Aug 1, 2021 - Becoming Brave 1 - Esther, An Unexpected Agent of God's Justice

This week we are introduced to Esther and we meet a young woman who hides her Judean identity as Judean immigrant in the Persian Empire.  We explore not only how she must hide her identity in order to stay safe and acceptable among a people who would not welcome her, but also how the Persian society silences her because she is a woman.  She is reduced to an object whose only worth is her appearance which is pleasing to the King.  Her intelligence, personality, gifts, talents & experiences are all ignored.  

This was the week in which Simone Biles was widely criticized for stepping back from much of her planned Olympic participation in order to guard her mental and physical health.  Much of this criticism rooted in racism.  Like Esther, she was expected to show up and perform.  But her full humanity was ignored and denied as was her value as a person.  

When Esther's king decides to rid his empire of all Judean's Esther risks the privilege and safety of her status as queen and reveals that she too is Judean.  Esther's identity is an instrument of life for those in crisis.  This is the identity of all those who call themselves Christians.  This is the risk we are all called to take when we are baptized... to call the unwanted, unloved, the abused and exploited, our very own family.  

Becoming Brave 2 - Esther, Vashti & Holy Disobedience

Before there was a Queen Esther, there was a Queen Vashti.  The King did not value her for her wisdom or intelligence.  He did not care for her perspective or her opinion.  He only valued her appearance.  When he calls her to come and dance for his court Queen Vashti does something unexpected... she says no.  

Our gospel story, from Matt 21 is the story of Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.  But the conclusion of this triumphant episode was Jesus turning the tables of the money lenders.  In an act of Holy Disobedience he halts the economic abuse of poor Judeans and the idolatry of the Temple Leaders.  

Not only do we tell the story in this sermon of the holy disobedience of Queen Vashti, Queen Esther and Jesus.  We also tell the story of Dr. Martin Luther King's Letter from a Birmignham Jail in which he suggests that disobeying unjust laws is a moral obligation.  And we tell the story of Ida B. Wells who disobeys laws and social pressures of the Jim Crow South to investigate and report on the horrid practice of lynching.