Introduction
One explanation of this Gospel story is that Jesus is demanding transparency, and a match between words and realities. To the Pharisees, he says, ‘Don’t claim high ethical principles, but at the same time allow discriminatory divorce for a man’s convenience’. To the disciples, he says, ‘Don’t profess love for all, but in reality limit your concern to those old and important enough to be useful’. Can we find parallels in the hypocrisies of those in positions of power and influence today?
Context
The current news contains many stories where high ethical reputations sit oddly with the different realities behind them: the scandal over emissions deceit at the previously highly reputable VW; moving words from the Pope touching diplomatically on past short-comings in investigating abuse allegations; at the UK Labour Party Conference claims of large-scale tax-avoidance by glossy big business; FIFA ‘s global reputation takes another hit. Are high ethical claims concealing intentions to act well beneath those intentions, endemic in institutional and corporate life?
Reflection
Jesus challenges the Pharisees directly (v.5). How can we challenge corruption, deception or bad faith in the organisations and institutions that impinge on our lives in so many ways in a global, often very impersonal, society? The new Shadow Chancellor believes in non-violent direct action; so do others. Where do we draw the line between letting wrong-doing pass unchallenged and mischievously disrupting civil life?
Jesus’ words about becoming ‘children’ again (v.15) could suggest we should look to the future, not scrutinise the past. How important is it in these ‘cover-ups’ to find and punish particular culprits? Would it be better just to design more effective and transparent procedures for the future? Can concern to protect innocent third parties shade over into concealment of important though hurtful truths? Does this passage of challenge to the religious establishment suggest anything about how Jesus approached such dilemmas?
Some say no evangelist today would dare to pick up a little child to bless for fear of arrest for child abuse. Even if this is an exaggeration, is it true that safe-guarding rules inhibits warm or spontaneous personal interactions to the detriment of spiritual and emotional health in our communities? If so, what, if anything, can or should be done about this?
Jesus’ words may also point to a profound concern for those his society undervalues, here children and women. Does our world continue to undervalue children and/or women? Are we too afraid of offending powerful cultural minorities to protect powerless groups within them? In light of the VW scandal, should we add the environment to our list of under-considered objects of concern?
Jesus seems happy to use a little child to add emotional thrust to his argument (Mark 10.16). Remembering the dead child washed up on a Turkish beach and its impact on the refugee crisis coverage, do you think emotion is a valuable or a dangerous tool in fighting for a cause? Can sentiment blur moral and ethical issues?
Prayer
A meditation on the role of very little children for use, perhaps, with young people
Lord, I’ve been thinking. It’s quite easy to be at peace with your own people: your mum/dad, your brother/sister, the person you’ll perhaps be married to one day. But it’s so much harder with the family next door, because they don’t seem ever to be at peace together. They’re always angry, and shouting, so we can’t sleep, can’t concentrate on work in the evenings, and the baby wakes just after mum has dropped off. And then there’s all those unknown people, Lord, the ones we see on the TV, fleeing from angry men with guns and bombs in Syria; frustrated in Redcar where they’ve all lost their jobs and no one seems to care; angry all over the place about their VW cars, about what the government is or isn’t doing, about the migrants at Calais. So much noise. So much hate. So much fear. I hate it. I sometimes think I hate them. We’re all so helpless to do anything! Why is life so awful for so many people? Why is there so much anger about?
But then, in the bible reading, it got to that bit about becoming like little children, and I suddenly thought about our baby. She doesn’t think much yet, she just smiles and gurgles whenever someone picks her up. And when I pick her up, I stop feeling angry and frustrated, even when it is 1.00 am, and I’m tired, and I’ve got college again tomorrow. She sleeps again and I feel… at peace. And mum looks in and smiles, and goes back to bed… at peace. And when I think about it, about the only time I’ve seen those lads next door smile, it was when they were leaning over our wall while our baby smiled at them, and gurgled, and kicked her legs. They smiled, and then they laughed, and seemed, well… at peace together, for once. And then I think back again and remember that quite often within those horrible shots of fleeing people, of squalid camps, of sad communities, there are babies and children who are still smiling, kicking footballs, held by mothers, fooling about, smiling. Just like our baby. And perhaps that’s it. Babies and little children don’t think about things, and get angry – they smile. They make others smile, and forget the horrors and the wrongs done to them. They bring peace, even joy, because they like just being alive. And you made them able to share that joy, just by being alive. And smiling. I shall try it. Thank you Lord.
Questions
- Jesus can shock his society. Are we in the Churches too well-mannered and deferential to custom to be effective?
- Is there a cause that makes you want to pick up a placard, chain yourself to the railings, make an impassioned speech?
Action
Does your church have, display and adhere to an appropriate safe-guarding policy? If not, do something about it! If so, make sure you are familiar with it!
Young People
Are rules for conduct a blessing or a curse? Think about the rules of your school or youth group. Can you see them as essential to communal good? Are there rules you would like to change? How and why?
Brenda Vance is a URC elder and retired university teacher living in Sussex.
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