Of Justice and Blame

In the book The Gospel of Mark by Amy-Jill Levine, she spends some time writing about the beheading of John the Baptist.

To set the scene, we need to know about Herod Antipas, who was the ruler of Galilee. Also in the passage are his wife, Herodias, and his niece, Salome, who is his wife's daughter. Yes, there you catch part of the issue - Antipas was married his brother's wife, and he divorced his previous wife to do so.  John, according the Mark, has been preaching against this, implying it was incest. On top of that, word of Jesus' activity has reached Herod Antipas. Also, Josephus, an ancient historian, recounts that Herod Antipas was concerned about the popularity of John the Baptist, worried that John could lead the people to rebellion.  Let's just say the situation was complicated.

Antipas holds a party to celebrate his birthday. As part of the entertainment, Salome, who was probably about 12 years old, dances for those attending. Levine writes, "Herod Antipas and Herodias are well matched. He, inappropriately, lusts for the girl; she, inappropriately, uses the girl to achieve her own ends.  Caught in the middle is John, who loses his head.

Levine also writes, "While history tends to blame Herodias - blaming the 'evil woman' is an easy and common move - the person finally responsible for Johns' death is the tetrarch (Herod Antipas) or, in Mark's account, the king. His oaths, and the co-recliners, that is his guests, are more important than justice."

When, in our lives, do we place our reputation, our belongings, or our own plans above the work of justice? When, in our society, do we do that? And isn't it easy to blame someone else?

 

The World is About to Turn

I taught Sunday school a few weeks ago. I took the lesson out of Adam Hamilton's book, Not a Silent Night. For chapter 4, Mary, Full of Grace, he suggests using the song "Canticle of the Turning," a rewriting of the Magnificat, as a part of the lesson.

This is the chorus:

My heart shall sing of the day you bring.Let the fires of your justice burn.Wipe away all tears,For the dawn draws near,And the world is about to turn.

The world is about to turn. Mary, in her song, sees the world as it is, and she sees what the coming of Jesus will mean. Christ will bring justice and mercy to God's people. She, though her obedience, will make it possible. This is part of why she is said to be "full of grace." She has received the grace fo God, and she knows it. She knows what it means to respond, by sharing grace with the world. And she knows the difference it will make - that it can cause the world to turn.

Where in your life do you need to share the grace of God? Where in your life, and in the lives of those around you, can you be God's light? Where can you cause the world to turn?

We spend so much time complaining about the world around us, and yet, how are we changing it? To whom are we offering grace?

It isn't easy, and I know it isn't something I want to do, but even so - think of the person in your life to whom you do not want to offer grace? And then go offer it. And the world is about to turn.