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Our Pentecost season offers this week a continuity of the David cycle and Mark 6 as well as Paul’s teaching about God’s riches made specific and available to all through Christ. Connections and conversations might include God’s plans that are not always what we had in mind (2 Samuel 7 and Ephesians 2), house-building vis-à-vis family home-building (2 Samuel 7 and Ephesians 2), the mission: gathering the scattered (2 Samuel 7, Ephesians 2, and Mark 6).

2 Samuel 7:1-14a-House-Building 101

Continuing in the David cycle, this week we find David settled in Jerusalem at his new home. But just as he settles back in the easy chair, he becomes painfully aware of an incongruity. Here he is living in a spacious quarters while God is out in the backyard in a tent! So he bounces an idea off of Nathan his court prophet and gets a thumbs up to build God a magnificent house too. Later, however, God personally speaks to Nathan and the prophet reverses his initial go ahead. The episode now spins out about house-building and who is building who a house. turns the tables on David: "The Lord will make you a house"-one that will last well beyond his new address.

 

Ephesians 2:11-22-Invitation and RSVP From God

Paul builds on his nonstoptocatchevenabreath syntax of "which’s," "evens," "all," "likes," and "followings," to get to the core of his gospel. Specifically, Gentiles who have been far afield (as he has so eloquently reminded them) have now been invited to come near to God through Jesus Christ. Through Christ’s death, a new humanity has been created, a new place of acceptance and favor has been birthed, and a new status of "family" has been made possible. But this is also true for those who had formerly arrived on God’s doorstep via the path of adhering to commandments and ordinances, maintaining separateness from non-religious types. Through Christ both groups-Jews and non-Jewish persons-become the unified community of God. Hostilities are ended. Thus, whether afar or close to the door, God now calls to everyone to peace that unites them to God as family members.

Mark 6:30-34, 53-56-Scattered and Gathered

Mark has clued us in on the mission of the six groups of twelve disciples ("two by two") that Jesus has sent out (Mark 6:6b-13). Undoubtedly, Herod catching wind of this whirlwind of missionary activity forms his own conclusions (6:14-29). Now these missioners return-the twelve-who have toured the local villages to exorcise demonized people and to announce God’s Kingdom of which Jesus teaches. Jesus listens to their adventures and then invites them to "come away to a deserted place" alone. But the twelve have been successful for "many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried" ahead of them. The lesson continues with a focus on the crowds, the oxloi, the scattered flock that Jesus seeks to save, exorcise, heal, and announce the good news of the Kingdom of God.