Against the Wall

Independence  Day has come and gone, with attendant flag-waving and a championship by the ladies in World Cup Soccer. (“We’re Number One!”)  Some whack-os celebrated by shooting or intimidating people who seemed different than themselves; like Superman, protecting “the American way of Life”.  What shall we speak to a Nation whose freedom-rhetoric has been bruised by grasping and fearful demons?  There are two grace-filled options in the lectionary for this weekend:  celebrating the boldness of Amos and John the Baptizer who stood up to the religious status-quo and Herod the Lesser; or the vision of the True Jerusalem, as morally measured with Amos’ plumb-line and Paul’s reminder of God’s blueprint for the fullness of time.

Amos was one of the earlier prophets, circa.760 BCE.  Not a professional sooth-sayer, but a shepherd and tree-trimmer, he was called for a one-time foray against the prosperity of Israel which had neglected her God-nourished roots.  “He denounced Israel, as well as her neighbors, for reliance upon military might, and for grave injustice in social dealings, abhorrent immorality, and shallow, meaningless piety.  Amos’ forceful, uncompromising preaching brought him into conflict with the religious authorities of his day.”  (Oxford Annotated Bible)  “Then the Lord said, ‘See, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel.'”  (7:8)  God stood by a wall really in plumb, as if to say, “This is what I have in mind!”

Paul tells the Ephesian congregations that the People of God were formed “before the foundation of the world.” (1:4)  The Masonic orders portray God as a builder, and we often sing, “How Firm a Foundation”.  Paul continues, “he has made known to us the mystery of his, will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time…”   Just as we have been given a model for our persons in Jesus, we can appreciate a Godly model for our city-states in the New Jerusalem.  “This is what I have in mind.”

Mark’s Gospel (6:14-29)  tells how Herod’s daughter–traditionally  named Salome–danced at a royal banquet, and pleased Herod so much that he promised her anything!  Her mother, Herodias, had a long vendetta against John the Baptizer, since he spoke out about her leaving Herod’s brother Philip to marry (?) Herod and be queen.  (“The Days of Our Lives”, series 1)  ANYway, Salome asked for the head of John the Baptizer on a platter!  Exit John…but his ghost of guilt lived on. (v.16)  John, like Amos, went up against Power; maybe even with a plumb-line.

Marie & I joined several thousand others over the July 4th weekend to visit the Statue of Liberty.  There were lots of international tourists there, although it’s fashionable today for Americans to sneer at Emma Lazarus:  don’t send ME your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breath free–because I’m scared that they’ll take my job, my home, my language…   To me, the most impressive part of Lady Liberty was the pedestal upon which she stood: originally Ft. Wood, it was a redoubt protecting the harbor AGAINST  “those people”.  There was truly a moment of grace when someone reclaimed the stonework of fear to support the emblem of welcome!  “This is what I have in mind!”

God Bless Us, Every One!             Horace Brown King