In reference to the wonderful story we just heard from the Book of Esther, she stands with countless passages in the Bible that witness boldly to God’s action in the world. Esther witnesses to the power of a good story to give us hope. Rather than succumbing to despair, Esther -- like the carnival-eques festival of Purim it inspires -- encourages us to meet terror with ridicule. Satiric storytelling is not the only response to oppression we can or should muster, but the book of Esther reminds us it is indeed a valid response, one that helps us hold fast to our conviction that the grace-filled power of God ultimately will overcome the destructive powers of this world. Cameron Howard, OT Prof., Luther Seminary in St. Paul/Minneapolis. Listen now to another story that invites us to overcome terror with creativity.
Service Type: Sunday Morning
Before we hear the story of Mary and Martha, it is important to catch the flow of an action that Jesus has just praised. I find it a little ironic that just before Jesus and the disciples go in to see these sisters, Jesus has responded to the “Who is my neighbor?” question with the story of the Good Samaritan. Jesus commended the extreme hospitality of the Samaritan who likely saved the life of the man who was beaten and left to die with a strong recommendation to “GO and do likewise!”
Clearly, the message from this story is about how Jesus wants to impress us with the same deep peace of the Holy Spirt that he knew his disciples would need after his crucifixion. He can well anticipate that they will feel isolated, overcome with fear, and left wondering what in the world they will do without him. But let’s stay for a minute in the context of what Jesus, in all his humanity, might be feeling. He was about to come face-to-face with violence, deception, and rejection - even from his beloved disciples who knew him best. It is the night of his betrayal, the evening when he will be handed over to those who hate him and who will take him away to be tried, found guilty, and crucified. Yet in the middle of that, Jesus chooses to speak words of peace.
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