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 that our shaming Trump supporters, like Richard Spencer or Stephen Miller, would help heal them, or us? Some might argue it is irrelevant. All that matters is resistance. But being a change activist and providing a new Way is entirely relevant. If we do not help change them, they are not healed, nor are their policies. Self titled Christians of the GOP have been dispensing shame and dehumanizing people with vulgarity and violence for multiple decades – Latinos, Muslims, people who are gay, poor. At the same time, they claim to be shamed for their Christian beliefs (evidence of shame’s negative cycle). Whether their explanation is true or not, their shaming response proves they are not Christian/Christ-like. Christ Jesus acted as a healer to people who were shamed. Self titled Christian are acting as warriors. They are taking up guns. They own and use weapons; of pulpit and policy and weaponry. Self-titled Christians are using guns as a moral right to shame people. They do so systemically, as rulers and as law enforcement, as well as members of the NRA and various militia. Christ-like people who heal the oppressed will always be charged as offensive by rulers. The offense is but mere challenge. But rulers tell the lie that the challenge is offensive. Rulers treat their erroneous belief about being offended as license to perpetrate further harm. They rationalize the harm they do as their right as rulers to continue to shame those they have always 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 through the political and religious systems they craft and control will be changed through a harmful cycle of shaming.
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 Sarah. Stephanie 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