Are Your Emotions Your Servants Or Your Masters?
Good Morning Friends,
No one likes to be told that they are sinners especially in earshot of others. The opportunities around such a situation can lead the unscrupulous to schemes of emotional blackmail. People of faith can be manipulated by such situations. In fact, they may be particularly vulnerable to such people. That is why we must be careful what we promise and circumspect regarding what feelings others stir up in us. Are Your Emotions Your Servants Or Your Masters?
Scripture: Now we command you, beloved, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from believers who are living in idleness and not according to the tradition that they received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you, and we did not eat anyone’s bread without paying for it; but with toil and labor we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you. This was not because we do not have that right, but in order to give you an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: Anyone unwilling to work should not eat. Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with all of you. I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the mark in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.
2 Thessalonians 3:6-10, 16-18 (NRSV)
For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had married her. For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him. But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.” And he solemnly swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.” She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” She replied, “The head of John the baptizer.” Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.
Mark 6:17-29 (NRSV)
Message: John the Baptist was a man of deep integrity. He was so committed to God that it cost him his life. But he was no fool for giving up what he could not keep, to gain what he could not lose. He was radical and countercultural in his lifestyle and what he taught and in his fearlessness in the face of adversity. John’s message was tough – he did not mince his words – and inevitably this brought him into conflict with the authorities – which in this case was the local king Herod Antipas. But there is more to today’s story than John the Baptist being brave and outspoken and eventually getting his head cut off. There is the reality of how people around him interacted. There is King Herod and Herodias and Salome her daughter. Now what is interesting here is that King Herod had some respect and interest in John the Baptist. I think he was disinclined to murder John. Herod could not bring himself to do that without some manipulation of others. Our reading gives us enough insight to understand that Herod listened to John but that was not enough to forestall the furious and deep held hatred for John that Herodias exhibits. She wanted John dead. Her chance came at a festive celebration of the king’s birthday. Herodias’ daughter Salome entered the gathering and performed a very seductive dance for the enjoyment of the king and his guests. It pleased the king so much that he announced to Salome in the presence of the guests to ask any favor that she desired, and he would fulfill it. The pure arrogance and self-serving approach Herodias takes to challenge the king is a bit disgusting. Salome went to her mother and asked what favor she should seek from the king. Herodias saw her chance and jumped at it. She told Salome to seek the head of John the Baptist on a silver platter. The character and behavior exhibited in this story should give us pause for such people still live today and seek revenge and the manipulation of others even in authority all for their own evil designs. Friends, out of the hearts of people come evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. I pray you never lose your head as a victim of one of these wolves.
Pray we are passionate and kind but not prone to work oneself up in a frenzy. Pray we be very careful to avoid pursuit of any wrongful desires and especially because we think our status gives us any leverage to do so. Pray we realize that greed is of the devil. Pray we realize that gain at the expense of another is an abomination. Pray we realize that we are to love our neighbor and God but also know that the pews in the churches are filled with manipulators and use scripture to their own ends. Pray we not oppress others. Pray our emotions become our servants and not our masters. Pray we are good examples for others. Pray we realize that our master is in heaven.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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