Faith Thoughts for Sunday October 1, 2006
Based on the sermon, by The Rev. Dr. Anne Miner-Pearson
Numbers 11:4-6,10-16,24-29 & Mark 9:38-50

To hear audio of the sermon, click here
If you would like to have the text of the sermon emailed to you, please contact the church office: nativity@nativityepiscopal.net

1. The former slaves express a desire to remain or return to the past even when that past life was oppressive and cruel. Just such a dynamic plays out in the lives of people suffering from chemical or other kinds of abuse. Even when undesirable, the familiar is hard to leave for the unknown. When in your life have you found letting go of the past to be a stumbling block to a fuller, healthier life? How did you finally make the changes necessary? How did you experience God during that time?
2. In the story, Moses has a very honest conversation with God complete with an expression of his anger at God. How honest are you when you talk with God? Is it okay to be angry with God? If not, why not? How free are you to speak with God? Do you limit the subjects? Measure your words? What does this biblical passage suggest to you about your prayer life?
3. As Moses leads the Hebrews toward the promised land, it becomes clear that the journey will take more than just Moses' leadership. God tells him to select a group of seventy other leaders to assist in the endeavor. This development suggests that for any of us to live fully into the life God offers us requires us to connect with others. What communities support your movement to let go of the past and become more connected with the Holy? Who do you trust to lead you in your faith journey? If you can't name anyone, why not?
4. A delightful part of the story in Numbers is about Eldad and Medad. These two men were not present when the other elders received the spirit and yet they prophesy as well. This irregular situation draws criticism from some members of the group, suggesting that all of us can be suspicious of others who don't fit our image of who is "of God". Who are "Eldad and Medad" people in your life? For example, who has surprised you by revealing God's healing, judgment or comfort? What was your reaction - like those in the biblical story who questioned their "credentials"?
5. The last line of the sermon was a question: "How free do I want to be?" How would you answer that question? What details in your life right now come to mind as you form your answer? Do your thoughts suggest any changes you might be willing to make?
6. The children's story, "Terrific" by Jon Agee, was about Eugene who saw only the negative about every situation. Yet, when his life was truly in danger, a parrot slowly freed Eugene to see how really terrific his life was. How often you are in bondage to preconceived ideas and negative reactions? What would it take you to change?

Numbers 11:4-6,10-16,24-29

The rabble among them had a strong craving; and the Israelites also wept again, and said, "If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we used to eat in Egypt for nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; but now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at." Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, all at the entrances of their tents. Then the Lord became very angry, and Moses was displeased. So Moses said to the Lord, "Why have you treated your servant so badly? Why have I not found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me? Did I conceive all this people? Did I give birth to them, that you should say to me, 'Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries a sucking child,' to the land that you promised on oath to their ancestors? Where am I to get meat to give to all this people? For they come weeping to me and say, 'Give us meat to eat!' I am not able to carry all this people alone, for they are too heavy for me. If this is the way you are going to treat me, put me to death at once – if I have found favor in your sight – and do not let me see my misery." So the Lord said to Moses, "Gather for me seventy of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them; bring them to the tent of meeting, and have them take their place there with you. So Moses went out and told the people the words of the Lord; and he gathered seventy elders of the people, and placed them all around the tent. Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders; and when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But they did not do so again. Two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the spirit rested on them; they were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. And a young man ran and told Moses, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp." And Joshua son of Nun, the assistant of Moses, one of his chosen men, said, "My Lord Moses, stop them!" But Moses said to him, "Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit on them!"

Mark 9:38-50

John said to Jesus, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us." But Jesus said, "Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us. For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward. "If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell., And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched. "For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another."

Rise us up, O Lord,
for it is you alone who restores life and health to the suffering
and to those who wander from the truth.
By your grace,
may we offer powerful and effective prayers
for one another and the world,
in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Revised Common Lectionary Prayers (CCT), Fortress Press

The Rev. Dr. Anne Miner-Pearson
Episcopal Church of the Nativity
15601 Maple Island Road
Burnsville, MN 55306     952-435-8687
annem-p@nativityepiscopal.net
www.natvitiyepiscopal.net

«Back to Faith Notes