Scapegoats

September 2, 2009 -- Week of Proper 17, Year One
The Martyrs of New Guinea, 1942

Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 982)
Psalms 38 (morning) 119:25-48 (evening)
1 Kings 9:24 - 10:13
James 3:1-12
Mark 15:1-11

The fate of a Jewish peasant means nothing to Pilate. His business is enforcing order so nothing will disturb Roman rule and occupation. The religious authorities had brought Jesus to him with charges of blasphemy. Pilate doesn't care about blasphemy, but he wants quiet in this religiously turbulent land. So Jesus called himself the "King of the Jews." At least that's part of the charge against Jesus. This bound and roughed up peasant didn't look much like a king. A lot of charges against him fly about. None of the charges seem particularly troublesome to Pilate. He will have no trouble. But the crowd is upset and passionate. Upset and passionate crowds can become mobs. Mobs are trouble.

There is a bandit charged with murder during the insurrection. He has the interesting name of Barabbas -- "son of the father." Pilate offers him as a token to quiet the crowd. It doesn't help. They insist on getting Jesus: "Crucify him!" What's one more Jewish peasant. Pilate has killed so many before. If it will quiet the crowd. He sends him to be crucified. Pilate turns away to solve the next problem. We will have order. Next order of business?

There is a story about a Jewish village that was under occupation and brutal control by an oppressive ruler. The people prayed for deliverance. Would this be the time that God would send Messiah to save us?

Something happened to insult the ruler -- the vandalism of one of the ruler's chariots. To teach the people a lesson, the ruler announced that there would be three executions -- one each morning. The Rabbi would choose who would be killed.

The village was in great fear and grief. Whom would the Rabbi choose? The first night the community met together, and the person who had performed the vandalism revealed himself to the group. The Rabbi thought that maybe if the guilty party were delivered for punishment, the ruler would spare the other two executions. In the morning, the Rabbi presented the man, who was killed. "Now that the guilty one has been punished, will you relent from killing two innocent others." Hoping to discourage further acts of resistance, the ruler replied, "No. You will bring the second person tomorrow."

That night again the community agonized into the small hours of the morning. Finally a holy man insisted, "I am the oldest of this community. I have not many days. It is no great loss. Let me be presented." The Rabbi saw reason in this proposal, and the next day the elderly man was given to the authorities and executed. "The final one tomorrow," said the ruler.

They stayed up all night pondering, arguing. There were many proposals for who would be the third to die. The most unpopular? The poorest or weakest? Would anyone volunteer? Finally they settled upon a stranger, a young man who had entered town very recently. He had kept a low profile. He seemed to be fleeing something. Maybe he was guilty already. He was unknown, an outsider. The community settled the debate. He would be the third.

The following day the Rabbi presented the young man to the ruler, who seemed especially satisfied to administer this third execution. Now there would be peace.

That evening God came to the Rabbi in a dream. "The young man you appointed to be executed was the Messiah. I had sent him to you to save you." "But I didn't know! How could I know?" cried the Rabbi. "If you had only looked into his eyes, you would have known."

Who are the invisible, the expendable? What peasants are not worth our attention? When mobs get angry and threatening, what will we throw to them to keep them quiet? How do we choose whom we sacrifice?

When town meetings get angry and threatening, maybe we'll have quiet if we just quash all this talk about health care and let poor Maria and Joseph and their little illegitimate refugee child Jesus fend for themselves. After all, they're strangers; they're not from here.

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
pray daily
learn constantly
serve joyfully
live generously.

Lowell Grisham, Rector

St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Fayetteville, Arkansas