Two Myths
Wednesday, November 10, 2010 -- Week of Proper 27, Year Two
Leo the Great, Bishop of Rome, 461
To read about our daily commemorations, go to our Holy Women, Holy Men blog:
http://liturgyandmusic.wordpress.com/category/holy-women-holy-men/
Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p 993)
Psalms 119:97-120 (morning) 81, 82 (evening)
Joel 2:12-19
Revelation 19:11-21
Luke 15:1-10
Here is a version of an American world view (or you could call it, an American myth).
Ours is a competitive society. To the winners belong the spoils. Ours is an individualistic society. Each person is expected to take responsibility for himself. Our myth believes that everyone in this nation has adequate opportunity and freedom to thrive, therefore those who compete and succeed have earned their rewards. Those who find themselves lost or impoverished must bear their own responsibility for their failure. They either did not try hard enough or they had some fault of character that prevented their success. According to this myth, the field is flat and everyone can succeed.
Therefore there is no obligation to feel bad about those who haven't thrived or to feel responsible for them. In fact, many will say, to provide too many securities for them would be counter productive, creating dependencies and rewarding those who haven't done what they should have done to earn it.
Our American myth is bolstered by the legends of those who lived under great challenges and succeeded nevertheless. Horatio Alger's stories of shoe-shiners, newsboys, peddlers, and street performers who made good perpetuate the myth that anyone can rise from humble backgrounds to middle-class comforts.
That is not the world view of Jesus. Jesus tells stories of the lost sheep, the lost coin and the prodigal son. Jesus speaks of affirmative action on steroids. Divert your attention from the ninety-nine secure and successful sheep and focus on the single one that is lost. Go into the wilderness and find that lost one. Physically bring it back on your shoulders and restore it to security. Rejoice with the community only when everyone is included.
I wonder how different our society might be now if we had treasured Jesus' stories of success instead of the ones we have created for ourselves.
Leo the Great, Bishop of Rome, 461
To read about our daily commemorations, go to our Holy Women, Holy Men blog:
http://liturgyandmusic.wordpress.com/category/holy-women-holy-men/
Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p 993)
Psalms 119:97-120 (morning) 81, 82 (evening)
Joel 2:12-19
Revelation 19:11-21
Luke 15:1-10
Here is a version of an American world view (or you could call it, an American myth).
Ours is a competitive society. To the winners belong the spoils. Ours is an individualistic society. Each person is expected to take responsibility for himself. Our myth believes that everyone in this nation has adequate opportunity and freedom to thrive, therefore those who compete and succeed have earned their rewards. Those who find themselves lost or impoverished must bear their own responsibility for their failure. They either did not try hard enough or they had some fault of character that prevented their success. According to this myth, the field is flat and everyone can succeed.
Therefore there is no obligation to feel bad about those who haven't thrived or to feel responsible for them. In fact, many will say, to provide too many securities for them would be counter productive, creating dependencies and rewarding those who haven't done what they should have done to earn it.
Our American myth is bolstered by the legends of those who lived under great challenges and succeeded nevertheless. Horatio Alger's stories of shoe-shiners, newsboys, peddlers, and street performers who made good perpetuate the myth that anyone can rise from humble backgrounds to middle-class comforts.
That is not the world view of Jesus. Jesus tells stories of the lost sheep, the lost coin and the prodigal son. Jesus speaks of affirmative action on steroids. Divert your attention from the ninety-nine secure and successful sheep and focus on the single one that is lost. Go into the wilderness and find that lost one. Physically bring it back on your shoulders and restore it to security. Rejoice with the community only when everyone is included.
I wonder how different our society might be now if we had treasured Jesus' stories of success instead of the ones we have created for ourselves.
Lowell
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| The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church is to explore and celebrate God's infinite grace, acceptance, and love. See 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 |
posted by Lowell @ 7:27 AM
3 comments
3 Comments:
Ah yes. The economics of shepherds, the economics of the good shepherd.
We do at least have the idea of equal access and equal opportunity in our western mindset and in our hearts. We do have laws that begin to address some of the inequalities. But we are slow to implement and we have the competing myth of do it yourself.
Equal access for healthcare - there is a raging debate. Equal access and opportunity for education - well if you live in the Delta you receive much less than if you live in a region with higher property values - equal opportunity for women - well in some denominations you can aspire to be a spiritual leader - in many you do not have equal opportunity or equal access - engineering school - well the one I attended it was very difficult to see any sign of equal access and/or opportunity. Those people with disabilities - well you can almost get out of your house and onto the college campus or into the place of work or into the place of worship with your wheelchair - almost.
Christ, the good shepherd reminds me at least, to see the laws on our hearts and on our books should be written with our neighbors in mind, not only ourselves, and reminds me that we aren't a community unless everyone is invited and has equal opportunity and equal access.
Peace, Janet
Thanks for the good words, Janet. As I look around, we've made so much progress. We still have so far to go.
Lowell
Yes, I see that too. And I am reminded today that as we grow in grace - into God's grace - our eyes become softer, too. The injustice isn't quite as painful then.
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