A Message from Pastor Kaji

As you have probably seen, our city is in a state of near emergency at the administration level. With the Mayor under indictment, I think that we can expect there to be quite a bit of turnover in the coming days. I have long worked, prayed, and collaborated with Jumaane Williams, the city’s Public Advocate, who will become Acting Mayor if Mayor Adams steps down. He has been to this church several times. I hope that you will join me in praying for everyone involved, and everyone whose life is thrown into turmoil as roles shift and people step into new responsibilities. Jumaane and his beautiful family are close to my heart as their world changes. They are people of faith and character, and I wish them well.

Thank you so much for joining us for Bible Basics last week. we had such a fruitful discussion, and I look forward to our next session on the book of Genesis, per your request. I am including my outline for the last session below.

Tomorrow evening, I am honored to join the Kimbritive Collective for a conversation on reproductive justice, an issue very close to my heart. I hope that if you are part of this affinity group, you are joining us in Brooklyn.

Looking ahead to Sunday, in our text from Mark this week, a lot happens. We hear puzzling words from Jesus, but we also see him healing. The story is powerful, and it is one of the richest, but also more difficult texts to take in. I would love for you, in your preparations for Sunday, to pay close attention not just to the narrative, but also to the man when he says “I believe. Help my unbelief.“ In my reflections, I will be sharing a concept from psychology that has to do with perception. How do we perceive things differently from how God sees things?

I can’t wait to see you in church.

Pax Christi,

Pastor Kaji

SCRIPTURE
Mark 9:14–29 (Year B, p. 279):

14 Now when they [Jesus, John and Peter] came to the disciples [after the Transfiguration], they saw a great crowd around them, and some scholars arguing with them. 15 And the whole crowd of women, children, and men saw Jesus; they were immediately overcome with awe and they ran forward to greet him.
16 Then Jesus asked them, “What are you all arguing about with them?” 17 Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my child to you who has a spirit of speechlessness. 18 And whenever it overtakes my child, it throws them down and they foam and grind their teeth and my child becomes paralyzed, and I asked your disciples to cast it out and your disciples were not able.” 19 Then Jesus answered them, saying, “O faithless generation! How much longer must I be among you all? How much longer must I bear with you all? Bring the child to me.” 20 And they brought the child to Jesus. When the spirit saw the child, immediately it threw the child into convulsions who then fell on the ground rolling and foaming. 21 Then Jesus asked the parent, “How long has this been happening?” And the parent said, “From childhood. 22 Often has it cast the child into fire and into water, to destroy the child; yet if you are able to do anything to help us, have pity on us.” 23 Jesus said to the parent, “If you are able! All things can be done for the one who believes.” 24 Immediately the child’s parent cried out [with tears], “I believe; help my unbelief!” 25 Now when Jesus saw that a crowd of women, children, and men came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You spirit of speechlessness and deafness, I command you, come out of the child, and never enter the child, again!” 26 After crying out and throwing the child into more convulsions it came out and the child was like the dead, so much so that many said, “He is dead.” 27 Yet Jesus took the child by the hand and lifted the child up, and the child was able to stand. 28 When Jesus had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why were we not able cast it out?” 29 He said to them, “This kind can come by nothing but prayer [and fasting].”