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The controlling theme for this week could well be God’s concern for the poor. Such a theme is reflected in both the first and second lessons and perhaps could be inferred to a lesser degree in the gospel lesson-God at work among the powerless. At any rate, we have some poignant stories, pithy statements, and timeless instruction that will help to remind us of what we to be about as Christ-followers.

Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23-Pearls of Wisdom

Pearls on a string-contextual-less aphorisms strung together to form meaning-that’s the type of wisdom literature that greets us in the first lesson. The first pearl redefines greatness (22:1), the second saying reminds us that we all come from the same pot-rich and poor alike (22:2); the law of the farm-sowing and reaping-forms the third pithy statement (22:8) and applies the law to stewardship and generosity. The final two pearls of great wisdom returns to the rich/poor contrast and places God on the side of the poor. In the end, we have a thematically connected string of meaning that remind us about gifts, responsibility to the poor and God’s concern about how we treat others.

James 2:1-10, (11-13), 14-17-The Poor Among Us

Keeping with the theme of the poor, our second lesson provides a "for instance" that is designed to confront our own Christian propensities to play favorites among worshipers. In the first ten verses the writer describes a scenario in which partiality clearly obtrudes into Christian piety. The parenthetical verses (11-13) condemns the practice of categorizing sin into lesser and greater transgressions but with a warning: those who withhold mercy now, to them mercy will be withheld. The final section of verses (14-17) returns to the theme of faith and works-that according to the writer should work hand-in-glove to be fully Christian. This passage might form a fine centerpiece because of the scenario that one could shape into a post-modern context. The Proverbs passage would provide some fine sidebars to complement the James passage.

Mark 7:24-37-Two Mighty Acts

We have two stories in the gospel lesson. In the first story, a non-Jewish outsider approaches Jesus with a dire need: her daughter who is tormented by a recurring illness or attack. The Syrophoenician voices her petition, yet Jesus apparently rebuffs the request in language that is offensive to our ears. But this woman is persistent and tenacious and refuses to be turned down. Faith wins and the woman leaves with the assurance that Jesus has healed her daughter. In the second story, Jesus changes location and heads for Galilee, this time accosted by a group of "they" who bring to him a hearing / speech impaired man. Jesus takes him away from people and strangely puts his fingers into his ears and spits and touches the man’s tongue with his sputum. This odd behavior unstops the man’s ears and he finds his tongue. "Shhhhh!" says Jesus, "tell no one about this!" But such words have the opposite effect and the news hits the street: "He . . . makes even the deaf to hear and the mute to speak" (7:37).