One thing we have been seeing over the past couple years since Barack Obama was elected and inaugurated as President of the United States, is that it doesn't take much for well-meaning people to create an "other" that must be defeated. The birth of the Tea Party movement and the onslaught of racist remarks and concerns over the President's birth certificate are all designed to make him that "other" that is not qualified for the office that Obama holds.
Through events such as Arizona's horrible anti-immigration law, and the law that takes money away from Medicaid and Medicare transplant patients, and the rise against health care reform all over the United States we see that immigrants and the sick are that "other" that we just cannot afford to assist.
Over the last day or so, we have heard about Gov. Rick Scott of Florida who has ordered immediate cuts to programs that assist disabled people. Disabled people are also the "other" that we just cannot spend money on now.
We have also learned the Pastor Terry Jones of Florida finally carried out his plan to burn the Quoran. His decision has resulted in the deaths of United Nations employees who were killed as outraged individuals erupted in protest in Afghanistan. To Pastor Jones and many other Christianists those who practice the Islamic Faith are the "other" who are destroying what America is about.
Today's Old Testament and Gospel are all about God seeing the "other" of a family in the case of Samuel anointing David as King of Israel. In the Gospel of John, Jesus sees the person in the man born blind. In the times that Jesus lived in, someone who was born blind was the "other" that people brushed aside. How times and attitudes still have yet to change.
The story of Samuel anointing David as king of Israel can easily be compared to Walt Disney's classic animated feature The Sword in the Stone. The young Wart (actually young King Arthur), is thought to be the dumbest member of his adopted family. He is young. He is very skinny and scrawny. The Wizard Merlin sees in Arthur something very awesome and takes it upon himself to educate Arthur even against the wishes of his foster father. In the very end during the tournament to decide who should wear the crown to rule all of England, the Wart forgets Kay's sword. When he runs back to get the sword he pulls the sword from the stone that says: "Whosoever pulleth out this sword shall be crowned King of all England." The MC of the competition calls everyone to go back to the anvil and see if Arthur can again pull the sword from the stone. None of the strong armed men in the crowd could pull the sword. Only Arthur pulled the sword. And he was crowned King of England.
It is quite fair to say that until Arthur pulled the sword from the stone, he was the "other" that was thought of as insignificant. After Arthur pulled the sword from the stone, one of the bystanders remarks: "It's a miracle. Ordained by heaven."
I think the setting for Samuel anointing David as King of Israel is another instance of someone who was thought of as an "other" by those around him was suddenly noticed by God. Because God did not see David as an "other." God saw David as the one God had chosen to do great things for God's people in that time and place.
Here in the Gospel we see that Jesus recognizes the beauty and goodness of God in the "other" known as the man born blind. To the Pharisees and many in that time, the man born blind was some "inconvenient" person who was just in everyone's way. Taking everyone else's money and not doing a thing for himself. Kind of like those wanting to take food stamps or collect taxes on money given to people who cannot work through no fault of their own away, because "they are just lazy and are not working because they don't want to. Why should my money go to people who are not working for it?"
Jesus saw in the blind someone that was so valued by God, that he just couldn't walk by and do nothing for the man, knowing that Jesus could do something to help. Jesus did not see the man born blind as an "other." Jesus saw and knew the presence of God and honored God's presence by restoring to the man, not only his sight, but the very dignity that belonged to an individual created by God.
Why were the Pharisees so angry with Jesus?
Our Deacon, the Rev. Margy Mattlin in her sermon at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral answered that question so perfectly today.
The Pharisees did not want the man born blind to suddenly be part of society as a man with his dignity restored. Notice how they treat the man like he is still some piece of garbage. Even his own family spoke to him in a way that dishonored what had happened to him. When the marginalized of society suddenly begins to take their rightful place, suddenly the "mighty are cast from their thrones." (Luke 1:53).
This I think has everything to do with why the rhetoric towards lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people has been being ramped up. I also believe that the gains made by the LGBTQ communities with the repeal of DADT, the proposed repeal to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), and the enactment of marriage equality in six states, are making our opponents that much more determined to bring us down.
There is no such thing as a non-personal anti-LGBTQ campaign. There is also no such thing as a non-personal anti-immigration bill. There is something very personal about denying people the opportunity to have health care coverage, food stamps, job training programs, public education and collective bargaining rights to workers. All of these "anti" campaigns are designed to make wealthy people and large corporations as the status quo of society. While those who are middle-class and low income individuals and families are the "other" that we just cannot help any more. LGBTQ people cannot have our equal rights, because we are the "other" of society because the Bible according to Christianists reads that people who have sex with members of the same sex are an "abomination". Even though the word "abomination" really means "culturally unacceptable."
As long as LGBTQ people remain the "other" we can be denied our equal rights in terms of jobs, housing, financial assistance, public assistance, marriage equality, and the right to be part of the military. LGBTQ teens cannot be protected from being bullied in their schools and communities, because they are the "other" that are being "indoctrinated" by "homosexual activists." As soon as we begin to gain our equal rights, all those who have had their place as the status quo have to move over and share with the group of people, they still consider the "other."
What is wrong with the picture that Republicans and Tea Party folks have been trying push on America, is that such policies fail to regard all individuals as people of sacred worth. The assaults on women, LGBT, public workers, the poor, the Muslims and any one else that is different are all designed to remain as the "other" of society. What is worse is that many Christians have grown up or have been converted into thinking of "others" who are not exactly like them have become way too comfortable with their attitudes and actions towards the "others". It has become the means of scapegoating and justifying the most cruel violence in the Name of God and the Bible.
The readings for today challenge us to see in all people who are different than ourselves, the need for justice, equality and inclusion. All of us as God's people have a role to play in helping those who are less fortunate than ourselves. We are asked to open our own often blind inner eyes and see in each person regardless of skin color, body odor, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, religion, behavior, health or wealth status, language written or spoken, and see in all people, God's created beauty and redemptive work.
Lent is an invitation to look deep within ourselves to see how we are thinking of others who are different than ourselves? Who is that someone that we are looking down on, as if they are worthless? Who's ideas are we disagreeing with to the point that we also disregard the person as valued and treasured by God? What can we do in our prayers and actions to change this world that sees the "others" and to begin doing as much as we can do for them?
The invitation of today's Scripture readings is to see the heart that God cherishes and relishes in each person as a unique masterpiece of God's creation. In God's eyes, there is no such thing as an "other" through which God's light does not and cannot shine.
May Holy Week and Easter find us recognizing the light of God in every human person. Amen.
Prayers
Through events such as Arizona's horrible anti-immigration law, and the law that takes money away from Medicaid and Medicare transplant patients, and the rise against health care reform all over the United States we see that immigrants and the sick are that "other" that we just cannot afford to assist.
Over the last day or so, we have heard about Gov. Rick Scott of Florida who has ordered immediate cuts to programs that assist disabled people. Disabled people are also the "other" that we just cannot spend money on now.
We have also learned the Pastor Terry Jones of Florida finally carried out his plan to burn the Quoran. His decision has resulted in the deaths of United Nations employees who were killed as outraged individuals erupted in protest in Afghanistan. To Pastor Jones and many other Christianists those who practice the Islamic Faith are the "other" who are destroying what America is about.
Today's Old Testament and Gospel are all about God seeing the "other" of a family in the case of Samuel anointing David as King of Israel. In the Gospel of John, Jesus sees the person in the man born blind. In the times that Jesus lived in, someone who was born blind was the "other" that people brushed aside. How times and attitudes still have yet to change.
Scriptural Basis
1 Samuel 16:1-13 (NRSV)
The Lord said to Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons." Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me." And the Lord said, "Take a heifer with you, and say, `I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.' Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for me the one whom I name to you." Samuel did what the Lord commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, "Do you come peaceably?" He said, "Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord; sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice." And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, "Surely the Lord's anointed is now before the Lord." But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, "Neither has the Lord chosen this one." Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, "Neither has the Lord chosen this one." Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, "The Lord has not chosen any of these." Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your sons here?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here." He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The Lord said, "Rise and anoint him; for this is the one." Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah.
The story of Samuel anointing David as king of Israel can easily be compared to Walt Disney's classic animated feature The Sword in the Stone. The young Wart (actually young King Arthur), is thought to be the dumbest member of his adopted family. He is young. He is very skinny and scrawny. The Wizard Merlin sees in Arthur something very awesome and takes it upon himself to educate Arthur even against the wishes of his foster father. In the very end during the tournament to decide who should wear the crown to rule all of England, the Wart forgets Kay's sword. When he runs back to get the sword he pulls the sword from the stone that says: "Whosoever pulleth out this sword shall be crowned King of all England." The MC of the competition calls everyone to go back to the anvil and see if Arthur can again pull the sword from the stone. None of the strong armed men in the crowd could pull the sword. Only Arthur pulled the sword. And he was crowned King of England.
It is quite fair to say that until Arthur pulled the sword from the stone, he was the "other" that was thought of as insignificant. After Arthur pulled the sword from the stone, one of the bystanders remarks: "It's a miracle. Ordained by heaven."
I think the setting for Samuel anointing David as King of Israel is another instance of someone who was thought of as an "other" by those around him was suddenly noticed by God. Because God did not see David as an "other." God saw David as the one God had chosen to do great things for God's people in that time and place.
John 9:1-41 (NRSV)
As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man's eyes, saying to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, "Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?" Some were saying, "It is he." Others were saying, "No, but it is someone like him." He kept saying, "I am the man." But they kept asking him, "Then how were your eyes opened?" He answered, "The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, `Go to Siloam and wash.' Then I went and washed and received my sight." They said to him, "Where is he?" He said, "I do not know."
They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, "He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see." Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath." But others said, "How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?" And they were divided. So they said again to the blind man, "What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened." He said, "He is a prophet."
The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" His parents answered, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself." His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, "He is of age; ask him."
So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, "Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner." He answered, "I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see." They said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" He answered them, "I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?" Then they reviled him, saying, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from." The man answered, "Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." They answered him, "You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?" And they drove him out.
Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" He answered, "And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him." Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he." He said, "Lord, I believe." And he worshiped him. Jesus said,
"I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind." Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, "Surely we are not blind, are we?" Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, `We see,' your sin remains."
Here in the Gospel we see that Jesus recognizes the beauty and goodness of God in the "other" known as the man born blind. To the Pharisees and many in that time, the man born blind was some "inconvenient" person who was just in everyone's way. Taking everyone else's money and not doing a thing for himself. Kind of like those wanting to take food stamps or collect taxes on money given to people who cannot work through no fault of their own away, because "they are just lazy and are not working because they don't want to. Why should my money go to people who are not working for it?"
Jesus saw in the blind someone that was so valued by God, that he just couldn't walk by and do nothing for the man, knowing that Jesus could do something to help. Jesus did not see the man born blind as an "other." Jesus saw and knew the presence of God and honored God's presence by restoring to the man, not only his sight, but the very dignity that belonged to an individual created by God.
Why were the Pharisees so angry with Jesus?
Our Deacon, the Rev. Margy Mattlin in her sermon at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral answered that question so perfectly today.
The Pharisees did not want the man born blind to suddenly be part of society as a man with his dignity restored. Notice how they treat the man like he is still some piece of garbage. Even his own family spoke to him in a way that dishonored what had happened to him. When the marginalized of society suddenly begins to take their rightful place, suddenly the "mighty are cast from their thrones." (Luke 1:53).
This I think has everything to do with why the rhetoric towards lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people has been being ramped up. I also believe that the gains made by the LGBTQ communities with the repeal of DADT, the proposed repeal to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), and the enactment of marriage equality in six states, are making our opponents that much more determined to bring us down.
There is no such thing as a non-personal anti-LGBTQ campaign. There is also no such thing as a non-personal anti-immigration bill. There is something very personal about denying people the opportunity to have health care coverage, food stamps, job training programs, public education and collective bargaining rights to workers. All of these "anti" campaigns are designed to make wealthy people and large corporations as the status quo of society. While those who are middle-class and low income individuals and families are the "other" that we just cannot help any more. LGBTQ people cannot have our equal rights, because we are the "other" of society because the Bible according to Christianists reads that people who have sex with members of the same sex are an "abomination". Even though the word "abomination" really means "culturally unacceptable."
As long as LGBTQ people remain the "other" we can be denied our equal rights in terms of jobs, housing, financial assistance, public assistance, marriage equality, and the right to be part of the military. LGBTQ teens cannot be protected from being bullied in their schools and communities, because they are the "other" that are being "indoctrinated" by "homosexual activists." As soon as we begin to gain our equal rights, all those who have had their place as the status quo have to move over and share with the group of people, they still consider the "other."
What is wrong with the picture that Republicans and Tea Party folks have been trying push on America, is that such policies fail to regard all individuals as people of sacred worth. The assaults on women, LGBT, public workers, the poor, the Muslims and any one else that is different are all designed to remain as the "other" of society. What is worse is that many Christians have grown up or have been converted into thinking of "others" who are not exactly like them have become way too comfortable with their attitudes and actions towards the "others". It has become the means of scapegoating and justifying the most cruel violence in the Name of God and the Bible.
The readings for today challenge us to see in all people who are different than ourselves, the need for justice, equality and inclusion. All of us as God's people have a role to play in helping those who are less fortunate than ourselves. We are asked to open our own often blind inner eyes and see in each person regardless of skin color, body odor, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, religion, behavior, health or wealth status, language written or spoken, and see in all people, God's created beauty and redemptive work.
Lent is an invitation to look deep within ourselves to see how we are thinking of others who are different than ourselves? Who is that someone that we are looking down on, as if they are worthless? Who's ideas are we disagreeing with to the point that we also disregard the person as valued and treasured by God? What can we do in our prayers and actions to change this world that sees the "others" and to begin doing as much as we can do for them?
The invitation of today's Scripture readings is to see the heart that God cherishes and relishes in each person as a unique masterpiece of God's creation. In God's eyes, there is no such thing as an "other" through which God's light does not and cannot shine.
May Holy Week and Easter find us recognizing the light of God in every human person. Amen.
Prayers
Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Collect for the Fourth Sunday of Lent, Book of Common Prayer, page 219).
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Human Family, Book of Common Prayer, page 815).
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