Psalm 1: Righteous people are blessed because they do not follow the ways of the wicked, but love God's instruction. They are like trees planted by streams, bearing fruit and always succeeding. The wicked, however, are destroyed.

OR Psalm 54: A plea for God's help and rescue because proud and violent people seek to attack the Psalmist. But, God sustains God's servant and destroys those who attack him. In response the Psalmist gives thanks and offers sacrifices to God. Mark 9:30-37: Jesus predicts his death and resurrection, and then challenges the disciples for arguing about which of them is greatest. Then he teaches them that the greatest in God's Reign must be the slave of all, and that whofe. Jealousy and selfish ambition are not wise, but cause evil, conflict, murder and struggle. Therefore God's people should resist evil, submit to God, draw near to God, and seek to be cleansed.

 

It is a tough choice to give up personal power and self-interest in favour of the common good, but this is the way of Christ - the way of peace, service, grace and love. In every community there are those who seek to "work the system" to benefit themselves. Sometimes this is done maliciously, but often it is done with simple ignorance or neglect of the needs of the weak, poor, voiceless and defenseless. The truth is that we are all oppressed and we are all oppressor at some point in our lives, and we all need to learn to turn away from our worst selves. Taking up the cross of Christ means that we give up our quest to be the greatest, come alongside those who suffer and are persecuted, and support them, defend them and work with them for their upliftment, while ensuring that the wealthy and powerful do not benefit at their expense.