October 14, 2012 Proper 23B by
Bob King
Amos 5:6-7, 10-15; Mark 10:17-31
When we decided to follow our
retreat experience with a focus on mission today, neither Kate nor I had yet
checked the lectionary readings. It can
only be the work of the Holy Spirit that we’re given Amos and Jesus’ encounter
with the rich young man. Certainly for
me, these two bits of scripture capture both the essence, and the fear of what
it means to be a Christian in our world.
Kate asked me to share with you
my vision of Redeemer’s mission. The
most revealing way to do that is with two stories. The first story is not mine, but had perhaps
the greatest influence in my life on my sense of church. I was brought up in an Episcopal parish not
so different from Redeemer: good people, emotionally satisfying worship, and a
sense of caring for children. And yet I
always felt something was missing.
