Today’s readings (click below to open in new tab/window):
Psalms 15; 147:1-11, Isaiah 63:15-64:9, 1 Timothy 3:1-16, Mark 11:27-12:12

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Have you heard of the “unpology?” It’s what many celebrities and politicians do instead of actually apologizing. For instance, after getting called on the carpet for saying something insensitive, they say “I’m sorry if anyone was offended by what I said.” Subtly but distinctly different from “I’m sorry I said this offensive thing,” isn’t it?

The unpology is just one method of avoiding honest communication. Not an outright lie, but more a method of speaking yet delivering no content whatsoever. When the chief priests, scribes, and elders demanded to know by what authority Jesus said he would answer them only if they first answered a question from him: “Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin? Answer me.” They conferred among themselves because they weren’t sure what to say. They were afraid to say “from Heaven” because Jesus could ask why they didn’t believe him, but they were also afraid to say “of human origin” because the crowd, who regarded John as a prophet, would turn on them.

They settled on, “We do not know.”

Mark’s Gospel gives us no indication that what they truly believed even factored into their answer. So they said essentially nothing, because that’s how they had learned to maintain power.

Our society has an entire class of people who rise to prominence by declaring not what they believe, but what people want to hear. This class includes a regrettable number of politicians, lobbyists, executives, and clergy. Things like speaking bold truth and owning one’s mistakes get sacrificed on the altar of spin when we value power more than integrity.

We could point fingers at examples, but it’s more important not to get drawn into these behaviors ourselves. It’s tempting to make ourselves look as good as possible, and easy to rationalize why we should, but no true prophet worried about his or her image. No matter how well intentioned, once we start spinning the facts, it’s hard to stop. Speaking honestly and simply may not always move us up the ladder, but it keeps us grounded in our faith.

Comfort: Being honest saves a lot of effort.

Challenge: Be truthful, even when it’s not to your immediate advantage.

Prayer: God of truth and life, fill me with an abundance of both. Amen.

Discussion: Regardless of whether you actually do, when are you tempted to fudge the truth?

Join the discussion! If you enjoyed this post, feel free to join an extended discussion as part of the C+C Facebook group , visit comfortandchallenge.tumblr.com, or follow @comf_and_chall on Twitter. You’ll  have the opportunity to share your thoughts with some lovely people. Or feel free to comment here on WordPress, or even re-blog – the more the merrier!

Today’s readings (click below to open in new tab/window):
Psalms 123; 146, Isaiah 63:7-14, 1 Timothy 1:18-2:8 (9-15), Mark 11:12-26

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Like much of the world, church has become more casual. Not long ago it was a place most people dressed up for. People attended in a tie, a fancy dress, shined shoes, or a beautiful hat – their Sunday Best. Dressing well was a sign of respect for the house of God. Yet in his letter to Timothy, Paul instructed women not to wear anything gaudy to worship: no braids, jewelry, or expensive clothes. He didn’t mention men’s clothing, but he did tell them to pray “without anger or argument” – behavior they could put on as external signs of exaggerated, manly self-righteousness. He wanted people to practice modesty and humility rather than displaying the sort of religious spectacle Jesus had so clearly denounced.

in Mark’s Gospel, a hungry Jesus spied a fig tree that had sprouted leaves, a sign that it was bearing fruit. Upon closer inspection, the fig tree bore no fruit at all (which wasn’t terribly surprising since figs weren’t in season), so Jesus cursed it and it withered. This story bewilders a lot of people who wonder why Jesus would hurt an innocent fig tree. Perhaps it makes more sense if we remember the tree was representing itself as something that it was not – a valuable resource to the community. Jesus cursed the tree right before he cleansed the temple of money changers – people who pretended to be working in the service of the temple but were really in it to exploit the faithful for their own gain. The money changers and the fig tree both promised something good but delivered only physical and spiritual starvation.

Both passages point to a trait Jesus emphasized many times: authenticity. Only by being our true selves before God and humanity can we hope to bear healthy fruits of the spirit. Pretense is like a fig leaf out of season and doesn’t survive close inspection. Whether in a three piece suit or a sackcloth, each of us should present ourselves as a humble servant. Our Sunday Best is not what we put on our bodies, but what pours forth from our hearts.

Comfort: Your authentic self is your best self.

Challenge: Look beyond people’s appearances to the fruits of their spirit.

Prayer: O God my creator, teach me to love your creation as it is, not as I would have it be. Amen.

Discussion: When do you feel most authentic? Least authentic?

Join the discussion! If you enjoyed this post, feel free to join an extended discussion as part of the C+C Facebook group , visit comfortandchallenge.tumblr.com, or follow @comf_and_chall on Twitter. You’ll  have the opportunity to share your thoughts with some lovely people. Or feel free to comment here on WordPress, or even re-blog – the more the merrier!