1 Kings 21:1-10, (11-14), 15-21a

Proper 6 (11) - Year C


“Sinner” is a temporal categorization. At different times, sin is differently defined. Regardless of a current definition of sinner, sin is usually defined as an act of commission. When sins of omission around a current definition are also considered, we all end up on a sin continuum.

 

So it is here, Naboth claimed his own identity and Ahab claimed control over Naboth’s identity. In today’s rapidly changing definition of a current sin of sexual orientation, those who play the scripture card to claim those attracted to others of their same sex are automatically sinners are here represented by Ahab. Those who claim their inheritance of sexual identity are in Naboth’s role.

 

Naboth speaks for women in a patriarchal system, for African slaves brought to the Americas and elsewhere, Native peoples anywhere, or any group dismissed by the powers that be, “I will not give over my identity.”

 

The powers that be who do not allow people a place at a table of community or decision—making will eventually hear, “You have sown the seed of your own destruction”.

 

If you have privilege within a power system, no matter how small it may seem to you, and you remain silent, you are complicit in every form of Ahab against Naboth. Divest from the perk of silence. Speak your support of “Naboth” to your current “Ahab”. Do not continue allowing the power of some to define the sin of others.

 

http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2013/06/1-kings-211-10-11-14-15-21.html

 


 

1 Kings 21:1-10, (11-14), 15-21a or 2 Samuel 11:26 - 12:10, 13-15

Leadership led astray by its own sense of divine right and might-makes-right is no new story. A little preemption here, a little preemption there and pretty soon underlying arrogance and exclusion from responsibility begins to show through.

No matter how you cut it, the missing verses from 2 Samuel (11-12) sum it up - "you think you acted in secret, but your consequence will be viewed by all."

The national parallels from long-ago to today are striking. There is nothing new under the sun. What may be less noticed is how the responsible parties are not just the leaders but, in a democracy, also you and I. How we have conspired together - leaders and people to steal property, to press our advantage, to dissemble, to plot with lies.

How far can you draw out the parallels before you are accused of meddling and subject to the same end as Naboth and Uriah? Is it worth that end to bring lies to light? How about simply calling out, "Enough!"

How long can we not draw out the parallels before we lose our ability to follow in Nathan's footsteps? What penalty will we receive if we do not raise the questions? What justification can we give if we allow another to be wounded because we failed to enlighten the leaders through the only means sometimes available, a court jester's tale?

Whether put winsomely like Nathan or bluntly like Elijah, we shall also speak truth to power.

http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2004/june2004.html

 


 

1 Kings 21:1-10, (11-14), 15-21a or 2 Samuel 11:26-12:10, 13-15

It would be easy to get lost in a comparison of these two tales - there are so many parallels and distinctions to be made, so many allusions to other events (before and after).

One of these is not the real story holding an optimal moral. Both of them recount realities in lives we lead. A key task is discernment of application.

Wherein have we fallen short and made things increasingly worse? Disaster comes and echoes on. Wherein have we fallen short and cut our losses? Disaster still comes, and goes.

Sweet Honey in the Rock has a marvelous song entitled Greed. A recurring line, "I've been thinking about how to talk about greed" leads into a helpful way of coming at both these passages. The whole song is wonderfully challenging and recommended (listen to a YouTube solo).

- - -

how am I greedy?
let me count the ways!
no, pride would set in
for my greed knows no bounds

an easy measurement
tells you about your greed
for everywhere yours shows up
mine surfaces in competition

whether tidbit greedy
or ravenously
bit-by-bit or all-at-once
disaster slouches nearer

horrible bad day momentum
feeds on our avoidance
of acknowledgment
and back-room deals

addiction to greed
is a powerful aphrodisiac
for the Narcissus clone
that carries our name

no morals obtain here
G*D is revealed in our greed
we live and die attaining
controlling and more

http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2007_06_01_archive.html

 


 

Greed and Entitlement denied often show up as Resentment and Sulking.

Both Resentment and Sulking keep us tied to Greed and Entitlement and blind us from finding a better way.

In today's world we find the Greed of corporations and Entitlement of an American public in collusion that leads to so-called "accidents" as oil in the Gulf of Mexico and wars around the world. The only surprising thing is that it has taken so long for a particular event such as the Gulf Oil Disaster to raise Elijah to our consciousness.

Greed and Entitlement are also revealed in the collusion between Parish and Parishioners. Their crash comes in many forms. Each encounter comes from holding on too tightly to the past, keeping Greed and Entitlement going. Much less often an encounter with Greed and Entitlement comes from trying to move too quickly into the future to exact an equivalent to capturing as much profit and continued cheap gas as possible in the shortest amount of time. These mirror images of one another can be informative to us if we are willing to give up our control of past and future and to reflect on the multiple needs in the present for justice. Where are the voices for the poor, the earth, and the disregarded in communal economies (financial as well as relational)? Our models of a market free from constraint (social or religious) will not last another 100 years, as it leaves too many people farther and farther behind. This is not just unconscionable, but a seed-bed for an unnecessary revolution and disjuncture.

Let us remember Ahab and Jezebel for their continued witness to the need for a common-unity way where all will have enough and none have too little. In terms of a current religious issue we need to break the Greed and Entitlement cycle by stopping our talk about "Homosexuals" as an issue and refocus on gay and lesbians Christians in a Heterosexist (Greed and Entitlement) Institution.

http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2010/06/1-kings-211-10-11-14-15-21a.html