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In Greek mythology, Sisyphus was...

Illustration
Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - C
Hosea 1:2-10<br>
In Greek mythology, Sisyphus was punished by being forced to roll a huge rock up a steep hill throughout eternity. The rock always got away from him and rolled back down and he must begin again. During the absurd suffering of WWII, Albert Camus published a long essay, The Myth of Sisyphus. He dealt with how humans face vain labor. Are our tasks only meaningless, interminable, ineffective repetitions? Camus' solution was that humans must rebel against the absurd.

Hosea demonstrates God's response to life's most painful personal problems. Hosea obeys
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Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me... (v. 34)

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Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16

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Contents
“Breaking Jesus’ Heart” by John Sumwalt
“Wade In the Water” by Frank Ramirez


Breaking Jesus’ Heart
by John Sumwalt
Psalm 22:23-31

For he did not despise or abhor
    the affliction of the afflicted;
he did not hide his face from me,
    but heard when I cried to him. (Psalm 22:24)

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"Have you seen it?" whispered the Barbie doll to her next door neighbour.

The next Barbie doll in line was instantly alert. There were five different Barbie dolls, who lived jumbled together in the toy cupboard but who were so jealous of each other that they rarely spoke. "Seen what?" asked the second Barbie doll, blue eyes darting all round the room.

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Russell F. Anderson
Theme For The Day: The road to God's kingdom is the way of obedience, suffering and death, the way of the cross. Christ calls us to take up our cross and follow him.


BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS

Lesson 1: Genesis 17:1--7, 15--16 (C)
John W. Clarke
These verses from Mark's gospel are a call to commitment, a call to sacrifice, and a call to give up everything of earthly value in life. To say these are difficult verses is truly an understatement. It is pretty clear that the disciples are not at all ready for what Jesus is saying. They are not ready for Jesus to die and they certainly are not ready to die themselves.

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