Ebal and Gerizim

Wednesday, July 23, 2008 -- Week of Proper 11
Thomas a Kempis

Today's Reading for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 977)
Psalms 119:49-72 (morning) 49, [53] (evening)
Joshua 8:30-35
Romans 14:13-23
Matthew 26:57-68

Today we have a dramatic liturgy at a very holy and historic site. The two mountains of Gerizim and Ebal overlook a valley where Abraham built an altar and Jacob a well. It is the site of Joseph's tomb near the great tree of Moreh. A city there became Samaria, the one-time capital of the northern kingdom of Israel, the holy city of the Samaritans for whom Mount Gerizim was their holy mountain.

For an image of the two mountains with the modern city of Nablus in between, go to the following link: http://www.bibletrack.com/notes/image/Ebal-Gerizim.jpg

In this dramatic place, Joshua leads "all Israel, alien as well as citizen" in a liturgical event. Joshua built an altar of unhewn stones. He raised other stones which were plastered with lime. On those stones were written the law of Moses. The tribes are divided between the two mountains and the levitical priests carry the ark of the covenant before them. From the northern Mount Ebal are read the curses (maybe those found in Deuteronomy 27); from the southern Mount Gerizim are read the blessings. I can picture the whole scene in my imagination. Good liturgy.

It is interesting to go to Deuteronomy 27 to read another version of this event. We have a text of twelve curses. (We don't have a corresponding text of blessings, though the next chapter may have connections with the Joshua event.) These curses concern certain actions that could be done in secret and thus be difficult to control by public sanctions: "Cursed be anyone who makes an idol ...and sets it up in secret. ...Cursed be anyone who misleads a blind person on the road. ...Cursed be anyone who deprives the alien, the orphan, and the widow of justice."

Of this latter curse, I'm reminded of the not-infrequent injustice that happens around here. Many of the laborers who do construction work in Northwest Arkansas are undocumented aliens. Unscrupulous employers sometimes hire them and cheat them of some of their promised wages because they know the aliens have no standing to challenge them in court. I've heard of workers who are hurt and summarily dismissed. They do not have workers compensation to help with their recovery.

It is significant that Joshua included the "alien as well as the citizen" in this liturgical covenant, and that there was special provision for justice for the alien. That provision is consistent with Biblical tradition that we find elsewhere, such as in Leviticus 19: "When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt; I am the Lord your God." Our conversation about aliens residing in the U.S. could be informed by these compassionate traditions.

It was at this same place that Jesus reached across a profound, alien, cultural divide and shared water and conversation with a Samaritan woman at the well in Sychar.

Maybe there is also a thematic connection with the portion of Paul's letter to the Romans that we read today. As he does in several places in his writing, Paul encourages his congregations to willingly limit their personal liberties out of consideration and respect for others. If it would offend the scruples of a neighbor for you to eat meat sacrificed to the Roman gods (even though you know such gods do not exist), refrain from eating such meat in their presence, for their sake. You are completely free to eat such meat. But restrain your liberty in their presence for the sake of their conscience, not yours.

Paul has his limits about such things. Though some of the circumcised Christians are offended by their brothers who are uncircumcised, Paul argues forcefully that they shall not be circumcised as a prerequisite to their full participation in the fellowship. Get over your scruples, he tells the circumcision party. But whenever he can, Paul urges us to limit our freedoms should they bring offense to others. Joshua instructed the people of Israel to treat with equal respect and justice those aliens that lived among them.

What can we do to accommodate others while retaining our own liberties? That's a perpetual question. Unless grave injustice it at issue, there is a strong tradition that we yield in consideration of others as much as possible.

Lowell

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About Morning Reflections
Morning Reflections is a brief thought about the scripture readings from the Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer according to the practice found in the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church.

Morning Prayer begins on p. 80 of the Book of Common Prayer.
Evening Prayer begins on p. 117

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The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church
is to explore and celebrate
God's infinite grace, acceptance, and love.

Visit our web site at www.stpaulsfay.org

Our Rule of Life

We aspire to...
worship weekly
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live generously.

Lowell Grisham, Rector

St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Fayetteville, Arkansas