Worship support for October 17, 2021

October 17, 2021 21st Sunday after Pentecost Mark 10:35-45 COMMENTARY by Shelli Latham Disciples — they’re just like us! The gossip magazines frequently feature photographs of celebrities doing ordinary, normal things like drinking coffee, walking the dog or pushing a grocery cart. In this week’s passage, we catch a glimpse of the disciples doing something just like us — asking a pretty goofy question. They ask Jesus for a favor, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory” (v. 37). It is typically not polite to point out a goofy question, but sometimes it is comforting to know that those who are the closest to Jesus don’t understand him or their relationship with him — and he loves them and trusts them to lead just the same. To frame just how out of left-field this question is, it is worth noting two things that have happened in this chapter leading up to this passage. In last week’s lectionary reading (Mark 10:17-31), Jesus said, in response to the rich man’s question about how to inherit eternal life, that many of “the first will be last and the last will be first” (v. 31). Just a chapter before, when Jesus heard the disciples bickering about who is the greatest, he had told them, “Whoever wants to be first must be least of all and the servant of all” (Mark 9:33-35). So, the disciples should know the answer to their question. It is not new information. Additionally, the verses that immediately precede our reading show Jesus foretelling his death and resurrection, including being ridiculed, spit on, and tortured. The disciples seem to skip over this prophecy entirely... You can find the rest of the commentary on our website. Shelli Latham is pastor at Druid Hills Presbyterian Church in Atlanta. Created by guest writer Shelli Latham. You are welcome to use the order of worship in your online worship services and distribute it to your congregation. It is free for worship use. OUTLOOK REPORTING Presbyterian Mission Agency Board votes on new guiding statements, learns about microaggressions The Presbyterian Mission Agency Board voted Oct. 7 to take the first steps towards implementing a plan that is expected to transform how the Presbyterian Mission Agency does its work — a plan calling the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to live into its commitment to be a Matthew 25 church in new, decentralized ways. — Leslie Scanlon BOOK REVIEW Resurrected to Eternal Life: On Dying and Rising Theologian Jürgen Moltmann considers death and resurrection after the passing of his wife. — Roy Howard   OUTLOOK BLOG Pastoring through a computer screen "The pandemic has taught pastors to trust that the vital work of relational and community building is still alive and well in our congregations, even when we don’t get to fully see or experience it for ourselves." — Katy Shevel   EDITORIAL Showing up for each other "I've come to accept that sometimes showing up is enough and sometimes it's not, but it's better to be not enough than not be there at all." — Teri McDowell Ott

Copyright © 2021 Presbyterian Outlook, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 1 N. 5th St., Suite 500 Richmond, VA 23219