Year B Proper 21 30 September 2012
Esther 7: 1-6, 9-10; 9: 2--22 Psalm 124 James 5: 13-20 Mark 9: 38-50
There is a tension among Christians as to what is sacred and what is secular. I’m aware that some Christian churches will not have me come and play my Christian music in their church or endorse my music for their functions because I perform secular music. It is a strange phenomenon because Christians do have secular jobs, but don’t very often see that it is possible that God blesses and encourages our secular work. (And it doesn’t seem to be realized that secular music is the bread and butter for a person in music ministry).
Our readings this week are such, that they sent me on a journey to find out the back ground of some scripture that I found difficult to grasp, and in the process I found a theme that speaks to me and urges me to see that God is working in all places and through all things in our lives….even and especially when we cannot sense him.
Our first reading comes from the book of Esther and is quite violent and dramatic. Esther was a Jewish girl who became Queen to a foreign King while the Jews were living in exile. She kept her nationality a secret and could not approach the King without fear of death. An edict had been given that on a set day those who wished to could legally kill all the Jews. The person who instigated this edict wanted to wipe out every Jew in existence…. Sounds a little like what happened in the 20th century. Esther, after prayer and fasting, approached the King about the matter and the Jews were given the legal right to defend themselves and fight back. The long and short of the story is that it was a great victory.
After researching, I discovered that Esther sounds like the Hebrew word for “hidden”. I also discovered some amazing facts about the feast of Purim which is the feast instigated through this event. It is mentioned at the conclusion of our scripture reading. From the Website for the Jewish Renewal Congregation of Philadelphia and written by Rabbi Emanuel Feldman:
“Purim: a story of heroism and evil undone by goodness.
And also a holiday of masks: On Purim everyone wears costumes and masks. That is part of the celebration! Adults and kids, all come to the reading of the Megillah dressed in elaborate disguises! Purim is a Mardi Gras of disguises _ reality is hidden, garbed in funny, gaudy, attractive clever, glittery, cute, silly, but always false appearances.
It is a clue to the meaning of the holiday, and the story. Truth can be disguised. Sometimes even the main character is hidden. Sometimes even God is hidden.” (http://www.pnaior-phila.org/learn-about/the-months-of-spring-pesach-through-purim)
Megillah is the term used for the reading of the book of Esther which takes place at this festival and is a word that also sounds like a Hebrew word; it sounds like the Hebrew for “revealed”.
In the circumstances of the Jewish people it seemed that God was hidden. The Jews, as represented by Mordecai, Esther’s uncle, were a minority group who refused to bow to public pressure. He would not bow to man and he would not bow to idols, but it was this act that resulted in all Jews nearly being annihilated. Ever sense that fear?
I’ve been watching the television show, “Can of Worms”, and I’ve commented to Brittany that there are many people who don’t seem to have solid or valid reasons for their opinions, but their opinion is the seemingly “trendy” one. For example: “Oh no, people shouldn’t have to speak English to live in Australia – that’s not being culturally sensitive”, “Of course homosexuals should be allowed to marry”, “Yes, I would certainly let my 15 year old daughter have sex in my house – better that than some dirty motel or car etc…” - More important than the opinion themselves is to realize whether we really think things through or simply “bow” to popular societal conformity.
We also have an example from Mordecai, in our first reading, and a warning from our Gospel, to exhort us to be true to the ways of God.
Mark 9:42 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.”
“Little ones” refers to those of low status. I would imagine this means that we have a responsibility to pass on the ways of God and be true to his word as revealed in the scriptures. If we interpret or compromise scripture in such a way as to be socially accepted, and in the process influence others to sin, then this warning is certainly for us!
Mordecai was true to God, but he and his entire race were hated because of it. It was a time in the history of the Jews when God seemed silent, but surely God was working through all their circumstances to save them. It was not advisable for a Jew to marry someone of a different race, yet that is what Esther did and that is how she came to be in a position to save her people. We need to be aware of the Spirit of God working in all our earthly circumstances not just those that we deem to be “holy”.
Our Gospel talks rather mysteriously about salt.
Mark 9:49-50 “Everyone will be salted with fire. “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.””
Sacrifices were to be presented with salt. Jewish meals are not thought to be complete without salt. Bread dipped in salt at the onset of a meal was a blessing to the bread.
Our lives are made holy in our earthly and secular lives, because though it may seem that God is hidden and silent, we are His people and he is working to bring about his purpose through our circumstances.
Ever recall the saying, “being so heavenly minded that you are of no earthly good”… kind of like asking if salt loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again. It is a rhetorical question, not meant to be answered, but meant to be realized that we need to be authentic in our lives. We are people that God is dealing with through the ongoing work of His Holy Spirit. He “salts” us – that is, he organizes our lives so that all things work together in our lives to achieve His purpose. Some of these things certainly feel they are like the fire of hell, but that is not the end of the story…..
Our Psalm and our reading from James both assure us of the help from God;
James 5:13-16 “Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
The Jewish people keep the festival of the Purim, and according to the research I did, it seems to be held 30days before the feast of Passover…. in some ways as a preparation for Passover. We acknowledge the Passover as part of our Easter preparations but the feast of the Purim is not part of our tradition. I think it is something that I could do with celebrating as a reminder to me that God is not absent and that the undesirable experiences of my life are not the end of the story – God is designing, salting and making holy every part of my life, and in time the joy of victory will come. (I imagine that Jesus celebrated the Purim very meaningfully as he prepared for his Passover)!!
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