Our readings today reveal for us and to us some of the more primal elements of humanity. In essence, humans can demonstrate a desire to hurt or hate what we perceive as a threat. It’s likely part of the oldest aspects of our nervous system that deem something new, different or unknown as a threat and we go into “fight-flight-freeze” mode (although those are hardly the only 3 options!).
In the first reading from Wisdom, a group of people say, “Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings, Reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training…To us he is the censure of our thoughts; merely to see him is a hardship for us..He judges us debased.” Wow, tell us how you really feel!
What is interesting in this reflection is that the “just one” may not even be doing all the things that they’re accused of doing, but the crowd “feels” it to be true. It is the group’s own insecurity and fear that gets projected and turns the just one into a threat that must be eliminated.
In the gospel from John, a similar dynamic is happening. Jesus is aware that people are trying to kill him and he is moving about in secret. He is noticed by people in the temple and they engage him. He tells them, again, who he really is and in their anger they try to arrest him. But he somehow slips away.
How is it that those who challenge us can stir such deep feelings in us?
A few years back I came across a book of poems (God Speaks Through Wombs) by an author named Drew Jackson, a pastor and writer from NY City. His writing has profoundly moved me as he “translates” the scriptures into modern situations, and I want to offer one of his poems for today’s reflection (it’s based on a passage from Luke, but it fits very well with our theme).
As you read it, think of all of the great people throughout our history who struggled for human, civil, environmental and indigenous rights. Think of all those who took a public stand for justice. Think of how they were often portrayed in the media. How they were vilified, discredited and dismissed. How they were beaten and sometimes killed. How they were demonized because they were speaking a truth that the empire and its people just did not want to hear and perceived as a threat. And think of how this process continues to this day.
Demonized
It does not seem to matter how we do this work: with bullhorns or ballpoint pens, with demure conversation or deafening protest, with justified rage or joyful resistance. We will still, somehow, be demonized. Labeled as rabble-rousers. Agitators. Those who stand against the work of God in this world. It seems to me The issue is not our methods, But that we would dare to raise our voices To challenge the status quo. The problem is that we Have the audacity To say woe to you. What we do is madness. We must be crazy To believe that change could come To this generation. So go ahead and frame us. Continue to blame us for disturbing your false peace. Keep covering us in your lies. We will prove to be the wise ones In the eyes of history.
If you find yourself “demonized” these days for any number of things, know that you are in good company. “For in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you (Mt 5).”