Grace and Personal Accountability
AM Psalm 89:1-18 • PM Psalm 89:19-52
2 Samuel 13:23-39 • Acts 20:17-38 • Mark 9:42-50
The lectionary offers some difficult passages this morning. Unlike the Sunday lectionary which often arranges readings thematically, the daily lectionary works through scripture chapter by chapter. In other words, it is simply coincidence that these readings are paired.
While I wish this was not the message we paired with our coffee this morning, this combination of stories tells us something important about what it is to be people of faith. I hear a push for accountability and responsibility.
2nd Samuel tells of a complicated family situation that is further muddied by the royal nature of this family and by the internal struggle for power. While the full context of the story cannot be covered briefly, suffice it to say that we witness a man overcome by lust inflicting harm on his own family. We also see King David ignoring the problem and Absalom enacting revenge. Then in Mark, Jesus offers a strong warning on discipline, specifically on male sexual discipline. He reminds listeners that it is better to be without a hand, a foot, or an eye and enter the kingdom of God than to have them and be punished.
We inherit these teachings as Christians who believe in the grace of God. There is forgiveness from our human sinfulness and there is room for us all in the kingdom of God. While I don’t believe there is eternal punishment, I do see the importance of personal responsibility. We have a duty to care for ourselves and those around us by working on the parts of ourselves that cause us to sin. Even if we are forgiven, we can work to sin less tomorrow. We will never achieve perfection which is where the Good News of our God comes in. God’s grace abounds! And we can respond to that gift by attending to our own selfishness and greed, our impatience and ingratitude, etc. so that we might avoid harm to our fellow siblings in Christ.
What is one thing you might notice in yourself today that can help you avoid sinning against your neighbor?
Written by Rev. Adelyn Tyler
Adelyn is a priest here at St. Paul’s whose work centers on outreach, including justice ministries and campus ministry at University of Arkansas.