Pr. Michelle Sevig
Lectionary 15b
July 11, 2021
Saving a Life or Saving Face?
It was a little over a month ago when HT member, Katie Mineck called to talk about her child’s baptism. Due to COVID restrictions the past 18 months we haven’t had a regular schedule for baptisms as we usually do. Typically we choose baptism dates ahead of time so that the scripture texts for the day will have baptismal themes.
But we hadn’t put any baptismal dates on the Holy Trinity calendar yet, so when Katie asked, “Could we do Fred’s baptism on July 11th?” I took a quick glance at my calendar and I said “I think that’ll be OK. Usually Craig selects the dates, but he’s on vacation, so I’m in charge. I have no idea what the texts are for that Sunday, but I’m sure it’ll be OK. Lutheran preachers can make anything about baptism.” and we both laughed.
Oh how I wish I had checked with the boss first! Or at least read the scripture texts before giving the OK. I never imagined the assigned gospel text for Fredrick’s baptism day would be the beheading of John the Baptist. Sorry Katie. But let’s see what we can do...
I wonder why this story is in the gospel at all and I really wonder why it’s appointed for preaching. I mean, it doesn’t sound like very good news and Jesus is not even in the story. God does not appear. A story like this--a brutal beheading with the victim’s head served on a platter--is the stuff of greek tragedies, gory movies and my summer vacation reading (The President’s Daughter by Clinton and Patterson has more beheadings in the first chapters than I can count). Today’s gospel reading belongs in the National Enquirer, not the Holy Scriptures.
This biblical story has colorful characters...the wild and crazy prophet, the wicked queen, the exotic young dancer. It has palace intrigue, conspiracy, entrapment, power, sex and murder. When it comes to entertainment value, nothing tops power, sex and death.
But that’s not why we are here. And it is not for entertainment that we read this story together. For us, as God’s people in the world, it provides a shamefully common example of what happens when one speaks truth to power in this world. The same thing that happened to John happened to Gandhi in India, Bishop Romero in El Salvador, and Dr. King in the United States, all of them prophets, agitators, truth tellers.
But what was John doing that was so dangerous? Baptizing!? I hope I don’t get my head cut off today. Not likely. Baptisms in our context are wonderful, joyful experiences with cute babies, community singing and lots of smiles.
But John was preaching a baptism of repentance, calling people to turn from their sin, reject their abuse of power, and turn toward the one who would usher in a reign of justice and peace for all of God’s people. John was a truth teller and he was speaking the truth to Herod about his abuse of power and sinful ways (killing his brother so he could marry the brother’s wife). Even though John speaks the truth to Herod, we are told that Herod “enjoys listening to him.” There’s something compelling about the word John speaks to Herod.
Unfortunately though, Herod finds himself caught between a rock and a hard place. The time comes to make a decision. Right over wrong. Humility over power. Integrity over compromise. Truth over lies. The time comes to care more about saving a life than saving face. Protect John the prophet and allow him to continue with truth telling and calling people to turn toward God, or go ahead and fulfill his promise to do whatever the girl asks?
And we all know what Herod chooses. When push comes to shove, his fascination with the truth isn’t enough to transform him. He remains a hearer of the good news--not a doer.
Well we can all breathe a sigh of relief and give thanks that we are not Herod. Right? Of course we do not go around killing people. But do we care too much about what other people think? Do we do whatever we can to protect ourselves at the expense of others? Do we value our status, reputation, and popularity more than the truth? Do we avoid conflict and remain passive even when we know it will hurt others?
These are questions theologian Debie Thomas asked in her Journey with Jesus blog this week. And I believe these are baptismal life questions. Because baptism into a Christian way of life is more than a beautiful ceremony or a rite of passage. We make commitments to love God above self, to strive for justice and peace in all the earth, to die to sin and live a life transformed by the power of God working in and through us. It is not a gentle calling. And it’s not easy.
A pastor friend told me recently, “I kind of hope the babies do cry during the baptism. Parents always hope their child doesn’t cry or make a fuss, but there’s big stuff happening in those dangerous life-giving waters. Crying out in fear seems like the appropriate response!”
The baptized are called to be doers (bearers) of the good news, and sometimes that means risking our own comfortable, status-quo lives. We who are called by the name of Christ cannot be silent when we see injustice in our communities. We cannot turn a blind eye to unjust treatment of those experiencing poverty or homelessness. We cannot stay silent when someone makes racist, sexist or homophobic comments.
None of us will do this perfectly, but it is the persistent call of the baptized everywhere to speak and act and live as Christ has done for us. Because in baptism we become part of the body of Christ and at his table we are fed and nourished to be the body of Christ for the world.
Like Herod, we are challenged to really listen to the voice of God in our day and age and turn away from the lures and temptations that attempt to seduce us away from God’s ways. Through us God speaks words of peace, love, and faithfulness that challenges the world’s violence, hatred and unfaithfulness.
We may not turn into prophets like John or Amos, but we are ordinary people called to deliver an extraordinary message. In the letter to the Ephesians read today, Paul names the new believers as God’s blessed, God’s chosen and God’s adopted children. It's kind of like a pep talk that coaches give to their players just before sending them back into the game that seems like a lost cause. Yet we are sent back into the game after worship each week to proclaim God’s inbreaking reign to all the powers that profess to rule this world.
And we do not do it alone. God loves us enough in our brokenness to entrust us to be the body of Christ in the world. To share God’s love and light with others and to receive that same love and light through others when we need it most.