Jesus & the Mosh Pit
The Rev. Bonnie Malone
January 28, 2007
The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
This sermon is also available in audio
In the early 80s a mysterious practice emerged from among the most serious of concert going fans. In the densest areas of the mosh pit, courageous heavy metal disciples, and a few musical personalities themselves, would throw themselves into the crowd.
One would expect that these crowd divers would be injured, and sometimes they were. But more often, amidst the body slammers in the crowd, were a majority of people who intuitively welcomed the diver, supporting and keeping the person from hitting the ground. And rather than simply catching them, the crowd would help them to “surf”, passing the brave ones on by a magical wave of hands, delivering them safely to the base of the stage.
Critics said the practice was dangerous, an adolescent thrill seeking behavior revealing a careless and impulsive attitude toward their own well being and the well-being of the crowd. But body surfers and moshers alike protested that there was a strong ethic in their community, that divers were to be cared for, and that the experience of surfing was that of transcendent surrender to a community of trust.
In our gospel today, Jesus throws himself into a community that he knows, a community that thinks they know him. At first it appears as if his crowd will catch him. They marvel at his words, his authority. But his welcome among them does not last long. Prophets are edgy— no fun to be around. They tell the truth too bluntly. Jesus knows what they are thinking, and accuses them of their thoughts. So, Jesus the prophet is driven to the edge of a cliff to be thrown off, but mysteriously, and of his own power, he passes through the angry crowd and heads into ministry, revealed to us as the Son of God.
The trouble begins when Jesus discerns the thoughts of the people in his hometown. He says to them, “You will say ‘Physician heal yourself’.” Now, “Physician heal yourself” was a statement that referred to taking care of your own; giving priority in providing medicine or care to those to whom you are related. It’s a reminder not to forget where you come from, to take care of your responsibilities, to care for your family.
But Jesus is saying that he will not serve only those who are comfortably related to him. In fact, he will do no miracles among them. Instead he will heal the outcast, the sinner, the gentile, the Samaritan. The crowd is understandably distressed at this carelessness towards them. We would be distressed too.
But, Jesus demands that for the gospel to be good news it must be good news for all people. Wholeness, release, restoration to full participation in the community will be his miracles. And although Jesus, as God’s son, is the focus of attention, it’s clear that Jesus will expect these miracles from his disciples within the larger community. That is, he will expect his disciples to bring in the Good news, good news for all people.
In the award-winning film Good Night and Good Luck, the story of one prophetic voice is told. Edward R. Murrow, well-respected among his peers and viewers, decides to take an unpopular position. Unpopular not because it is wrong, though many think it is. His position is unpopular more because it is dangerous. To dare to take on the Red scare was a guaranteed way to become one of the accused. Many had chosen to say “not yet” to the voice that told them to do something. Nonetheless, though the people he helps are virtual strangers, he knows that he must do something and he must do it today. He throws himself into the fray, challenging the mentality of fear and isolation that had worked itself into a frenzy.
As he risks it all, he is held up by a mysteriously ordinary force. In his day, Edward R. Murrow was respected, giving him the ability to stand as a lone prophetic voice and be heard. Many imagined that he was alone, but the film tells the story a little differently. Surrounding his prophetic voice is a small community of fellow believers, fellow risk takers, who are also willing to put their careers, their lives, on the line. They are a motley crew of secret keepers, outcasts, professionals. But the prophetic voice survives, in fact, transcends, because of the trust and diligence of their community, a family really.
I believe that Jesus is inviting us to be this sort of community today. To be a community that hears the prophetic voices in our midst, uncomfortable though they may, and to chooses to hold them up, rather than trample them. Where is the good news needed in our community? Where is the good news needed in Memphis? Will we choose to isolate ourselves caring only for the ones we know, or will we allow God’s good news to be good news for all people. Will we throw ourselves into the fray, willing to risk the danger?
Epiphany is the season of revelation. We tell the stories that reveal who Christ really is. But we are revealed too; our inner thoughts are discerned by God, like the thoughts of the Nazarenes. God knows our thoughts, our fears and desires, before we do. Jesus comes into our midst today and asks us to make God news for all people. He says, Today the scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.
Will we say not yet? or Yes, Lord, today.
Copyright ©2007 Calvary Episcopal Church
Gospel Reading:
Then he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, "Is not this Joseph’s son?" He said to them, "Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, 'Doctor, cure yourself!' And you will say, 'Do here also in your home town the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.'" And he said, "Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s home town. But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up for three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian." When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way. NRSV (New Revised Standard Version)