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| Photo by Cor Gaasbeek from Pixabay |
It’s officially warm in Seattle.
Research shows that when it gets hotter than usual and stays that way, there are more violent crimes, domestic disputes, and suicides. While it may not be a direct cause, excessive heat aggravates us. Fatigue from poorer quality sleep, inability to get cool, medical conditions, and dehydration can make us irritable and tempers flare. Thus, a shorter fuse from anger to violence.
We are in the midst of an epidemic of violence and intolerance that seems exacerbated by overly warm weather. Some voices in the public arena insist on using binary language: us/them, winner/loser, mine/not yours. These scarcity narratives typically exclude and reject any perspective that does not agree or submit to their own ideas, and disagreement is demonized.
From this world view, listening and learning, empathy and compassion, apology and repentance indicate weakness. Why listen when one already knows the totality of what is important to know to maintain power?
This weekend’s news, like many days lately, is filled with examples of people using guns instead of words to express their frustration, fear, and anger. Deaths and injuries do not typically persuade people to our perspective. And, whether we like a political candidate or not, attempted assassination is not an acceptable means of political expression in a democracy.
In a curious way, today’s gospel reading about the beheading of John the baptist speaks to our life today. Since we met John in the first 4 verses of Mark chapter 1 preparing the way for Jesus, we have not heard much about him or his ministry. Today, we learn of John’s fate because Herod recognizes the same holy power present in Jesus’ ministry as was in John’s.
It turns out that Herod knew and respected John the baptist. John’s ministry was powerful, personal and persuasive. People paid attention to and followed him because he encouraged them to listen, to repent when they wronged someone, and generally to be better human beings.
John didn’t hold back from speaking truth to power, and he criticized Herod for marrying his brother’s wife. Said wife takes umbrage with John, and uses her daughter to settle that grudge by asking for John’s head on a platter. Herod, who both admires John and fears losing face before the court, acquiesces.
Mark intentionally places the story of John’s death here in the story, drawing a contrast between the kingdom Herod rules and the kingdom Jesus ushers in.
Through the early stories of Jesus’ ministry, Mark establishes Jesus’ power to bring new life through healing of body, mind, and spirit. This story paints a contrasting story of manipulation and dis-ease, laying a foundation for Herod’s later interactions with Jesus after his arrest.
Mark then continues telling the “good news of Jesus Christ the Son of God,” as Jesus teaches and trains his followers and us to be messengers of God’s grace to the world.
Jesus refutes the narrative of absolute power, not by fighting against it, but by presenting an alternative way to power that ultimately results in fullness of life and thriving for all people.
Friends, we do not need to engage the world’s narrative of intolerance and anger. We follow the Way of Jesus, who teaches us about power that comes through repentance, compassion, and peace-making.
There are 5 things we can do TODAY to bring Christ-like healing into our world:
Continue to pray, unceasingly, for God’s insistent peace and generosity and grace to abound and sneak into our lives, our interactions, our social fabric and our leaders.
Register to vote - and vote whenever possible. Our democracy depends on participation of every registered voter. Your vote counts - and if you need help registering to vote, please let me know. It’s easy - and in Washington State your ballot will come to you in the mail.
Care for our neighbors in the heat. Check on folks who don’t get out or who may be extra affected by heat. Make sure people have fans or a way to get somewhere cool. Put out a cooler with cold water for people and pets.
Keep on being curious. Notice the things that catch your attention. Are you someone who pays attention to people’s behaviors or emotions? Do you notice how ideas get communicated? Are you attracted to photos or art? What about the natural world makes you pause and take it in?
Learn more about what we have in common with our neighbors by learning about one another. Come to our potluck on August 6 for National Night Out, where we will have conversation prompts to engage one another in positive conversations. If you would like to learn more, join me after church this Sunday and next.
That same Holy Spirit that enlivened John’s and Jesus’ ministries continues today, empowering us to lives of peace, hope, and healing into our world.
Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine; glory to God from generation to generation in the Church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever. Amen.
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