mind and heart, they were done to express my piety and humility before God. In today’s reading, the Pharisees exclaim, “why are they doing what is forbidden on the Sabbath?” Jesus replied, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”

I recently invited a friend of mine, who is seriously seeking a spiritual fellowship, to join us in the Sunday service at St. Paul’s. Initially, he declined because he was afraid he might “do something wrong” and be embarrassed.  After a few lengthy discussions over several occasions, he ventured into the service on a Sunday morning.  He said he sat near the back and followed what others were doing and found that nobody criticized. Indeed, the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

Written by Doug Cummins

Doug Cummins is a member of the Episcopal Church and a retired professor of theater. In addition to the Ph.D. from Texas Tech University, he holds the Master of Divinity degree from Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University.