The Madness of King Herod

Stars, travelers, and a battle for power.

December 30, 2012 By Leave a Comment

by MaryAnn McKibben Dana

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 2:1-12

For Sunday, January 6, 2013—Epiphany of the Lord

In contrast to our beloved manger scenes—newly put away or, perhaps, still sitting on the coffee tables of the liturgically astute—it appears that significant time has passed between Jesus’ birth and the magi’s visit. The shepherds are back to work; Mary, Joseph and Jesus are in “a house.” Besides, Herod’s paranoia will soon lead him to exterminate all Bethlehem children aged two and under—a bit of an overreaction if Jesus is still a newborn babe in arms.

It’s also worth noting that the magi are not identified as kings here. Only two people wear that title: Herod, and the newborn king of the Jews. Which king will ultimately dominate? That’s the question today’s story sets up. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Matthew, New Testament, YearC Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Ruddy, yes…

June 11, 2012 By Leave a Comment

…but YWWH likes him too.

by Christian Walther

Old Testament Reading: 1 Samuel 15:34—16:13

For Sunday, June 17, 2012: Year B – Ordinary 11

Size doesn’t matter—or maybe it really does. Beauty is only skin deep, or not. You can’t judge a king by his appearance, right? Right?

I’m Confused.

Clearly Saul was king material: “He had a son whose name was Saul, a handsome young man. There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he; he stood head and shoulders above everyone else (1 Samuel 9:2).”

But YHWH’s about to punk Israel, so it would seem. They so desperately wanted to be part of the geo-political “in crowd,” that Samuel anoints Saul given said qualities for kingship, even though they sound like a shill for dandruff shampoo. Saul might as well be the Old Spice guy, but God certainly knew better, God had to, I would hope. If not, I’m confused. The trouble is that this Sunday’s Old Testament reading only adds to that confusion.

Straight to the Heart

All that stuff about the spotless lamb and the priests of Israel being “unblemished” (Leviticus 21) has always been a sore spot for me.

Is God really that superficial?

[Read more...]

Filed Under: 1 Samuel, Featured, Old Testament, YearB Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Giving Up, Giving In or Freely Giving

June 3, 2012 By 3 Comments

Why does God give up so quickly on God’s chosen people?

by Roy M. Terry IV

Old Testament Reading:  1 Samuel 8:4-20 (11:14-15)

For Sunday, June 10, 2012:  Year B − Ordinary 10

Numerous times I have been in conversations centered on what has caused the most detrimental problems throughout the history of the Church.

Without fail there are usually three primary events offered as to why the people of God have screwed up:

  1. Israel wanted a king over God.
  2. Constantine turned the Church into an institution.
  3. We (America) took prayer out of schools.

Sure, a few of these were dramatic and significant historical factors, but where is God in all of this – are we avoiding the elephant in the room?

Political Dung

1 Samuel 8 and 11 stinks of politics! Now I know, “There is politics in everything” but this story is ripe with it.

Samuel, high priest, judge and prophet of Israel has just been told by his flock that it is time for a leadership change. Samuel, the anointed man of God, was not ready to hear this news. After all, wasn’t the “age of Judges” doing a good enough job? No! The people long for security, guidance and a visible presence to lead them. Samuel, the spiritual leader of Israel, is not able to keep up with the concerns, needs and desperation of the people. Not only is he getting older, but those from his lineage are seen by the people as inept and unfit to take his place.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: 1 Samuel, Old Testament, YearB Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

“A, B, C, as easy as 1, 2, 3…”

November 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Does the King God in the sky rain down blessings if we ask long enough?

by Russell Rathbun

Psalm Reading: Psalm 123

For Sunday, Nov. 13 , 2011: Year A—Ordinary 33

I like early Jackson 5 as much as anyone. Michael is telling a young girl that he is going to teach her all about love and it is as easy as 1, 2, 3; or simple as do, re, mi—a, b, c—1, 2, 3, baby you and me, girl!  This is catchy and sweet, and all, but of course very naive. And taken in the context of MJ’s life history of relationships, well….inadequate.

1, 2, 3…

Psalm 123 is sort of like that.

It is a worship song, sung by post-exilic pilgrims to their Lord, the king of heaven. It describes the posture of the relationship. They are down on the ground, where there is suffering, scorn and contempt, looking up to the sky for mercy. The Lord King is on the throne in heaven looking down. Or maybe the Lord King is ignoring them, verse 2 says, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, until he has mercy upon us.

There is the expectation that the Lord King will likely not take notice of them or at least not grant them their request immediately.

Inadequacy?

Supplicants turning their eyes toward heaven to pray for mercy from the assumingly benevolent God King is a nice image. It is a simple and concrete understanding of the Creator/created relationship, but it is naive and inadequate. It is an un-evolved understanding of God.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Featured, Old Testament, Psalms, YearA Tagged With: , , , ,

Kinda Dark in There

September 4, 2011 By 14 Comments

 There are so many disturbing questions to choose from.

by Nadia Bolz-Weber

Gospel Reading: Matthew 18:21-35

For Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011 Year A—Ordinary 24

Let’s be honest. The hardest thing about deciding what the hardest question is about Matthew 18:21-35 is that there are so many disturbing questions to choose from.

That’s a Lot!

How many times must I forgive? Peter comes to Jesus with a complaint we’ve all had: someone at church is being an ass. It happens. So, how many times shall we forgive the whiner, the gossip, the embezzler, the adulterer, the woman who doesn’t recycle? Seven seems a lofty number. What do you think Jesus? Seven times? And of course without blinking an eye Jesus says, “Seventy-seven!”

Seventy-seven times we are to forgive. That’s a lot of forgiveness. But the little Kingdom of Heaven parable that follows doesn’t feel like it’s about forgiving seventy-seven times. Which brings us to the…

Candidates for Most Disturbing Question:

#1 If the king represents God then is it true that, like the king, God’s first instinct is to sell us off to another (king?, God?) if we cannot pay God back?

#2 If so, then can we really talk the God of the universe out of this by making some kind of flimsy promise to be good?

#3 If this is a parable about forgiving people ”77″  times, then why is it that the King only forgave the slave once then the next time he slipped up the King sent him off to be tortured? That feels like it’s about “76″ short of what Jesus is telling us to do.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Featured, Matthew, New Testament, YearA Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Beautifully Problematic Feast Day

November 14, 2010 By 1 Comment

Who is Jesus talking to when he says: Today you will be with me in paradise?

by Russell Rathbun

Gospel Reading: Luke 23:33-43

For Sunday, Nov. 21, 2010: Year C – Christ the King Sunday

Beautifully Problematic Feast Day

This is a beautifully problematic feast day.

Established, in 1925, between the two Great (sic) Wars — in the face of growing nationalism and secularism — Christ the King Sunday is intended to proclaim the headship, the rulerdom of Jesus over all human institutions, political entities, every economic and cultural ethos (even then kingdoms were kind of on the way out). Of course the text shows us that Jesus the Christ reigns in a very different way, over a different kind of Kingdom than those of this world.

Different Kind of Kingdom

This ten-verse section from Luke’s elaborate passion narrative shows a humiliation, not a coronation. This is not a triumphant sovereign taking his rightful throne, but a convicted criminal being mocked with the word “king.” While the Roman and Jewish leaders responded to Jesus’ challenge of their power with violence and retribution by making a sacrifice of him so as to restore a distorted balance of justice. Jesus’ reign over the Kingdom of God compels him to broker forgiveness for the powers and principalities that have condemned him to torture and death.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Featured, Luke, New Testament, YearC Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

The King’s God

September 20, 2010 By 2 Comments

In what way does God really protect us, from what is God able to keep us safe?

by Russell Rathbun

Psalm Reading: Psalm 91

For Sunday, Sept. 19, 2010: Year C - Ordinary 26

A twenty-first century American president is not the corollary of a B.C.E Palestinian regional king. Nor is that kingdom in any meaningful way similar to the contemporary Untied States of America. Like, for instance, we don’t have our own god that claims our country as its children or to whom the country claims allegiance. So in a biblical reading like Psalm 91, one would have to do a lot of exegetical gymnastics to find in it a witness to the Word of God.

It’s Good to be King

This week’s psalm is a royal composition of trust and protection. The king is enthroned in the shelter of the Most High, and as a result enjoys the protection of his god, from every kind of danger. No one will be able to sneak up and attack him at night; the archer’s arrows won’t reach him during the day. Thousands will die around him, but he will be just fine. To quote Mel Brooks, “It’s good to be the king!”

This psalm of reassurance and comfort does neither for me. The notion of a god that is on the side of a particular political power gives me the theological heebie-jeebies. Of course, I can understand the cultural context of the writing, and without too much of a back bend open the words of the psalmist to all people—I can apply them to me. I like that a little better. When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them. With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation. It is something that I want out of a god. A protector. I want a really big guy who promises to answer my call when I am in trouble.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Featured, Old Testament, Psalms, YearC Tagged With: , , , ,

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