Saviors
Christmas I & II (A,B &C): Luke 2:1-20
In this year’s lectionary cycle (B), the gospel readings are from Mark. But on Christmas, if you want a story about Jesus’ birth, you will have to read about it in Matthew or Luke. Mark has no “infancy narrative.” For Mark, there was nothing extraordinary or interesting about Jesus until he became an adult and got busy teaching and healing in Galilee.
In the Postmodern Womanist [1] perspective, “salvation” is participation in a “transformative” community — one which is busy making a way out of no way. That community might be a church, but it might also be a Twelve Step group, a dancing circle, a homeless shelter or a helping non-profit agency. The community is transformative because it is teaching and healing, being guided by the wisdom of the past and consciously co-working with its higher power.
A savior is someone who, in his or her life needed to “make a way out of no way” and eventually found they could. They know transformation first hand, and are willing to share that experience in leading a transforming community.
There isn’t only one savior. And they are not ontologically different from you or me. They don’t look special or interesting at the beginning. There are no Annunciations preceding their birth, no angel choirs in the heavens, and no kings bringing gifts afterwards.
Saviors are saviors not because of what they are, but because of what they do. They get busy. They teach. They heal. They challenge and encourage. And they lead the transforming communities which are busy making a way out of no way.
[1]Monica A. Coleman, “Making a Way Out of No Way: A Womanist Theology.” (Fortress Press, Minneapolis, MN. 2008) at 169-170.
Sermon Starts is taking a “gotta-a-new-book” break and will be back on January 6 for Epiphany 1B. Thanks for reading, please stay safe and “Merry Christmas!”