Third Sunday of the Year.
Readings: Isaiah 58:9b-12, I Corinthians 12:12-14, 17, Luke 4:14-28
One of the words used so much today is empowerment. Our president promises to empower women. The UN has made 2013 the year "To empower the oppressed". Many groups in China are dedicated to empowering ethnic minorities. In Japan there are groups and people who want the foreign population empowered. So many in the world need empowerment that it seems the word itself has lost meaning. Perhaps it is because all of this empowerment being discussed is focused merely on empowering and not what the empowered will do once all this empowerment occurs. For example the UN fails to mention which group of oppressed 2013 is dedicated to, what the UN will do to empower these oppressed, and what the UN will do to assure the oppressed are able to stay empowered. For all intent and purpose the UN should change 2013 to the year "Remembering the Oppressed".
To be empowered one should wish empowerment. Simply telling a person they are empowered is meaningless if that person does not wish empowerment. Saying to the Manyang people in Mindoro in the Philippines they are empowered is fruitless. The Manyang are happy to live as they do. The Manyang hunt and gather as they have for thousands of years. If you wish to empower them they would prefer new bows and arrows to schools, roads, or automobiles. Everything the Manyang need they make or barter. They seem to be sufficiently empowered and happy.
Those bringing empowerment should be clear how this will happen, why it needs to happen, and how it will be fostered. Simply saying "X group needs empowerment" is meaningless. How will X be empowered? Will laws be changed or created? Will X be given opportunities others will not? Will special programs be created for X? Why does X need to be empowered in the first place, and what is meant by empowered? Once X is empowered what shall be done to continue the empowerment of X?
Empowerment is important only so long as the empowerment is directed to a defined goal. Empowerment will work only so long as those needing it agree to empowerment. Empowering people is not the same as providing material need. Empowerment is rooted in access to societal more. What is wrong today is the presumption that Western societies feel third world societies need, want, or desire Western ethics, morals, or government structures. That is arrogant, racist, and ignorant. Again, as an example, the Manyang do not wist access to contraception, democratic constitution, wage equality, or anything a Westerner has to offer. In fact, the Manyang in many ways have much to offer Western people. Perhaps the Manyang should empower Westerners to be stewards of nature, appreciate a slower pace of life, and to appreciate what one has before desiring more, more, and more. Perhaps the Manyang should empower Westerners to end greed and debt.
Jesus in the gospel reading today Luke 4:14-28, Jesus clearly states His empowerment. Jesus focuses on who will receive empowerment and how He will empower them. Jesus also states how this empowerment will be fostered. We are empowered by Jesus in Matthew 25:31-46 to minister exactly as He ministers: feed the hungry, show compassion to the immigrant, clothe the naked, give drink to the thirsty, visit the sick and imprisoned. That is empowerment that advances empowerment.
I agree to a great extent. I love politicians rambling on about empowering them and empowering those, and then when this "empowerment" happens the group is every bit in need, if not more, then when the politicians got involved. I also get sick of the Western nations telling the third world they need to run things like the West does. It also strikes me as racist and elitist.
ReplyDeleteHowever, with all that said, I fail to see how a dead Jew from the first century can empower anyone. Especially empower anyone today. Daniel you have a servants heart, that is for sure, no matter if you are teaching or what you do. I hope your new vocation does not make you turn to the other extreme where you exclude people simply because they differ on what words like divine, holy, and spirit mean. You can publish and answer this on this blog. I would enjoy your comments. Paul Schmidt
Paul, thank you for your comment. First, Jesus is not a dead Jew. It is true that Jesus "was crucified, died, and was buried." but Jesus also "Rose from the dead and sits at the right hand of God the Father. He shall come again in glory to judge the living and the dead." This we have received in the Nicene Creed which most Christians recite each Sunday.
ReplyDeleteI do not look to exclude anyone. I open my ministry to anyone who seeks to be ministered to. I look to chaplain at a Dallas homeless shelter and to serve food with parishioners to the homeless each Sunday at a park downtown. I do however have a leadership in the NACC that does ask that the Sacrament of Communion be administered only to baptized Christians. That the sacrament of Baptism be administered only to those who ask of their own volition. The NACC also asks that I (and all ministers) perform matrimony rights to a consenting male and female. The NACC approves of a "Commitment Ceremony" for others. Outside of this I am free to minister as I see fit, and will not shun anyone away. I pray that I can repair breeches and not form more separation.