June 17 , 2007 3rd Sunday after Pentecost 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time

See also: [2001]

I Kings 21:1-21a
Psalm 5:1-8
Galatians 2:15-21
Luke 7:36-8:3

Today’s readings reflect the many sides of interdependence. While the experience of interrelatedness is often graceful, it can also be punitive.

The story of Naboth’s vineyard is a classic version of the “rich get richer and the poor get poorer.” In this simple story, repeated countless times throughout the ages and even today, the institutional power of “eminent domain” robs one without power both of his property and his life simply on a royal whim. When he doesn’t get what he wants and when he wants, Ahab sulks. Jezebel knows the perfect way to raise her husband’s spirits – she engineers a false accusation against the rightful owner, Naboth, and then has him stoned to death in accordance with the law. Legality and morality often do not intersect, especially in the relationships of the powerful and the powerless.

Yet, institutional injustice eventually has its cost for politicians, presidents, corporate executives, and kings, or their children. The prophet Elijah denounces Ahab and pronounces a death sentence upon the king and his wife. This is not so much divine punishment as the reality of cosmic, planetary, and social justice that is essential to interdependence of life. There is, as Whitehead notes, a certain remorseless to the order of things. Although causation is never entirely linear and multiple causes give birth to every occasion of experience, still we do reap what we sow whether in hard-heartedness, inability to experience God, or the destruction of our way of life. Injustice deadens our ability to experience of God’s presence in our lives and limits the scope of divine possibility. Justice awakens us to the deeper presence of God in ourselves and in others.

Surely, American injustice has something to do with the mounting death toll in Iraq, our current negative standing in the world, and the ongoing threat of terrorism. Environmental destruction as a result of our opulent and wasteful lifestyle may eventually make the planet virtually uninhabitable for the children of the wealthy as well as the poor.

The justice of interdependence may be painful. God’s aim at “the best for the impasse” may be the source of pain as well as joy. The interdependence of justice calls us to repentance and personal transformation, to live simply so that others may simply live, and to examine the relationship between our wealth and the poverty of others.

Paul’s epistle to the Galatians explores the interdependence of grace. Paul is not denying the value of good works, but recognizes that good works without a sense of relatedness can be a source of self-justification and alienation from God and others. Apart from the experience of graceful interdependence, good works can tempt us to separate ourselves from the less moral or the less successful or privileged among us. In a relational world, there is no ultimate division between “us and them” and “givers and receivers.” Graceful interdependence reminds us that even our highest moral actions and our fidelity to God are not sui generis, but arise from an environment of divine interdependence and inspiration. God’s grace is always “prevenient” even when it inspires us to acts of freedom and creativity. Our greatest moral and spiritual achievements arise from the impact of our communities, mentors, spiritual teachers, and, through it all, the grace of God. Yes, we are actors, but our actions are built upon the holy relatedness of others.

The gospel portrays the grace of receptivity. The great teacher and healer Jesus allows a “sinful” woman to minister unto him. As she lavishes oil upon his body, you can imagine Jesus sighing in pleasure and joy, perhaps, too much joy for his pharisaic companions. You can imagine him being touched spiritually as well as physically. Holiness involves receptivity as well as activity, and the willingness to accept the grace of others, regardless of their social or moral standing.

Jesus’ receptivity allows this unnamed woman to become a “giver” whose spirit grows in stature by the weaving together of her generosity and his hospitality. In holy interdependence of life, giving and receiving represent the dance of divine and human creativity. God gives us a vision and receives the gifts of our lives. God celebrates our achievements, enabling to enrich God’s own experience. God embraces our pain, cherishing it with the same love as God cherishes our joy. The Source of all grace is the ultimate recipient of the grace of interdependence in which we all live.

Bruce Epperly is Professor of Practical Theology and Director of Continuing Education at Lancaster Theological Seminary. He is the author of twelve books, including God’s Touch: Faith, Wholeness, and the Healing Miracles of Jesus (Westminster/John Knox) Healing Worship: Purpose and Practice (Pilgrim), and Walking in Light: A Jewish-Christian Vision of Healing and Wholeness (Chalice). These books are available from Flux Books.

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