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In today’s readings we are invited to think about wisdom-what it looks like in home, in the church, and in discipleship. We begin with a description of the ideal working woman that would make Harriet, Mrs. Cleaver, and Cat Woman pale by comparison (Proverbs 31); next we explore the nature of true wisdom by comparing it to wisdom look-alike; and in the gospel lesson we watch Jesus give sage advice to the disciples who have been caught up with a power grabbing discussion. This is a Sunday to gain wisdom and grow in the season of Pentecost.

Proverbs 31:10-31--Royal Advice From Wonder Woman

Lemuel’s mother is the purported author of the sayings that form this week’s first lesson. The maternal advice is in a Q/A format. Q: A capable wife, who can find? Not one to remain in the kitchen, the capable wife inspects foods and fields, imports rare foods, hands out "to-do" lists to her house servants, purchases and plants a vineyard, puts in 17-hour days, and in her spare time, sews clothes for her entire family. Her husband may have a job, but this woman manages her own business. This wonder woman is Mother Teresa, Erin Brokovich, and Martha Stewart all rolled into one. So we go through a long list of idyllic female/spousal qualities until we reach the core truth and answer to the original question. A: A woman who fears the Lord is to be praised (v. 30).

James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a--Faith and Works

As with our first lesson, so here also we are listening to sapiential advice. And as with Psalm 1 (this Sunday’s psalm), we have two paths, two kinds of wisdom before us to ponder. The one wisdom may be clever but has as its driving force insincerity, envy, and personal agenda. The other wisdom is without posturing and hypocrisy; it is peaceful and seeks to understand and be understood. The choice is deliberately obvious. The rest of the lesson underscores where those two paths will lead to-hypocritical, self-serving prayers or a submission to God and a fleeing from evil. The last verse allows for a path switch--Draw near to God . . . cleanse your hands and purify your hearts. A wise choice indeed.

Mark 9:30-37--I’M the Greatest . . U’nt uh! Am So! "Jesus! . . ."

Jesus and the disciples are traveling down the passion-sloped side of Mt. Transfiguration-heading toward Jerusalem. On the way, Jesus utters the second of his three dire death/suffering predictions: "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" (31). Not long after those words, an argument breaks out among the disciples-who is the greatest among Jesus’ followers? Jesus recalls the argument at day’s end and responds with a saying about servanthood and offers a sermon illustration in the form of a child. He scoops the kid up in his arms and says, "Whoever welcomes a child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me" (v. 37).