LOVESTRONG: Mysterious Ways

Today we will be blessed by three examples of feminine power as we launch into Women’s History Month.

In the year 486 BCE, Xerxes, son of Darius the Great and grandson of Cyrus the Great became King of the Persian Empire. Susa, in present day Iran, was his home base. Three years after he became king – and after a successful military campaign dealing with an uprising in Egypt – Xerxes threw a dinner party for all his buds. His wife, Vashti, threw her own party for her girlfriends. Thoroughly drunk on wine or ego or power or all the above, Xerxes started bragging about how beautiful his wife was to all the boys. At one point he thought it would be neat to show her off so they could see for themselves, so he sent for her. She refused to come for unknown reasons – a very powerful move. Still drunk, he summoned his equally drunk advisors about how he should respond to such a public rejection. Rather than find out if there was a good reason why she could not make an appearance, Xerxes and his “Yes Men” decided to make an example of her so that women everywhere would respect their husbands. She was stripped of her crown and banished from the King’s presence. Women everywhere certainly got the message, but it probably wasn’t one of increased respect for Xerxes. Yet it probably did engender respect for Vashti.

Once sobered up, Xerxes began to feel bad about his reaction. But before he got too mushy, his servants recommended that a wide search take place to find him a range of virgins from all over his Empire from which he could select new wives – one might even be suitable for Queen! Sorrow was replaced by something else, and the search was on.

Esther, a Jewish woman who lived in the area along with others in the diaspora, was apparently the exact kind of beautiful Xerxes liked. In 479 BCE, she became queen (but chose not to mention her Jewish ancestry). Her adopted father-and-cousin, Mordecai, stayed close to guide and protect her from a distance. At one point, he was instrumental in foiling an assassination attempt on Xerxes’ life. Mordecai was a strongly principled man deeply committed to his Jewish faith. When an antisemitic man named Haman became Xerxes’ top advisor, demanding to be bowed to wherever he went, Mordecai refused based on his allegiance to God, the only one worthy of such respect. Such behavior drove Haman nuts – so much so that he went way over the top with a plan to seek revenge. Instead of simply punishing Mordecai for his insolence, he instead deemed it appropriate to design a pogrom to commit genocide instead. He even offered to fund it himself, but likely lined his pockets instead. All Jews were to be killed and their property plundered in the last month of the year.

Mordecai let Esther know of the plan and begged her to consider pleading with Xerxes on behalf of the Jewish people. Perhaps she was born for such a time as this? Esther immediately jumped at the idea and ran to Xerxes exerting her marital rights for an audience and demanded action. That’s nothing close to the truth. Recall what happened to Vashti for simply refusing to get paraded around when she was hosting her own event. Esther was surely aware of it. More than simply refusing a visit, she would be challenging a decision he authorized. How likely would Xerxes empathize with her, admit his mistake, and change everything? She was terrified for good reason. She asked Mordecai for the Jewish people in Susa to join her in a three day fast leading up to her subtle request for an audience with Xerxes.

In a series of strong moves from a strong woman, Esther put on her royal garb and stood outside Xerxes’ court, hoping he would notice her and welcome her presence. He did notice her and called her to him, stretching out his scepter for her to touch – a weird way of offering the microphone. He asked her to speak her mind and make her request – anything she wanted, really. She asked to host a dinner party for him and Haman. He granted the request and showed up for dinner that night. Again, he asked what she wanted, and she asked to host him again the following evening. He granted that request. After dinner, he once again offered to grant whatever she wished. She told him about what Haman had planned and begged for help. He did! One of the first ways he helped was to immediately hang Haman (on gallows created for Mordecai) and kill his sons to insure he couldn’t cause any more harm.

Unfortunately, the edict was still in play, so Esther again bravely and passionately asked for help to craft a new edict granting the Jews permission to defend themselves against those who planned their demise. Xerxes granted the request, and the Jewish people were saved. This week marks the Jewish festival of Purim, remembering the story of Esther and lampooning the foolish character Haman. It is one of the few days that rabbis are encouraged to get thoroughly drunk and act like idiots. Side note: The Book of Esther is the only book in the Bible that has no reference to God. Hmmm. What do we make of that? Are we to assume God was not at work?

During the first week of April, 30 CE, Jesus was in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. One evening a respected Jewish leader and member of the Sanhedrin, Nicodemus, paid him a visit. Nicodemus resonated with the Pharisaic tradition as did Jesus, which meant that he was devoted to the keeping of the Law and was also open to the nearness of God’s activity and the hope of life beyond the grave. He came to get to know Jesus, who was gaining renown. It was past sundown. The darkness mentioned wasn’t just about the time of day – John’s Gospel is hinting that Nicodemus himself was in the dark.

The knowledgeable Nicodemus soon found himself out of his depth as Jesus talked about being born again from above, and being responsive to the Spirit of God like sailors would the wind. To be born again is to live in God. Looking upon and learning from Jesus brings healing and wellbeing, much like the snake on the staff that Moses lifted in his day.

Jesus noted that all of what he was doing and saying originated with the love of God for the whole world, for the world’s healing and wellbeing, not judgment and destruction which religion all-to-often trumpets. It was a lot for Nicodemus to take in. He left with more questions than answers. He would come around to understanding eventually, but it took time – as it nearly always does.

Jesus was offering a fresh take on what it meant to be people of faith. He was emphasizing a relational dynamic between God and people and planet that was far removed from our lizard brain tendency toward genie-in-the-bottle transactional thinking whereby we follow the rules and God looks out for us. More crassly, we manipulate the game so that if we do our part, God must do God’s part if God is faithful. In this way we become God ourselves, giving into the second temptation Jesus entertained (and defeated).

The Way Jesus was espousing is deeply relational and ever responsive, all aimed at transformation on every level. It is more about being aware of the dynamics at play in ourselves and around us, listening for the still small voice to offer guidance. It doesn’t need to pay much attention to the letter of the Law and it’s keeping because in following the Spirit the Law is fulfilled. This is where the magic happens. Imagine if everyone, everywhere, was attuned to the leading of the Spirit of God. How quickly would wars end, unjust economic structures torn down, inequality and unfairness be eliminated, sustainable approaches to healthy food production embraced, human trafficking stopped (and reparations of some sort made), and substance abuse no longer relevant? Consider any of the world’s ills – would they not be addressed comprehensively if we all followed the same voice?

A critic may argue that this is impossible, because one person’s interpretation of the Spirit’s leading could be entirely different than another, right? Wouldn’t a Christian slave trader in the 1600’s believe they were doing God’s bidding given the teaching of the Church at that time? Same goes for the slave owner in early American history. What about the antisemitic advocates of Nazism? One person’s dreamy vision of God is another person’s nightmare.

Yet that’s where Jesus’ own parameters come into play. Jesus’ entire schtick is rooted in the love of God and in the Jewish idea of shalom – wellbeing, harmony, peace – for people and planet. If love is the guiding force – a love that loves all equally – those attitudes and behaviors that are destructive toward self or others or creation itself would be off the table. Sorry, slave traders, slave holders, , and every other form of self-centered worldview that benefits itself at the expense of others. Theologian and author, Tom Oord, in his book, Puriform Love, defines love as “to love is to act intentionally, in relational response to God and others, to promote overall well-being.” When we understand that this is God’s nature, Jesus’ ethos, and our invitation, all our greatest hopes for ourselves and everyone and everything else come into view along with a roadmap.

Following the Spirit of God – flowing with such Wind – is also incredibly freeing. By the way, are you aware that the Holy Spirit in Hebrew and Greek are feminine words? How much stronger can you get that the essence of God is feminine! For the love of God, pay attention Southern Baptist Convention – empower women to preach – God has been from the beginning! This strong, feminine presence enabled Jesus and his followers to pick grain on the Sabbath to deal with their hunger, venture into leper colonies because they needed to be loved, offer grace to prostitutes, restoration to traitorous tax collectors, and friendship with Samaritans and all other foreigners. The freedom of the Spirit allowed the newly formed Jewish Jesus followers to justifiably abandon the bulk of Jewish Law because, as Jesus noted, loving self and neighbor – in themselves an act of loving God – fulfills the entire Law. He was essentially saying that love is the point of everything. He also noted that God’s motive in empowering Jesus was love for the world, not disdain.

It was my love and hunger for knowing God more deeply that transformed my life as a teenager, as a college student, as a young pastor, and even now as a not-quite-as-young-but-just-as-freakishly-muscular pastor... It has helped me think more deeply about some points of orthodoxy which simply don’t add up and let them go. It has allowed CrossWalk to become the fluid body that we are, known mostly for our love expressed in service.

While Jesus and Judaism certainly had much to say about the depths of love, the reality is that such whispers can be heard by everyone, everywhere, regardless of their theological leanings. Love is deeply universal. Love is at the core of our being. Even adamant atheists can hear the call of love and respond lovingly, thus somewhat unwittingly and faithfully following the Spirit of God they do not believe in! The wrong questions revolve around the length of the train of God’s robe in heavenly dwelling places and how many angels can stand on the head of a needle. The right query is about the nature and calling of love.

Could it be that the only book in the Bible that does not mention God doesn’t need to because it is filled with God, with love? What else would motivate Mordecai to caution the King regarding the assassination attempt? What else would motivate Esther to risk everything in seeking Xerxes’ help? Why would Esther call for a three day fast if she did not believe that something happens when people are so dedicated to such a mindful practice? Why would Esther risk her life again seeking more help from her disreputable husband? Love is present throughout the story, and it is powerful. Jesus lived love. His later disciples would say that God is love.

You who have a messed-up life right now – what is your next loving move? Take it. You who are in conflict with your significant other – what is a loving move you could take? Take it. You who are caught up in the tension of our news cycle – what does self-love look like? Do it. You who are caught in a cycle of unforgiveness, realizing that carrying such hatred is like eating poison waiting for the object of your hatred to die – what does love instruct you to do? Do it. You who are worried about the state of our earth – what does love compel you to do? Do it. Whatever your challenge, whatever your hope, listen for love and trust its source. Put on your Nikes and just do it.

We are living in the Spirit of God like fish live in water. Ask a fish about water and the fish will ask back, what is water? Could it be that we are so surrounded by the love of God that holds everything together that we are blind and deaf to it? May we today choose to see, choose to believe, and choose to love. May we be brave enough to set aside our doubts about the particulars of theology and choose to fully embrace what we know to be the end and means of God – love. May we celebrate with our Jewish brothers and sisters that Haman’s hatred was defeated by love, that even though his pockets were lined with bribes, there was a power greater than greed that won the day. May we celebrate by raising a festive glass and toast the wonderful news that we don’t have to have all the answers, we don’t have to have it all figured out, so long as we can agree on love and be love to one another. This is our invitation for eternity and for eternal life. Amen. May it be so. Amen.

Eternity is not infinity.

It is not a long time.

It does not begin at the end of time.

In its entirety it always was.

In its entirety it will always be.

It is entirely present always.

– Wendell Berry