(another reflection for Peace Mass)
Deuteronomy 15:7–11
Psalm 112:1-9
2 John 1–9
Luke 4:16–22a
The gospel for this day cuts off in mid-irony. You wouldn’t necessarily know this unless you were already familiar with this pericope (to use a fancy academic term, which just means section). As it stands, Jesus makes a bold statement and the people are amazed. Just the reaction we expect, just the reaction we wish we would have in the presence of the Messiah. But if you read just a little further, we hear the rationalization of the people. First there was amazement, then they reasoned it away. Jesus finally leaves town, muttering how prophets don’t get any respect in their home town.
This reading seems particularly applicable to Margaret. As the English bride of a Scottish king (a bit before the nation-state idea develops, but the animosity is in full flower already), she is remembered as a beloved saint to the Scottish people. Why would the Scots fondly remember an Englishwoman who wanted peace between the kingdoms? I think this might be for two reasons - one, she wasn’t speaking prophetically in her home town, so to speak. Two, she didn’t actually effect much lasting change. It was a sadness to her that she was unable end the hostilities between the Scots and English. Margaret dreamed of peace for these countries like the peace she had made in her own heart. Through Margaret, the Scots were able to love the dream of peace without doing the hard work themselves. As an outsider, Margaret didn’t challenge the self identity of the Scots in her dream of peace.
I wonder if this is what Jesus is talking about? It’s hard to see the miracle right in front of you. When someone just like you does something, says something, miraculous, it is hard to take it seriously because then you might have to be miraculous, too. I wonder, too, if it’s easier to believe in miracles that happen outside our own context, if it’s easier to control how seriously we take them, if it means not having to change except on our own terms.
0 comments:
Post a Comment