haunted mind and soul (July 11 2021)
Sermon
topic: haunted mind and soul
Scripture:
Mark 6: 14-29
Date: July
11 2021
Location: United Church of Hyde Park
Theme: John the Baptist was killed by Herod for protecting Herod’s social persona among the Galilean leaders. Maybe Herod did not want to do so and still feel something wrong about it. While Jesus became famous and rumors started to spread, Herod addressed, “it is John who I killed that has resurrected.” Why does Herod say so? Does he believe in the resurrection as well? Or, does he believe in revenge from the innocent death? How could he respond to this haunting?
--01-background
and connection
Jesus’
ministry in Galilee started after John the Baptist was arrested (Mark 1:14).
Here, Mark chapter 6, reveals the death of John. We have noticed an interesting
parallel between John and Jesus while we read from the first chapter. They
baptized people by the river. They proclaimed messages different from the
mainstream; lots of outcasts and marginalized people gathered around them. They
have followers and disciples, who also do similar ministries in their name.
Some of John’s disciples turned to follow Jesus afterward.
In the scripture
last week, Rev. Paul shared the message as Shepherd’s Commencement,[1]
disciples were sent out to preach, to convince people to confess, to heal the
sick, and to cast out the evil spirits. They were creating new chapters both in
their own lives and in ministry under the name of Jesus.
--02-Haunted
Rebecca, Alfred Hitchcock, movie released in 1940.[2]
Some of us
might be familiar with Alfred Hitchcock 1940’s movie, Rebecca. It is a
black-and-white production. Rebecca was Mr. Maxim de Winter's first wife, who
died before the events of the film, and is never seen. However, Rebecca’s image
and recollections of her, are represented in the lives of Mr. de Winter, his
new wife, and the housekeeper Mrs. Danvers. However, we only know Mr. de Winter
called his new wife, Dearest. She does not have another name in the movie.
Although Mr. de Winter loves his new wife, he sometimes behaved oddly in ways that
revealed his past with Rebecca still takes part in his new relationship. However, it seems to me that Mrs. Dearest de
Winter was gradually becoming the Mrs. Rebecca de Winter in many ways, day
after day. Such as hosting the party as she did, wearing the dress as she did.
These recommendations are from the housekeeper Mrs. Danvers, who was obsessed with
Rebecca and kept everything the same as if she were still alive. You have known
how that movie ended, the house burned into flames, and Mrs. Danvers died with
it.
Well, there
are a lot of interesting plots in this movie to mention. But, I noticed
Rebecca, who never showed up in the film, plays an essential role and influential
factor in this movie. People in this movie were haunted by Rebecca; even Mrs.
Dearest, who never met her in person, was tempted to jump off from the West
Wing, Rebecca’s bedroom. They are haunted. One of the film’s critics comments
this movie as "an artistic success” but “too tragic and deeply
psychological to hit the fancy of wide audience appeal." However, I found
the tragedy and psychological destruction in the real-world cause severe
damages way beyond that. But, people might have no idea about it.
--03-Herod,
haunted by John the Baptist
The
scripture today is another tragedy. John the Baptist was killed by Herod to
fulfill his promise at a birthday party. It was not a regular family reunion or
private event. Herod invited his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of
Galilee. They are somebody. And apparently, his stepdaughter performed the
dance in front of the guests, and that made everyone pleased. Someone might say
her name is Salome, although her name is not mentioned in the scripture. The
narrator depicted Herod as a man who could do whatever he wanted, and none
could stop him. However, Herod was neither a good leader in politics nor a good
father in a household. Here is why.
As the head
of the governing body, Herod could have demonstrated his authority to practice
justice accordingly, either based on Torah or protocols. But, he didn’t. John
pointed out his unlawful behavior, but Herod put him in jail. John did nothing
wrong, and Herod knew John was “a righteous and holy man.” But Herod had
John beheaded and had John’s head presented to the banquet, to show he is the
one who is in charge. However, he failed his role as the leader who was
supposed to make the kingdom a just place for all. He ruined Torah by killing
an innocent and broke the protocol of social regulation.
Maybe Herod
would have liked to keep his promise; however, either promise to give a half of
the kingdom, anything you want, or to kill an innocent man is way too much for
a daughter. Herod failed the role of a father, the head of household, to
address the fundamental rule of living in the same community: love, respect,
and security. Anyone should not harm another person merely because that would
make you happy or feel relieved.
If Herod
would have liked to demonstrate his authority and protect his honor, pride, and
public figure, his masculinity was undermined by his wife Herodias and the
daughter. We see a male leader, husband, and father who could not make any
decision according to his mind and thoughts. He has to compromise to the
requests from females and put another “righteous and holy man” to death. I am aware of the misogamy here. The narrator told us in the scripture: even Herod knew himself was not a good
guy, but that one who was sacrificed was.
While Jesus
became famous and people started to talk about Jesus’ identity, Herod heard all
the rumors and possibilities, and he concluded, “John, whom I beheaded, has
been raised.” I can imagine that Herod was wondering if John is coming
after him for revenge. Herod felt haunted, and he recalled his wrongdoings
against “a righteous and holy man.” He recalled while he listened to
John’s preaching, Herod felt perplexed, but he still wound like to hear.
However, there is no opportunity now, I have killed him, and he is coming for
revenge.
Herod is not
alone. Gospel of Mark created a parallel between John the Baptist and Jesus the
Christ and Herod Antipas and Pontius Pilate. If we were the reader in the first
century, we would have two pairs of overlapped images. John and Jesus,
“righteous and holy man,” “prophet,” “proclaim the message from God;” Herod and
Pilate, “fake leader,” “kill the innocent,” “behave for their own good.”
I am afraid
that there are still many Herods and Pilates around us, still killing innocent
and vulnerable people. They assumed they could protect themselves by doing so. But,
then, “Power is the ultimate aphrodisiac” means the condition of losing their
heart, kindness, and consciousness. We might have experienced similar occasions
of losing part of ourselves because we would like to protect something or
obsess over something.
--05-Rev.
Anthony Williams
Last
weekend, the Independence Day weekend, there were at least 108 people who
suffered gunshots, and 17 of them have died,
including two police officers, and 5-years-old and 6-year-old children.[3]
Some of the victims were merely sitting in the park with family; the shooter
walked by and triggered the gun. Some sat in their cars and got shot. There
were two incidents at the exact location, only two hours apart. Even my mother
had read this news in Taiwan and was concerned about me. So what’s going on
here? Do evil spirits haunt this city? Why did those shooters behave like that?
Many of us
have known Rev. Anthony Williams’ marching toward DC. He made it. He and the other
four folks, a team, spent 11 days walking from Chicago to DC. Their destination
was the White House and having the President declare “violence is a public
health crisis.”[4] Rev. Williams lost his 34-year-old son,
Nehemiah. He was killed by gunshot while walking on the street. The leading
cause of death among African Americans between 18 to 24 is gun violence. Rev.
Williams argues that gun violence, racism, domestic violence, and global
violence are just symptoms, and violence is the root. We should not understand
through the criminal justice lens, but the lens of violence, in our history, in
politics, and among communities. It is the result of system failure and
ignorance that cause this violence to haunt people. People obsess with using
violence to resolve their anxiety, disappointment, and perplexity. They do not
know another way to protect themselves from the evil spirit, the violence.
Although I
don’t think Rev. Williams met the President on July 4th in DC, however,
Illinois Governor Pritzker has signed on the “Health and Human Services
Reform Act” in April to measure the targeted communities, bring in more
medical resources and social care, education, and economic systems to reduce
the violence. In Illinois, it seems to me that we have a step forward to
declare independence from violence. However, there are still many works needing
to be done.
Christians
do believe the evil spirit was working hard and is working harder in this world
today. Jesus sent his disciples out, to proclaim the message of redemption, the
good news, ask people to confess their sin and turn around, to heal the sick,
and to cast out the evil spirit.
When John
the Baptist’s disciples heard of his death, “they came and took his body,
and laid it in a tomb.” So did Jesus’ disciples. Death is not the end of
the story. They all continued the ministry they had learned from their teachers.
They might be afraid of the power and authority, their passion and heart got
lost in a period of time, but they still carried on and walked on the streets
in the longer run. By reading Mark and examining our context in Chicago, I feel
the merging of visions. And I believe the resurrected Jesus is among us, still
leading us, and demonstrating through us the power from the above. Amen.
--06-prayer
after sermon
Let us pray.
Living God,
give us the strength to face our imperfection. Send your spirit to guide us
through all the difficult decisions we need to make. May you unite us to work
together against the evil. May your grace transform us and give us peace. Amen.
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYiTuSnivhc
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebecca_(1940_film)
[3] https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-justice/ct-independence-day-weekend-shootings-violence-20210705-krc6q7g7o5grzit3qpoavxlr3e-story.html
[4] https://www.ucc.org/chicago-ucc-pastor-walks-to-dc-to-press-biden-to-address-us-violence-pandemic/
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