under the shadow of empire

 John 6:1-21 is the Gospel lectionary text for Sunday, July 25.

Geographically, it does work.  The author of John's Gospel seemingly makes a mistake, for Jesus was on that side of the Sea of Galilea.  But it allowed the Gospel writer to use the Roman name - Sea of Tiberias, and signal its readers/hearers that it is a message regarding Rome's occupation of their land and lives.

It was the Passover.  And what do you do at Passover?  Bread and Wine.  But they had none.  Empire had left them without sustenance or power over their own destinies.  Jesus "tested" Philip, and Andrew chimed in with a ridiculous "helpful" offering.  Jesus gave thanks and gave out the 5 barley loaves - only the bread in John.  And they all ate and were satisfied.  And they gathered up 12 baskets of remnants.  The people saw what He had done.  The 12 tribes were satisfied with enough left over to go another day, as in the wilderness, even under the oppression and depravation of occupation under empire.  Now THAT is a celebration of the Passover they would not soon forget!

In fact, Jesus had to ditch the crowd, because they wanted to make Him King right then and there.  Their "King", a vassal sanctioned by Rome, represented empire and did nothing for God's people.  Jesus in one day gave them hope and helped them celebrate their identity as a people, even under the shadow of Rome's oppression.

Now, Jesus would show off for His disciples, walk on the water and bring them, in the boat, to shore safely through the storm.  Jesus provided them sustenance, and brought the church home safely through the storm of empire's oppressive, evil forces.

Our storm of oppressive, evil force is laissez-faire Capitalism.

The oppression of it, especially since 1981 and the corruptions that have followed since, has devastated the lives of countless millions around the world, all for the personal gain of about 1% of the population.  It has been a tool of oppression.  It excludes, exploits and withholds from the many for the sake a few.  It holds the many down, back and out, leaving them without what they need so that the few rich fools can have more of an abundance than they can ever deplete.  It occupies the nation and much of the world by occupying the halls of governance, justice and economics.  It occupies through the fear of being called "socialist" or un-American, through the social pressure to conform and through other false social and religious teachings that undergird its insidious falsehoods - the unholy gods of Greed, lust for Power and desire for Status which drive it.

The weapons of this oppressive force are white, protestant straight male supremacy and the many hatreds that it generates in order that the people will be divided, so that those who it represents can remain dominant by holding onto all the resources and power, and exploiting the masses for more.  

It claims to be righteous, as witnessed by its power, status and wealth, even claiming to be democratic while promoting its Oligarchic, Plutocratic ideals at the expense of the people.

And many under it have adopted its values and vision as true believers, gullibly hoping one day to be among the few elites who benefit from empire's oppression.  Others do whatever they must in order to secure the scraps from its table for themselves, even at the expense of others around them, and especially those not like them.  And some refuse to participate, resist its ways and speak truth to power and wealth, both within the church that bears Jesus' name and outside of it.

Which are you?

Who will be preaching THIS message from John's Gospel next Sunday?

Pastor Jamie