In September the ordered world of Proverbs and James is read
against the cross of Marks world. Walter Brueggemann
reminds us of Karl Marxs 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? Septembers 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 nowa young
woman, dutiful, loyal, courageous, and very beautiful. She
didnt 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, thats what
its like!" Its a sobering discipline to
practice. God is everywhere, and God is always working. Watch for
Gods 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, dont 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).