Job laments that he, a ruler who enslaved people in misery, is himself now “a slave,” in “misery.” Job’s fellow rulers and enslavers visit him with the purpose of determining what is his sin that has resulted in his deserved misery. Jesus rejects misery for healing. An example is his treatment of Peter’s ill mother-in law. He “grasped her hand,… the fever left,” and she joined them. “For this purpose have I come,” Jesus says.
Dom Helder Camara (1909–1999) whose birthday is celebrated today originally thought his purpose was not to heal but to rule. Camara was a young Brazilian priest influenced by fascism. As a priest he believed God ordained him for privileged rule over others who deserved their Job-like misery in favelas, ghettos. Camara’s appointment as bishop required he travel throughout the whole of Brazil. He was put in touch with people enslaved in misery by the fascists he supported. Camara’s presumed purpose to rule ebbed as his need to be healed flowed. He received his healing from the people. He learned his and every person’s purpose was to heal because rulers determined their purpose was to make miserable. Camera and the people grew more unified as healers of personal and social misery. Though peacemakers, they were attacked with censure and intimidation which escalated to torture, rape, and murder. The armed military, which included self titled Christians, went on a 21 year reign of terror. One constant weapon used against the people was enemy making. Camera noted it, “When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist.” The fascists were calling advocates for food and healing enemies. To call the rulers fascists is not name calling but a descriptor. It describes people who exalt their nation and favor the armed state ruling in their favor over enemies, via a dictator if need be. The U.S. has fascists. They claim the right to rule over people who deserve misery. They too call advocates of food and healing enemies. They call themselves ‘Christian.’ They include Kirk Cameron who opposes healing, “socialism and communism are knocking on our doors… disguised in the costumes of public health and social justice.” They also include socialized medicine recipient Mike Pence, who believes the people’s right to health care “will set us on a path to socialized medicine” and to “decline.” Also, pro-Trump QAnon politician Marjorie Taylor Greene, who posed with an AR-15 pointed at pictures of universal health care advocates. Green claims it’s time for “strong conservative Christians to go on the offense against these socialists who want to rip our country apart”. These fascist rulers and their minions are like Job’s friends, purposely targeting people they judge sinners as deserving of misery. They are unlike Jesus, purposely healing people of their misery.
“The capitalist empires, with their affirmations of sacrifice for the free world, of defense of private enterprise, of safeguarding order from subversion and chaos, are in fact defending their political prestige and economic interests… The (communist) empires… demand blind obedience to the party… like the fascist dictatorships of the extreme right.” “Let us be Christians not only in name, but by our lives.” (Dom Helder Camara)
Prayer: Spirit, unified we are healers.
Question: For what purpose have I come?
February 7, 2021 Gospel Mark 1:29-39 Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time