Jesus is preaching and healing on the Sabbath in his hometown synagogue. Many are “astonished” but rulers “took offense at him.” Rulers are offended by his integrity; preaching independent of their judgments. They are offended by his power; healing people they oppress. Rulers do not like people who dare to challenge their oppressive system. It is they who then actually offend Jesus. They shame him for the lowliness of his birth and the insignificance of his family.
Public integrity and healing in our time of violence is a challenge. It takes skill. It is so very different from shaming. Shaming subjects people to ridicule and feelings of unworthiness. Shaming does not heal. Is there any evidence shaming Trump supporters like Richard Spencer or Stephen Miller would help heal them, or us? Some might argue it is an irrelevant or elitist point. All that matters is resistance. But being a change activist and providing a new Way are entirely relevant. As perpetrators of violence and the shaming they are not healed, neither is this culture. As they are not changed neither are their policies. They simply dig in. An example is self title Christians of the GOP who have been dispensing shame and dehumanizing people with vulgarity and violence for decades – Latinos, Muslims, people who are gay, poor. Their vulgarity and violence are increasing through their support of an oppressive NRA, by carrying guns, and by forming militia. They do so as a plan, strategically – at the same time they claim to be victims of incivility and violence. They explain their ruler based push-back is for being shamed for their Christian beliefs – evidence of shaming’s negative cycle. Whether their explanation is true or not, it explains that they are not Christian/Christ-like. Christ Jesus acted as a healer to people who are shamed and oppressed by rulers. Self titled Christian are not taking up healing practices. They are taking up guns. They own and use weapons; of pulpit and policy as well as guns. They use them as a moral right to shame and dehumanize people and they do so systemically – as rulers. Christ-like challengers, people of integrity who heal people that are oppressed will always be met by rulers claiming offense. The offense is but mere challenge but rulers tell the lie that in that challenge, it is the rulers and they alone who are the victims of incivility and violence. Like rulers of Jesus’ time rulers today perceive challenge as personal offense and as such as moral harm done to them and the society they presume to rule – in God’s name. They treat their false perception as license to perpetrate further moral harm. They rationalize the harm they do as their right as rulers to continue to dehumanize those they assert deserve to be shamed. Thus, Latino children will be separated from their families and kept in cages and it will be described as “like going to summer camp.” Individuals who are gay will be ostracized and denied civil rights. There is no reason to think rulers who legalize and sanctify their shaming and dehumanization through the political and religious systems they craft and control will be changed through a harmful cycle of shaming and dehumanization.
When Stephanie Wilkinson, manager of the Red Hen restaurant, spoke with her staff , some of whom were gay, and then with politician Sarah Huckabee Sanders about her oppressive policies, Wilkinson was not shaming nor dehumanizing; she was acting with integrity and potentially healing power. When Kristin Mink, with her 2-year-old child in her arms, spoke with Scott Pruitt about his oppressive EPA rule, she too was acting with integrity and potentially healing power. Both women acted rather than re-acted. They did not take offense for themselves but took action for others. They would not be targeted for shame nor would they target others. In a sense they went on the offense without being offensive. They were creative. Many others are doing the same, expressing public integrity and healing. Sanctuary cities and sanctuary campuses are acting with that same integrity and healing power. Lawyers and laborers and neighbors and physicians are daring to do the same. Are we? Will those of our time know a challenger and a healer dares to be among them.
Prayer: Spirit, help us live with integrity among those who would shame us.
Question: Do the people of my time know my integrity and power?
July 8, 2018 Gospel Mark 6:1-6 Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time