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Our lessons for this Sunday continue in the same three books and lead us to questions, theological discussion and conflict. Job speaks for those who suffer unjustly, wondering where God is when we hurt. A theological discussion over the logos forms the second lesson and a dicey conversation with a potential disciple and Jesus forms the gospel lesson.

JOB 23:1-9; 16-17-PRAYER ASCENDING , GOD ABSCONDING

We’re in the third cycle of the dialogues between Job and his interlocutors; here, Job seeks God in order to argue his case before God. Job desperately wants answers for the reasons behind his immense suffering. Somehow if he can meet with God, he will be acquitted. But finding where God is, that’s another matter! God is absent from Job’s consciousness-indeed, through the entire book. The complaint of Job in this lesson seems the inversion of the Psalmist’s complaint in Psalm 139 where the psalmist can never completely escape God’s presence. The inaccessibility of God is Job’s crisis and perhaps ours too: "If I go forward, he is not there; or backward, I cannot perceive him; on the left he hides, and I cannot behold him" (vs. 8-9).

HEBREWS 5:1-10-WORD OF GOD / PRIEST IN HEAVEN

Hebrews 4:12-13 form a familiar and well-phrased theological statement concerning the Logos of God. At first blush, the reader might infer that the writer simply wants to make a qualitative statement about Scripture. Yet, a more careful reflection moves the reader to a much more profound understanding of the Word: the writer is describing the voice of God that is fully and finally enfleshed and actualized in Jesus Christ. The pastor proclaims that the Word which God utters is so powerful that it can slice through layers and universes to reveal all and everything that lies concealed. What immediately follows is the beginning of a series of reflections on the High Priesthood of Jesus, a topic which will be more developed in next Sunday’s lessons.

MARK 10:17-31-THE RICH WANNABE DISCIPLE

We have before us a story that doubtlessly circulated widely throughout the early Christian communities as a warning to those whose wealth obtruded into their discipleship (the story also appears in Matthew 19:16-30 and Luke 18:18-30). The Jesus Group is setting out one morning when a wannabe disciple approaches with, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus challenges the title used and then appeals to the ten commandments as the correct answer. Not satisfied with the answer, the wannabe says, "I have kept these since my youth." "Fine, good, okay," Jesus might have responded, "but go, sell . . . come, follow me." "Ouch," says the rich guy. "Ouch," say the disciples. To such astonishment Jesus teaches the impossibility of human effort to save. Still, Peter points to what they’ve given up and Jesus affirms their sacrifice and promises them one hundredfold of everything they’ve given up albeit "with persecutions."