July 14, 2024 Homily
Holy Wisdom Monastery
Rev. Winton Boyd
Even before yesterday’s assassination attempt, today’s gospel text from the lectionary can be disturbing because of its violence. We pray that the love of God in Christ will shine through the violence. The text picks up after stories of Jesus sending disciples out in pairs to minister throughout the villages of Galilee.
It’s a delight to acknowledge that Nancy Enderle, director of the Clergy Renewal Center here at Holy Wisdom, celebrates the 39th anniversary of her ordination today. And that we have these 18 sweet clergy souls who are coming to the end of their first immersion here. But I’m pretty sure none of us who have been ordained used today’s gospel in our ordination services. Maybe they focused on loaves and fishes, or the Beatitudes; but not birthday parties with heads on a platter.
Some of you are probably familiar with storyteller Garrison Keilor. He often noted in interviews and writings that the key to his storytelling skill is that he’s an introvert who stands at the edge of parties. While he’s not fond of engaging in conversation, he is being keenly observant. So, not the life of the party but maybe the best person to ask how the party actually went!
As I have sat with this complex and troubling text, I’ve wondered about the minor characters – the other partygoers. What might they have seen or noticed? What might their take been on these main characters?
Maybe they’d have noticed:
Tension between Herod Antipas and John the Baptist. A regional ruler of the Roman Empire who is dis-eased by this vocal and popular prophet. He’s both afraid and intrigued, he had him arrested even though he thought him a righteous man. John’s reputation for truth telling was widely known. And whether the other party goers were fans of Herod or even secret admirers of John, the animosity would have been obvious – well maybe. Because we also read that Herod’s wife was actually more upset about John’s critique than Herod himself. More than upset, revengeful. There could be many reasons why she is more upset, including the inherent sexism of the storyteller. As we know from the Bible and even our own political leaders, calling out the irrationality of women, or even blaming the wife, are still acceptable storylines. Nonetheless, this relationship between John and the house of Herod was complicated.
Then there was the other triangle of Stepdad, Mom and Daughter/Stepdaughter. Herod was so delighted by this stepdaughter’s dancing and entertaining of the guests that he offered her whatever she wanted, even ‘half his kingdom.’ It is not surprising that she turns to mom for ideas, but mom’s response is wild, even cruel. “Ask for John’s head on a platter?” Whoa! Things were suddenly quite ugly.
And then there is the soldier of the guard, who others undoubtedly watched deliver this grotesque gift. What was that like? Did they enjoy this show of violent power? Were they troubled, was it meant to instill fear in them? Abusive power is rarely a message for the victim alone. But, if we were one of the people at that banquet we’d already know this. In fact, our survival as leaders would probably depend on paying attention to such behavior.
Maybe they also saw the love of John’s follower’s who buried his body after the party, but overall there the scene is defined by the jealousy, impulsivity and violence that so often define the rulers of all cultures.
Ugly, yes. But also true to our experience. Those who wield cultural, financial and religious power often do not care for those in their wake. They scatter victims in all directions, and their lives can be a convoluted and messy caldron of harm to all but a few.
There’s also a fascinating aspect around the placement of the story in the gospel. If you read it closely, it appears as a retrospective narrative about a previous event. As the story is told about Jesus’ disciples, Herod is afraid in part because he had already beheaded John, and heard that Jesus might be the return of John. The narrative of this party reemerges between the early ministry of the disciples in chapter 5 (healing the sick and casting out devils and anointing folks with oil ) and the latter part of chapter 6 as the whole group seeks a lonely place to pray (without much luck).
It comes after the initial energy of ministry but before the growing tension that defines the rest of Mark’s
Is it here as a reminder of the context in which faith is always lived out? Acts of healing and love, energy and hope lived amidst the unrelenting toxicity that emerges within empire power?
We live in an age when those with cultural power are distorting truth, distorting politics, distorting not only Christianity but religions of all kinds. We live in a season when being the church is complicated by the way some weaponize the very aspects of faith offered by Jesus as signs of hope and inclusion. It is a time when religious people are exercising blatant grabs for power in hateful, hurtful and despicable ways. Ours is not the first age where this has happened – but it is real and ugly nonetheless.
In this climate, might Mark’s story invite us to consider how we stay true to the narrative of a strong and faithful love without succumbing to the tactics of abuse and fear. Might it help us ponder the relationship of love, jealousy, power and truth within our culture, but also in ourselves? We can point fingers at the many Herods of our age, but honesty requires us to ask how we stay true to the gospel of love. The story is ugly to be sure, but the human tendencies – good and bad – are all too familiar. A head on a platter is an extreme example of rage and insecurity, but we know they are real. And we know that timidity and fear often lead us to despair, when love is called for.
In this week’s immersion, the group of us heard the following words from Philippians, adapted slightly from The Message translation. The author’s encouragement seems a fitting word for those of us today seeking to live faithfully in the swirl of abusive religious and empire power. These words encourage us to keep our focus on the right things- whether we are active politically or not, whether we are engaged in social or religious leadership or not.
Might we call this a word of encouragement to people of faith in 2024
Celebrate the God of Wisdom all day, every day.
I mean, revel in the Holy One!
Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that Divine Love is right here, in our midst.!
Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray.
Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting the Receiving One know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of the Sending One’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down.
I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious
—the best, not the worst;
the beautiful, not the ugly;
things to praise, not things to curse.
Put into practice what you learned from Christ, and from your ancestors in faith, what you have heard and seen, felt and known, realized and lived,
Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into her most excellent harmonies.
Thanks be to that God. Amen
Let us be together in prayer.
God of grace, as we gather this morning we are mindful of violence, and even, in the midst of our presidential campaign. Surround all impacted by yesterday’s shooting, even those we disagree with politically; and help us all work for peace in our communities.
Loving God, hear our prayer
Holy and Graceful One, on this Sunday following the feast day of Benedict and Scholastica, we give thanks for the current and past sisters of Holy Wisdom and their deep commitment to a life centered on Benedict’s rule. We give thanks for all the other communities shaped and guided by the life of this pair of siblings. And we give thanks for the millions of lives touched and shaped by Benedictines in so many settings. May our lives be part of the ongoing witness of your love in the world. .
Loving God, hear our prayer
In these summer days when many in the world are suffering from heat, drought, and floods; when governmental and humanitarian responses feel inadequate; when our march towards climate disaster feels more real each day, we pray for your guidance.
Loving God, hear our prayer
This day and every day, we are mindful that thousands of people who are refugees today – on our borders, fleeing from war, waiting for resettlement – we pray for justice. We also pray for the peacemakers, decision makers, healers and rebuilders in all nations and communities.
Loving God, hear our prayer
In this summer season of growth, and outdoor grace, we claim the power of love to guide us and the joy that rises above despair. We pray for victims of hate and bullying, for leaders in communities and schools and churches and legislative bodies – that kindness and love would rise above exclusion and blame.
Loving God, hear our prayer
Great Living God, as a people who come together because we believe in community and in prayer,hear these prayers – as well as the prayers listed in our book of intentions, and those we hold in the silent sanctuary of our hearts…
Loving God, hear our prayer
In whatever way you feel comfortable, I invite you to offer a sign of Christ’s peace to those around you.