The old Irish priest Father O’Malley hadn’t
been on vacation in years, so he decided to take some time off. Of all the places he could have gone - Rome,
Jerusalem, Iona, or some other holy destination - Father O’Malley set off for
Las Vegas. Upon arriving, as he is
leaving the airport, a complete stranger approaches him and excitedly says,
“Elvis! You are Elvis! I always knew you were still alive.” Father O’Malley, somewhat embarrassed,
responds, “I am not Elvis. I don’t even
look a thing like Elvis.”
He walks away and hails a cab. The driver takes one look at him and says,
“Elvis! I am your number one fan. Everyone said you were dead, but I never
believed it.” Father O’Malley, now
somewhat annoyed says, “I am not Elvis.
I don’t look like Elvis. Elvis is
dead.”
The cab drops off Father O’Malley at his
hotel and he walks to the reception desk to check in. The attendant takes one look at him and says,
“Elvis, I always knew you would come back.
We’ve kept your penthouse room ready for you ever since they said you
died. It has everything just the way you
like it, free food and liquor, a masseurs is standing by, and you have a
commanding view of the pool where the showgirls lounge when they are not
working. Oh, Elvis,” the attendant says,
“We are so glad you are back. You can
stay with us as long as you like and the bill is on us.” Father O’Malley looks the attendant straight
in the eyes and says, “Well, thank you honey, thank you very much.”
The human ability to recognize a face is a truly remarkable thing. Some of us are better at it than others. The Rev. Gay Jennings, who preached at our
anniversary celebration, has complete name and face recall. She has met thousands upon thousands of
people through her work in the Episcopal Church and she remembers every person,
which is both impressive and spooky. For
people like me who are name and face challenged, advances in facial recognition
technology provide hope. Someday we will
be able to wear glasses with facial recognition ability and information about
each person we look at will be displayed on the lens so only we can see
it.
We have come a long way from today’s gospel reading were Jesus spares
with his detractors. “Should we pay
taxes?” they ask him. Jesus responds,
“Whose face and title are on the Roman coin?”
They know it is the Emperor even though they have never seen him face to
face.
The bible version we use translations Jesus’ question in this way: “Who
head is this, and whose title?” But this
is not quite accurate. Matthew uses a
very specific Greek word – ikon –
that here is translated ‘head’. It is
the same word used in the original Greek translation of the bible when God says
in Genesis, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness.” Ikon
means likeness. A more accurate
translation would have Jesus asking of the coin, “Whose likeness is on it?”
It is a subtle, but significant difference. Jews held these coins in contempt for two
reasons. First, they were forced to use
this currency and only this currency to pay a detested Roman tax. And second, it violated two of the Ten Commandments: have no other God but me, and do not make
graven images. The Emperor’s claim to be
divine is inscribed on every coin bearing his image. He distorts his likeness of being created in
the image of God by claiming to be made in the image of himself.
Jesus reminds his questioners we are all created in the likeness of God
and this calls us to a higher level of living and purpose. We are to act like the true and living God,
not like gods who pursue our own ends with disregard to the impact our actions
have on others. Turn and take a look at
the person sitting next to you in the pew.
Who do you see and what do you see?
Do you see a person created in the likeness of God? If so, how are you called to honor the
likeness of God in this person?
I spent this past week paying close attention to Facebook as female
friends, colleagues, and family members posted in the #MeToo campaign. Though
it began some ten years ago, the movement took off last weekend in response to
multiple allegations of sexual harassment and assault leveled against movie
executive Harvey Winestein. By posting
#MeToo a person is stating she (or in some cases he) also has been the victim
of this kind of behavior/criminal activity.
One priest told her story on her blog site, calling herself “lucky”
because her experiences of sexual harassment have been “relatively minor.” She then goes on to describe six separate
incidents involving six different men occurring over the ten years she has
worked in the church as a lay person and now as an ordained woman.
I have talked with a few of you this week and your anger and your pain
are evident. I feel your fear, not only
for yourself, but for your daughters growing up in a world where a person can
brag about inappropriately touching women and still get elected to the highest
office in our country.
My own response to the #MeToo movement has been all over the map. I am angry.
I am sad. I am ashamed to be a
male in a society where so many of my gender act in such shameful ways. I am encouraged as women find the courage to
speak up. I am hopeful things will
change.
From the time I was an adolescent I have striven to treat women with
dignity and respect. For me, my behavior
has always been grounded in my theology.
When I look at a woman I sense and see a person created in the likeness
of God. What I say to her, how I treat
her, and what I do to her, I am saying and doing to God. It never occurred to me to use a woman or
women to satisfy my own needs for domination, self-esteem, personal pleasure or
whatever else it is the Harvey Winesteins of the world derive for their
horrible behavior.
Gentlemen, through our baptismal covenant we promise “to seek and serve
Christ in all persons.” Groping,
inappropriate comments, and intimidating behavior are direct violations of this
sacred promise. They are sins and the
behavior is sinful. Treat women the way
you would like men to treat your daughter and granddaughter.
Ladies, and especially you young ladies, through our baptismal covenant
you promise “to respect the dignity of every human being.” I am deeply sorry for every time a man has
violated your dignity and I call on you to do what that person did not –
respect your own dignity, value, and worth.
Your value and worth are not derived from how men see and treat (or
mistreat) you. You have dignity and
worth because you are created in the image and likeness of God. Think about this for a moment. I believe it is a claim even more remarkable
than the Resurrection. The God who
conceived and brought into being all creation, made you in his image and in her
likeness. So continue to assert your
dignity by telling your story. Continue
to assert your dignity by having the courage to stand for your rights. There are many people, both men and women,
who will stand with you. I will stand
with you.
The Christian claim is this: our world and our relationships have
fantastic potential because we are made in the likeness of the relational
harmony of the Holy Trinity, which is at the heart and core of all reality. The Christian faith holds God’s love will be
manifested in this world as we live and treat one another in the way we wish to
be treated. The Christian belief states
forgiveness is possible and the amendment of life is a gift from God we receive
through the power of the Holy Spirit as we seek to change our ways. The Christian hope believes it is within our
ability to make this world a better, safer, more holy place for everyone, a
place where God’s likeness flourishes in each person.