July 11, 2021
Sermon by the Rev. Bernadette Hartsough
This Sunday’s gospel is unusual. I don’t mean unusual to mean that the story is unfamiliar. The story of the beheading of John the Baptist is very familiar to us. It has been the subject of plays and paintings. I use the term unusual here to mean that it is unusual that this text is included in the Sunday lectionary. Let me explain. The Sunday lectionary readings go with the various seasons and cycles of the church. Each Sunday the readings try to highlight a theme. This Sunday is unusual because the gospel reading is considered to be a “text a terror.” Texts of terror are violent images present throughout the Bible. They are the texts that vividly describe rape, abuse, and the mutilation of people. Notice that I said vividly describe. Texts of terror are those texts where the details of the scene make you cringe. On some Sundays, we have passages that talk about death and violence, but they are not very descriptive. There are many “Texts of Terror” in the Bible but not many of them are read in church.
A good example of skipping over a “Text of Terror” is today’s reading from Second Samuel. It skips over verses six through eleven. It skips over a “Text of Terror.” As the Ark of the Covenant was being moved, Uzza one of the men driving the cart that the Ark was on, touched the Ark to better secure the oxen. God’s anger came against him for touching the Ark and he was struck down and killed on the spot. After this incident, King David was afraid to bring the Ark to his home. He brought it to Obed-Edom’s home for three months. During the three months, Obed-Edom was blessed. King David saw the blessings and decided to bring the Ark to the City of David. Our reading picks up again in verse 12 as the Ark is brought in with rejoicing.
Stories of the Ark were used to remind King David and the Israelites of God’s power and to teach the Israelites obedience to God’s laws. These tories had the power to compel people to act a certain way like being obedient to God’s anointed king.
In wrestling with these texts of violence attributed to God, remember that the writers of Second Samuel lived thousands of years ago in a different climate with a different culture. They interpreted events different than we do. A man probably died transporting the Ark. In an effort to understand his death, they looked for reasons. In that time period, if something bad happened to you then you must have done something wrong. That was how they interpreted events. Today, we too look for reasons. Think back to a year ago at the beginning of Covid19. Experts were looking for reasons that Covid19 spread. They used the limited information they had and said that it spread through contact with groceries and surfaces. As time went on, more information was revealed. The same is true with scripture. Scripture reveals truths about God to us. We interpret them in our culture and our time.
Now to the gospel reading. The theme of power shows up again in this scene. Herod Antipas was a ruler over Galilee. Before we go on, there were two Herods. King Herod was ruler during Jesus’s birth. Herod Antipas, King Herod’s son was ruler at Jesus’s death. Herod Antipas was not granted the title “King” hence he is just called Herod or Herod Antipas. Although Herod claimed to be a practicing Jew, he worked for Rome. He was disliked by the Jews, including Jesus. This story was written to highlight Herod’s priorities. In this story, Herod represents unchecked power. We can read this passage and blame his wife or daughter. Through the ages his daughter Herodias has been blamed for being seductive and for asking for John the Baptist’s head. When we blame Herodias, the blame shifts from the king to the woman. Herod had the power to stop it and the power to do the right thing. It was his responsibility to see that justice was done. He chose power. Herod was willing to sacrifice others to maintain his honor, prestige, and power.
The temptation of all who are in positions of authority is to cling to the power at the expense of doing the right thing. Power that seeks to control all and doesn’t regard justice is corrupt. Herod wasn’t willing to risk his honor to call out evil and to let justice prevail. In this story, John the Baptist is the victim and justice is the victim.
Today’s gospel is meant for us to open our eyes. If we gloss over this “Text of terror” and speak in general terms, we miss the point of the reading. This reading is meant to shock us and to highlight unchecked power. We all have power in certain areas in our lives. Adults have power over children. Those with resources have power over those less fortunate. People born in certain countries have power over those in other countries. Designating people to have power and authority over certain areas is NOT bad. Jesus modeled how we are to use our power. We are to use power to help others, to work together, and to treat others with respect and dignity. Power makes us feel in control and gives us some control. Jesus with his divine power, did not try to control people. By giving up his human power he was telling us that human power must be carefully checked. It is easily corrupted.
As humans, power becomes an issue when it defines our self. It can give us a false sense of control. Yes, we do control certain aspects of our lives, but we will -all of us-eventually have a situation that we cannot control. We do get sick. Loved ones die. Bad things happen. Herod Antipas couldn’t control Jesus and his followers. He tried and failed. He became angrier and angrier. Christianity grew.
So, to sum up a few final points. “Texts of Terror” need to be read. They are just as much a part of the Bible as the feel-good stories. Read them and wrestle with them.
As you continue to walk with God, look for where you don’t want to give up power and control. Why? Name the fear. Talk to God. Look how Jesus handled it. That’s the beginning of faith and trust.