Weekly Lessons and Sermon
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be always
acceptable in your sight, oh Lord our strength and our redeemer. Amen.
acceptable in your sight, oh Lord our strength and our redeemer. Amen.
Herod Said: “John, whom I’ve beheaded, has been raised!”
He must have been terrified. Herod: a guy who relied on treachery, questionable political moves: and wealthy power: is confronted with his worst nightmare. He knew John was dead. He saw John’s head: On a platter no less. But this Jesus, obviously a man of power himself, is becoming known throughout Herod’s kingdom. And who is this Jesus? Could it really be John, raised from the dead? John, the man Herod killed because of a grudge, a grudge he held against John for telling the truth? Here: Fairly early in the Jesus story: We hear already some of the most significant elements of the story: Death, Resurrection, and Power…… Lots of power dynamics… How very sad. How very tragic. And yet, because of what we’ve seen in our own lifetimes: of the consequences of misused power, political greed: and society’s belief that “it’s all about me:” maybe Herod has something to teach us. Herod is an interesting character. What Benedict Arnold is to the word “traitor,” the name Herod has become to the word “evil,” but a sad kind of evil. In Herod we see a man desperate to be king. Desperate for power: So desperate, he would even kill his own relatives: Let alone someone like John the Baptist or Jesus: who posed another threat to Herod’s power. Herod was a weak man. Who relied on earthly power as the only real means of success. John the Baptist knew differently: And lost his life because of it. But John isn’t the only one messing with Herod’s understanding of power and success… Because there’s also Jesus. Herod had to have been terrified. Is it John back from the dead to haunt him? Or is it yet another who would challenge Herod’s authority? We know the answer and Herod would soon find out. Jesus was known by most as a man who taught with authority: Who broke the roles made up by weak men who were afraid of losing power. Jesus: who spoke the truth without fear: and who placed his own power in God alone: preaching to all of the possibility of becoming God’s children. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians mirrors what people were saying about Jesus in Herod’s time: How we are connected to God through Jesus. And of the amazing gifts that we are given because God loves us: Not because God holds authoritative power over us. Instead of being afraid, Paul says: “Blessed be God … who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens!” There’s no fear here, just deep and joyful gratitude that we are empowered by God’s blessings. And Paul goes on to tell us what some of those blessings are: adoption as God’s children, redemption through the blood of Jesus, forgiveness for our sins and grace lavished on us. God’s grace being lavished on us… None of these things are worldly gifts: Like those that Herod craved. They are all of a heavenly nature: But we can use them here in our earthly lives. These gifts give us a spiritual power that we must use to do good: To spread the Good News among all people. And there’s no comparison between this kind of power and authority, And that of people such as Herod, or even Pilate: Who later in the story: has the same kinds of weakness for power: Based out of fear and treachery. Our power comes from the deep and abiding love of God. And this is our inheritance. But sometimes: We can get sucked in. With people like Herod and Pilate all around us, Fighting for power: Even in the Church: power, fear, and authority, can corrupt our spirits. We, too, can be fixated, here on earth: With deciding who gets to heaven and who doesn’t. There are parts of us that want to judge. Want to control. Want to have some power… Because its what society tells us is important. Maybe this gospel about Herod hits a little too close to home. It’s certainly not a sweet and adorable story: As we are forced to picture the image of John’s head carried into a party on a platter. And Herod’s weakness for power may remind us of how we come up short. Maybe we’re not yet thrilled with Paul’s words of the blessings of God’s grace: But we can strive to want it more and more: And if only we’d know that it’s already happening. Unlike Herod and others like him: We won’t have to fight, connive, and fawn over others: So that power would be ours to abuse. We have the power of a loving God supporting us. We have the inheritance of the saints of light. We have the example and teachings of Jesus to show us the way. And it’s a much better power. A much more loving and peace-giving authority. Earlier this week: A pastor friend of mine posted on facebook: SERIOUSLY!?! The beheadding of John on the day that we have a baptism!?! But maybe it is appropriate. To get this weird, and tragic story: Even if you’re celebrating a baptism. Because this story reminds us of where the real power comes from: That we too can lavish our care on God’s world, and on God’s people: Instead of buying into society’s worldly perception of power and authority. Maybe we can remember that the powers of society and earthly authority can’t hold us: Because as Paul tells us: We are marked with the seal of the Holy Spirit. We are destined to be God’s people. It’s who we are: The ones who inherit the only real power. The only real power of abundant grace and love for all.
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