Another week of 2021 has passed. We are still cringing
from the raid on the Capitol building last Wednesday and the promise of more of
the same to come if the insurgents have their way. Hopefully, things will calm
down somewhat, but there’s no cast-in-stone guarantee. It seems almost humorous that we were so
eager to see the beginning of 2021 and a rising hope of things getting better. So
far, we’re still waiting for the better. Oh, well, change comes slowly, no
matter how much we wish it to be otherwise.
Reading the gospel for Saturday’s Daily Office, it seems
Jesus may have been getting the same kind of vibes from the time, place, and
religious-governmental groups of his day. The first part (23-28) tells of the hungry
disciples walking through some cornfields on the sabbath. As they walked, they
broke off some heads of grain to eat. Simultaneously, the Pharisees began to
question Jesus as to why his disciples were disobeying the sabbath law
regarding doing no work on that day. Jesus reminded them that the great David
and his men had once eaten the bread of the Presence from the house of God.
Jesus considered that supplying food for hungry people was more important than
making them wait until the sabbath was over to eat. “The sabbath was made for
humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath,” (27b) he told them. Caring for
the hungry was more crucial than merely rigorously following the law.
The second story speaks of Jesus entering the synagogue
and meeting a man with a withered hand. A withered or missing hand was a
serious matter. Each hand had a specific function to perform; one was for
eating (usually done with the right hand), while the other was used for
personal hygiene only. The Pharisees who had followed him were waiting to see
what Jesus would do. Jesus called the disabled man to him before turning to the
Pharisees, asking, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to
save a life or to kill?” It wasn’t a question the Pharisees wanted to answer.
Jesus then healed the man’s hand as the Pharisees scuttled out to meet with the
Herodians and form a conspiracy to destroy Jesus.
The stories reminded me of some things that we’ve been
going through for some time. More people have been going hungry, homeless,
sick, and held back. In contrast, others have gathered together to conspire
against those who have tried to help the less fortunate. The rich have gotten
richer while the middle class has shrunk, and the group called lower-income
have grown larger and larger in numbers.
It doesn’t seem like things have changed all that much, have they?
Seeing pictures of guards and police battered by fire
extinguishers, sticks, flagstaffs and other implements, office doors breached,
and personal and governmental property carted away makes me wonder. If Jesus
had been standing in the Capitol, would the mob, especially those who claimed
to be “Christians,” have been so full of hatred that they would have attacked
him too? Would they even have noticed he was there? Jesus was ruthlessly beaten
himself before his crucifixion and didn’t fight back. I feel, though, had he
seen been there in the Capitol building, he would have done what he could to
save and comfort the victims off the crowd’s wrath or even submitted himself to
the mob’s anger to save others. Maybe he would have stood with Capitol Police
Officer Eugene Goodman, diverting the rioters away from the Senate, undoubtedly
saving many from injury or worse.
Undoubtedly, the Pharisees of Jesus’ day were convinced
of their own rightness and righteousness. I’m sure they were confident they
were doing the right thing in God’s eyes. I wish I could feel the rioters in DC
had the same motivation rather than just fighting to preserve a status quo against
those who are not of a certain race, color, creed, ethnicity, orientation, and
political persuasion.
Perhaps looking at the Markan stories through the lenses
of what life was like then and comparing it to what I see now makes me draw the
comparisons I make, unfair though they might be. I hope that those who seek to
live as Jesus taught will continue in that mission of living. I also hope that
those who sought to do evil and damage might see what their actions have
brought about and repent. Maybe then we can join in reconciliation and unity to
bring about the Kingdom of God.
I can dream that this happens, as well as hope and pray
that it does. I know for sure that I’m praying for a peaceful week, a safe
transition, and the beginning of a new period of kindness, love, and
helpfulness.
I’m putting in prayers for safety, sensibility, and also
for those impacted by the violence we’ve seen. I will remember those who have
been affected by the pandemic and its offshoots, and for those who help the
rest of us stay safe and healthy, even at the risk of their lives.
God bless.
Originally published at Speaking to the Soul on Episcopal Café Saturday, January 16, 2021.
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