The Lesson: Psalm 54
God is my helper; it is the Lord who sustains my life. (Ps. 54:4)
1Save me, O God, | by your name;
in your might, de- | fend my cause.
2Hear my | prayer, O God;
give ear to the words | of my mouth.
3For strangers have risen up against me, and the ruthless have | sought my life,
those who have no re- | gard for God.
4Behold, God | is my helper;
it is the Lord who sus- | tains my life.
5Render evil to those who | spy on me;
in your faithful- | ness, destroy them.
6I will offer you a | freewill sacrifice
and praise your name, O Lord, for | it is good.
7For you have rescued me from | every trouble,
and my eye looks down | on my enemies.
in your might, de- | fend my cause.
2Hear my | prayer, O God;
give ear to the words | of my mouth.
3For strangers have risen up against me, and the ruthless have | sought my life,
those who have no re- | gard for God.
4Behold, God | is my helper;
it is the Lord who sus- | tains my life.
5Render evil to those who | spy on me;
in your faithful- | ness, destroy them.
6I will offer you a | freewill sacrifice
and praise your name, O Lord, for | it is good.
7For you have rescued me from | every trouble,
and my eye looks down | on my enemies.
Gospel: Mark 9:30-37
Jesus’ teaching and action in this text are directed to the church whenever it is seduced by the world’s definition of greatness: prestige, power, influence, and money. The antidote to such a concern for greatness is servanthood.
30[Jesus and the disciples went on] and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it;31for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.” 32But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.
33Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” 34But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. 35He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” 36Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, 37“Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”
33Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” 34But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. 35He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” 36Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, 37“Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”
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