In my childhood, many ghost stories were taking rounds in our locality, for it was said that people who have died with their desires unmet would come as ghosts and haunt people who have ill-treated them when they were alive. I am not sure of the authenticity of ghosts moving around, but it was strongly believed in the community that they haunted people. Back in our village I remember some people cook the favourite food of their dear ones who have died on their death anniversary, and place a bowl of that food near their photo with a belief that they come and taste it, in a way to say that they are still with them and celebrate their presence around them.
The text this week from Mark 6:14-29 is one such passage, where King Herod was haunted by the memories of John, and eventually identifies Jesus as John, whom he beheaded and is now raised. This is the only text in the New Testament where a birthday of a person is mentioned, which is King Herod’s. This again explains the colonial trappings of that context, for only kings afforded to celebrate birthdays, for only such people’s lives mattered and their births were deemed important and on the other hand birthdays of the powerful people are remembered and therefore recorded. Herod throws a birthday banquet for his court officials, and when Herodia's daughter dances and pleases his guests, Herod offers this girl to ask for anything as a gift, even half of his kingdom to give. Herodias uses her young girl to ask for the head of John the baptiser on a platter as a gift, for John spoke truth to the powers (18v), for which Herodias was sore at. Herod yielded to it and beheaded John and gave it to her on a platter.
Against this backdrop, when Jesus’ name was spreading across the region for his powers and works among the people, and when Herod heard about Jesus, he and his court officials were trying to identify who this Jesus was. There were at least four different identifications made at Herod’s court on learning about Jesus. Firstly, some say that John the baptiser has been raised from the dead; and for this reason, these powers were at work in Jesus (14v). Raising from the dead was not a new concept in the religious world view of those times in Palestine, and so when Jesus was performing his works of healing and speaking truth to the powers, they thought that either Jesus was the new John, or Jesus had the spirit of John in him and so was able to do his works. Secondly, some others said that Jesus was Elijah (15a), who was one of the prominent prophets of the Old Testament, and did not see death as he ascended into heaven. Perhaps the wisdom of Herod’s court believed that Jesus was that Elijah who again descended into their midst performing powerful acts of healing and transforming their communities. Thirdly, others said that Jesus is a prophet, like one of the prophets of the old (15b) who continued his prophetic ministry of teaching, healing and contesting the powers and principalities of his times. Finally, when Herod heard of Jesus, he was haunted by the memories of John the baptiser, and particularly how he cruelly beheaded him and said Jesus is “John, whom I beheaded, and has been raised” (16v). For Herod, Jesus is the haunting John, bringing him those memories of arresting John, binding him and putting him in prison and even reminding him of the guilt of beheading John for speaking the truth to his wife Herodias for unlawfully marrying his brother’s wife.
‘Jesus, the haunting John’ is not on the Christological titles of Jesus Christ, but on reflecting this passage I recognise the need for this title, for it challenges those in power to know that Jesus is a mirror granting them an opportunity to reflect the unjust things they have done in the past and offers a space to seek forgiveness and in striving for justice as a way forward. Unfortunately, Herod though recognised that Jesus is the haunting John in his life who has come back to life from the death, continued his life in collaboration with the colonial powers without any repentance in his life, for towards the end we know the role he has played towards the crucifixion of Jesus as a public criminal.
Secondly, on recognising Jesus as the haunting John, Herod recognised that Jesus has come as a new-being, continuing the mission of John the baptiser, in fact with more power, which includes contesting the colonial powers, healing and loving people. John the baptiser said about Jesus at his baptism, that the one coming after him is more powerful, and to that extent Jesus carried on more powerful acts of mission. Jesus calls Herod elsewhere as recorded in Luke 13:32, “the fox” which was part of his mission of contestation.
Thirdly, ‘Jesus as the haunting John’ is a title that reminds the listeners that prophets keep haunting people who are engrossed in doing unjust acts. Jesus has come to make this world a better place, a transforming place and a ‘new creation’, by speaking truth to the powers and by being prophetic, which is ‘good news to the poor as bad news to the rich.’ Christian discipleship is all about grace, and it is grace that calls people to repentance and to walk humbly with God, which is to get busy in doing acts of love and justice.
Fourthly, ‘Jesus the haunting John’ is a precursor to discuss Jesus’ resurrection for Herod recognises that Jesus is the risen John who has come back to life from the dead. For this very reason, there is no mention of Jesus appearing to the powerful people after his resurrection, including Herod, for to Herod Jesus remains to be haunting John, and perhaps that could be the reason that Herod played his part to get away with Jesus, the haunting John, through criminal execution on the cross.
The relevance of this text is that Jesus is the one who exposes one’s unjust acts, and the name of Jesus is the name that haunts people till they seek forgiveness and turn away from evil doings. The name of Jesus is the haunting Grace that haunts us to lead a just life, overcoming injustice, inequality and indignity. The name of Jesus haunts us till we deliver justice. At the General Synods and Conference meetings of the churches, they have come forward to express ‘full and unreserved apology’ to all the past historical mistakes they have made including the past safeguarding cases of abuse, for the experiences of racism, for exclusion of LGBTQI people in the church etc. which is invoking the name of Jesus into the life of the church. What is the meaning of the name of Jesus today? A mere apology is not sufficient, for the name of Jesus calls for action, calls to exercise justice. The name of Jesus is a name of love, grace, hope, justice, equality, peace and at the same time the name of Jesus is also contesting and defeating hate, injustice, inequality, prejudice, pride, privilege, exclusion, and discrimination. Is Jesus haunting you in your faith? If yes, he is inviting you to grace by overcoming complacency and evil deeds which we succumb to, and drives you to work for peace, love and justice in every way possible.
On this ‘Action for Children’ Sunday, the name of Jesus is haunting us to recognise that there are many vulnerable children across the world, and we are called to join in addressing their needs in ensuring life in all its fullness. The name of Jesus should inspire us to work towards addressing hunger and thirst in our world today and strive for a just world.
Last week, Fr. Stan Swamy, a Jesuit priest and a Tribal rights activist in India died in the hospital due to Covid. He was arrested on the mere assumptions that his advocacy works were linked to Maoist terrorism, which was untrue. Many people demanded his release from the prison, and his death is being called by many social activists as ‘institutional murder.’ Fr. Stan will continue to haunt all those in power today, for his blood is on the hands of the present day Herods, calling them to repentance and striving towards justice for Tribals and Dalits in India.
May the name of Jesus haunt each of us to do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with God. Jesus is the haunting John, and the risen Jesus is the haunting grace in the Holy ‘ghost.’ Amen.
Raj Bharat Patta,
9th July 2021
Pic Credit: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/635218722429426573/
No comments:
Post a Comment