The 16th Sunday After Pentecost, Sept. 28, 2003 (Proper 21B)
Num. 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29; Psalm 19 or Psalm 19:7-14; James 4:7-12(13-5:6); Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48
Nostalgia is not the same as tradition. By its very nature tradition has memory. By its very nature nostalgia is forgetful because its memory is selective, even though it seeks comfort in the familiar. Tradition summons from the past and plunges us into the challenging future. Nostalgia calls us backward to a place of no risk; tradition sends us forth.
The Hebrew people in the desert as described in the Book of Numbers were nostalgic. They remembered the comfort of meat, fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic but forgot the bitterness of slavery. Their nostalgia seductively called them backwards away from the new things God was doing in their lives.
Even when it was clear that they were not returning to Egypt, they still retained their longing for comfort. Now the new issue was the hankering for the comfort and security of the in-group. Eldad and Medad were not in the tent, so there was an outcry to stop them from speaking for God. The gospel story has a direct parallel when there was an outcry to stop the person who was casting out demons in the name of Jesus because that person was not a member of their in-group. Here again we have an example of nostalgia for what was familiar and comfortable.
That God is indiscriminate is an essential part of Christian tradition. The challenge from the past that sends us forth into ministry echoes with the splash of every baptism.
By our baptism we are summoned into ministry that is both priestly and diaconal. That does not mean that we all preside at the Eucharist, or at the other sacraments. That has to do with order and is another issue. Ordained priests and deacons lead us into the priesthood of all believers and the diaconate of all believers. Some may cry stop, stop, but the stories of Eldad and Medad and the one who heals in the name of Jesus, as found in our biblical tradition, say let God be indiscriminate.
Currently in the Episcopal Church some new names and recycled names for this old Christian tradition are baptismal ministry, mutual ministry, total ministry or ministry development. By whatever name, it is about all people taking ownership and responsibility for the grace God is spreading around. It is about ministry belonging to all people, even those outside the tent.
Look It Up
For more information on the ministry of all people check out these web sites: Ministry Developers Collaborative: www.mindevelopers.org; and the Diocese of Northern Michigan: www.dionomi.org
Think About It
If you are a member of the clergy, are you doing too much so that others tend to sit back and neglect to do their baptismal ministry? If you are a lay person, do you tend to sit back and think that ministry is mainly for clergy?
Next Sunday
The 17th Sunday After Pentecost, Oct. 5, 2003 (Proper 22B)
Gen. 2:18-24; Psalm 8 or Psalm 128; Heb. 2:(1-8)9-18; Mark 10:2-9
