In September the ordered world of Proverbs and James is read against the cross of Mark’s world. Walter Brueggemann reminds us of Karl Marx’s dictum, "The ruling ideas of each age have ever been the ideas of its ruling class."

Who benefited by our pious simplistic characterizations of the Hebrew scriptures as law and the New Testament as grace? How did reading Proverbs and not the Prophets prepare us so easily to turn the symbol of the authorities’ answer to those who defied them into a symbol of the devotional life that posed no threat to the authorities? September’s meditations will bring a chill to "whatever is, is right."

September 25
Radical Trust
Esther 7:1-6, 9-10, 9:20-22; Psalm 124; James 5:13-20; Mark 9:38-50

The lesson from the Hebrew scripture is the story of Esther, one of the beloved heroines of the Bible. (It is not a part of our lectionary, but take a peek at the story of Vashti [1:10-23], also a remarkable woman and definitely not "a good wife"!) But Esther claims our attention now—a young woman, dutiful, loyal, courageous, and very beautiful. She didn’t hesitate to use all of her feminine charms to save her people. She, too, might say, "For this was I born, and for this I was brought to this place."

With the success of her stratagem, she might have given thanks with Psalm 124, a psalm of thanksgiving for a communal deliverance. Let Esther sing, "If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when our enemies attacked us, then they would have swallowed us up alive."

The ninth chapter of Mark closes with a collection of quotations from the tradition that are not necessarily connected. The original context is lost. Together, however, they make some radical statements about the nature of Christian discipleship.

The community does not have to worry about tests of membership: "Whoever is not against us is for us." A good deed done by anybody rebounds to the glory of God and makes the kingdom of God more visible—"Oh, that’s what it’s like!" It’s a sobering discipline to practice. God is everywhere, and God is always working. Watch for God’s footsteps.

The next batch of quotations suggests in what high regard we should hold our relationship with God. If any part of us gets in the way of that relationship, don’t hesitate to get rid of it.

This may be one of the times when a personal application of the tradition may be more helpful than a community application. It is more difficult to discipline oneself than to see the offending member as one of the community. The church has a sorry history of judging and excluding. "Go and sin no more" is an example of the radical trust our Lord gave.

VERNA J. DOZIER is an educator and lay theologian in Washington, D.C. She is the author of The Dream of God: A Call to Return (Cowley Publications) and The Authority of the Laity (The Alban Institute).