Putting Things Right

I’m reading a fine book by N.T.Wright entitled “Broken Signposts: How Christianity Makes Sense of the World”. The author’s premise is that God–who called the Creation “good”–is constantly at work refining and overcoming the sense of brokenness under which we live. He says that values such as justice, love and righteousness are yet intact, even though these signposts which show the way may have been distorted. Wright’s idea says that Jesus of the Gospels is the pinnacle of God’s movement (especially seen in John’s Gospel account); that past the misunderstandings and suffering comes the Resurrection which fixes Creation and stands as a metaphor of Steadfast Love. Those fellow cynics of mine will take some heart from the readings of this coming weekend.

A fairly long reading from the book of ESTHER ( 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22) should be prefaced by a synopsis or backstory. The reading is the climax of the plot against the Jews, Esther’s people–and how the “evil” Haman got his in the end. The holy implication is this: that a caring God notices the unfair system and ultimately fixes it. “Because the humble are lifted up and the haughty brought down, the case can be made that God is present and active….if we are looking for evidence of God’s presence, we do well to consider those times and places when there are great reversals and dramatic changes of fortune….Though God cannot be named, God is at work to put things right, to deal justly with both the oppressor and the oppressed.” (H. James Hopkins, FEASTING on the WORD, B 4:99ff)

There are many things to be found in the Letter(s) of JAMES: this reading, 5:13-20 is about the efficacy of prayer. If a person finds themselves broken/un-whole in body, mind or spirit, they need to connect with God. And this is a community opportunity as well, involving the Church as an example of anticipated Wholeness. “Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed.” Healing depends upon our awareness of a “broken signpost” somewhere, and thereby turning over the problem to God, who will put things right.

The Gospel lesson is from MARK 9:38-50: on the way to Jerusalem, Jesus teaches about tough things, like pruning the unnecessary branches from a fruit tree; or blighted body parts from our imperfect selves. “If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off…” Or your foot. Or your eye. Is Jesus speaking in hyperbole here? I sure hope so, because my offending parts would probably outnumber the working ones! But this is God’s quest for spiritual perfection, that the Whole person can be put right with God by eliminating those things–habits? words of anger? condescension?–which would separate the practicing Christian from the Ongoing Creation.

As a person who’s fatigued by looking for the silver linings, I need to hear these things. I had a conversation with a neighbor who claims to be ready to die, because things are so imperfect on Earth. Some will sing that “This world is not my home, I’m just a-passing through…”–but that’s an easy way out. We read that God LOVED the world, thus sent Jesus his son to pitch his tent in our backyard! I suspect that I’ll have to move my tired soul to seek out and announce the large & small instances of God-at-work. Join me?

In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King

Wayfarers are invited to join me every Tuesday as the scripture readings for the upcoming weekend confront us.