Short homiley based upon Mark 2.23-3.6 and 2 Corinthians 4.5-12
WWJD; what would Jesus do? I'm sure you're familiar with the phrase and the wristbands...and the t-shirts. It’s become a cheesy slogan, the butt of many jokes - but there is merit in it! There’s a joke amongst clergy and I’m sure elsewhere, that when asking “what would Jesus do?” cracking a whip and kicking over tables is always an option, as is breaking the rules.
In today's gospel we see again Jesus the rule-breaker, the Jesus who riles up the authorities in the name of doing not only what's right but what makes sense.
I married a couple on Friday and the evening before I told them that the rehearsal was to try and ensure that things went smoothly, and whilst there were some things that should be done in a certain way, and things that tradition dictates, that they shouldn't get hung up on the details, to do what felt right for them. The only thing that mattered for that wedding was yes, getting the legal bits right, but mainly it was about the reason they were here, the very deep love they share and the commitment they were making because of that.
I think we see this in churches a lot- and in other institutions- we do things because it’s the way they're done, the way they've always been done, the way the rules say they should be done, and I’ve been guilty of this myself. We should always be examining why we’re doing what we're doing, if it makes sense, what sort of message it gives out and what it says about the God we worship if we believe he's more interested in rules than people.
In the reading Jesus believes It’s more important to feed people than obey the rules and he believes the right thing to do is heal someone rather than leave them and by doing so break the Sabbath rules. Both these acts could be interpreted as work, forbidden on the Sabbath. I know what makes the most sense to me.
When we have rules for the sake of the rule itself, and when keeping that rule means people suffer, we become Pharisees. The ability to change and evolve is the wonderful thing about the Church of England; we’re able to examine our rules and practices and change them if needed. Giving equal weight to scripture, tradition and reason means we can grow and change for the better by examining what we do through these lenses.
And we must remember people. People have to be at the heart of everything we do and all the decisions we make. If sticking to the rules leads anyone to suffer then the rules need to change. If your response to why we’re doing something is ever “because that’s the way it’s done” or “because that’s the way we’ve always ways done it” I implore you to stop, think, and examine if it’s really the way we should be doing it. I’ve had to do this recently and it’s really eye opening and liberating.
Going against the crowd or breaking the rules is always worth it if means you’re acting in a more compassionate way. Rules which exclude or harm anyone need pulling apart. To paraphrase St Paul from today’s readings: make Jesus visible in you; in your actions and choices. What would Jesus do?
