Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a; Luke 4:14-21 - Epiphany 3
Jan. 24, 2010
When I first heard this song, it made me think of Jesus. And it still does even though the one who wrote it probably did not have Jesus in mind, but his lyrics sure fit.
When you're weary, Feeling small, When tears are in your eyes, I will dry them all
I'm on your side, When times get rough And friends just can't be found
Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down
When you're down and out When you're on the street
When evening falls so hard I will comfort you
I'll take your part When darkness comes And pain is all around
Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down
(Simon & Garfunkel, vs. 1-2, Bridge over troubled water)
These lyrics are very comforting and reassuring especially in times of great calamity and pain when we need to know that God is on our side. Yet, in the aftermath of terrible tragedies voices are often heard which in effect blame the victim for the pain they suffer. Even if we don't say it or want to believe it, we often wonder if it's true that suffering is our own fault.
The roots of "blame the victim" go back at least to our puritan ancestors and probably a lot further. Sarah Vowell in her witty book, The Wordy Shipmates, writes that the 17th century colonists of the Massachusetts Bay Company were possessed by a desire "to scrutinize every one of life's ups and downs to deduce a message from God."
This spirit was behind a strong rebuke of Roger Williams who was on the verge of being banished from Massachusetts because of his unorthodox beliefs. This is the same Williams who eventually founds the Rhode Island colony. His hearing was postponed, however, when he became so ill that he was unable to speak in his own defense.
One of his accusers, John Mather, takes this opportunity to write Williams a letter. "When you over-heated yourself in reasoning and disputing against the light of God's truth, it pleased him to stop your mouth by a sudden disease, and to threaten to take your breath from you." In other words, Williams' is sick because has offended God. Therefore, he should take the hint and give up his disputed beliefs. Get well soon.
Eventually though Williams does recover, but refuses to recant. Therefore he was banished from Massachusetts to Rhode Island where he will set up the first American colony based on the principle of complete religious freedom.
The "blame the victim" way of thinking is especially pernicious though when it is heard in times of great calamity. After terrorist attack of 9/11 some said this was God's punishment for the immoralities of America. In a similar way it was said that human sin was behind the Tsunami in Asia a few years ago and then again for Hurricane Katrina that struck along the Gulf Coast. And now some suggest the earthquake in Haiti was the result of a pack with the devil which some unknown Haitians made over 200 years ago in order to be set free from French colonialism.
Blaming the victims for their suffering creates a very unpleasant and untrue impression of God. First God appears to be inept because he is so tardy (by 200 years) in delivering the punishment for that devilish pack. Secondly God appears be unusually cruel and unjust because apparently it doesn't matter whether you are good or bad, innocent or guilty since all perish together. Many Christians perished in Haiti. Several United Methodists died, including Sam Dixon, Deputy Director of UMCOR. Members of other churches and nationalities died as well.
Most important though is that blaming the victims overlooks God's promise to deliver those who suffer. When I hear these comments I refer back to the scriptures which are like 'guideposts' to my understanding of God's will. I think of The Beatitudes In the gospel of Matthew. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God. (MT 5:1-9) Later Jesus also says: "Come to me who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens and I will give you rest."(Mt 11:28)
I think of John 3:16-17: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him."
And then Luke 4:14-21, the gospel reading for today in which Jesus applies the words of the prophet Isaiah to himself: "The Spirit of the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
Jesus doesn't read all of Isaiah 61:2. If he had, he would have said that he had been sent "to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor
and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn." (Isaiah 61:2) He leaves out the vengeance part. This, of course, might prompt a lively Sunday School class discussion on why he did that? It is certainly significant that he did so because it would surely have altered the meaning of what he said if he added in the "vengeance of the Lord."
Jesus gives us an example here interpreting the written word of God. Luke reports that Jesus has been teaching all over Galilee about God through his parables, through healings as well as the written words of the scripture. When you add all this up it leads to the conclusion of all the gospels although the gospel of John probably says it best. That Jesus not only teaches about the words of scripture, but was in fact "the Word of God" himself.
Like the Puritans we too often like to 'scrutinize the ups and downs of life to deduce a message from God.' We often use scripture to do this. But as "the Word of God" we cannot understand fully the written words of scripture without the guidance and enlightenment of Jesus himself. He's the fundamental teacher about God as a whole, both within the written word, but also beyond it through his parables and through his works. What Jesus teaches there in Nazareth is that God does care for the poor and the oppressed and we should care too. Rather than piling on more suffering, God's will is to relieve it and overcome it.
When you're weary, Feeling small, When tears are in your eyes, I will dry them all
I'm on your side, When times get rough, And friends just can't be found
Like a bridge over troubled water I will lay me down
Jesus is about good news, not bad news. He's about good news for all people regardless of what kind of oppression they suffer. It might a political oppression like slavery or poverty, but also a lot of things much more personal like a disease, or a demon like anger, fear, guilt, depression, addiction. Jesus brings good news to set the lame and crippled free to walk again. He restores health by casting out demons and curing sickness. And in the end 'like a bridge over troubled water he lays his life down' on a cross to set the world free from sin through forgiveness, through mercy. These are the signs of God's salvation when people are set free to see again, walk again, live again.
Jesus calls us as his body here on earth to follow in his steps by proclaiming good news just he did to show that God is for us, not against us. God is not the cause of our problems but the solution to them.
Sail on Silver Girl, Sail on by, Your time has come to shine, All your dreams are on their way
See how they shine If you need a friend I'm sailing right behind
Like a bridge over troubled water I will ease your mind
Like a bridge over troubled water I will ease your mind
(Simon & Garfunkel, "Bridge over troubled water")
Let us pray.