What Have You To Do With Me?

So much of the subject matter of today's readings might seem foreign to the ears of the average modern American. Princes rising up against their kingly fathers with swords; the calling down of actual curses; the leader of a country actually allowing the voice of descent to continue; being surrounded by actual foes; demon possession; exorcism. How do we, Christians living in a land ruled by arrogant leaders, a faulty system of government, during a time of perpetual war against no-so-clearly named enemies how do we act faithfully and responsibly? Are we able to conceive of the possibility of those possessed by possessions and power and fear asking us, "What have you to do with me, followers of Jesus, Son of the Most High God?" To live in this setting, in this time, we must be imaginative as we approach the Word, not so much so we can engage it critically (though this is a good thing), but more so that we allow it to engage us. The Word gives life, and even teaches us how to live, how to view our surroundings, if we listen well. By the Spirit, we can within the bounds of orthodoxy, read our selves into the story of salvation, the Good News that has reached us and finds its place on our tongues and fingertips to be spoken and to guide out reach.

Today we are surrounded by friends, by brothers and sisters in the faith, not by enemies, not by misled, power-hungry rulers, but by those whose presence reminds us there is salvation for us in God. It is our hope that others might come among us and see us in our right minds, not so that they might be fearful, but so they might join us as we make space for a people no longer ruled by the surrounding culture of fear. No, we are a people who, in recognizing our brokenness, are made strong together, made one in baptism, made one body in the feast of bread and wine. It is not that we are not allowed to be sad, or to be like King David and weeps for the state of the world around us; that we must do. But we must also go and announce the Lord's pity and God's happiness. May that salvation and the meal we are preparing to share guide us in our prayers and our proclamation of the Good News.

(2 Samuel 15:13-14, 30; 16:5-13; Psalm 3; Mark 5:1-20)