Countercultural. The Book is full of these episodes and wise sayings which turn the world upside down. From the beginning, faith-life is seen as expressing Something Different than the rest of the world usually dishes out. Joseph, the poor kid from the desert, gets to run all of Egypt. Gideon the timorous overcomes oppression. Mary foretells that the poor will be filled with good things, while the rich will have had their day. The readings many of you will hear this Sunday continue this theme of unexpected notice.
The Book of Proverbs rambles on and on, but closes with an almost surprising paen to The Ideal Woman –or any woman (31:10ff) This ancient Martha Stewart does everything right, making her husband the envy of all the other guys! Is this a check-list for the Perfect Wife, or a fella shopping for one? What’s surprising is that this unsolicited testimonial comes from within a male-centered culture, and is considered Holy. Telford Work, a professor at Westmont College in California, says that “preaching (this passage) in the midst of the pitched gender politics of our age is like stomping through a minefield.”
Psalm 1 offers happiness/blessedness to those who delight in the law of the Lord, who don’t follow the crowd. But as Kermit the Frog says, “It’s not easy being green”.
Ah, James! More Wisdom decrying envy & selfish ambition, materialism & conflict over turf. Written to the early Church, perhaps in underground congregations, James urges a unique ethic of gentleness, “full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy” (3:17) What a change fro the daily business of those times! Between the lines, he writes that this is a by-product of our faith, and concludes, “Draw near to God, and (God) will draw near to you.” (4:8)
Mark’s Gospel remembers the time when the Jesus Gang argued among themselves as to who was the Number One Disciple. (9:33-37) “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” Whoever takes care of the helpless and the innocent gives true service to the Lord What could be more expendable than a street urchin?
In these days of power and calling corporations people, this alternative word must be heard. My Yahoo homepage exalts the famous, the expensive and the arrogant. But the Church resonates with women, children and gentle creatures who’re submerged in a swamp of selfishness! A guy I knew in college told me, “Nice guys finish last”. But that’s not what it says here.
God Bless Us, Every One
Horace Brown King, Binghamton NY
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