WHO IS WORTHY? (16)
Scripture: Revelation 5:1-14
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Who Is Worthy? (16)
Lectionary, Year C, Easter 3
Christopher B. Harbin
Revelation 5:1-14
Arthurian legend, Greek, Norse, Egyptian, Roman, and Babylonian mythologies all hold up examples for us of the great hero coming into battle. His great strength, his weapons, his cunning, his skill, and his dedication to fight the good fight grant him the greatest of worth in our eyes. He is the mighty victor who slays dragons, protects the helpless, vanquishes the enemies, and brings peace. This motif would seem to have been with us from time immemorial. The mighty, the strong, the victor is the one we deem worthy above all others. Is this our best definition of worthiness, the supreme example for us to follow?
Recently, our youngest was replaying as background an old cartoon series they had enjoyed in elementary school. In a couple of the episodes, Ben 10 was wrestling against the notion that physical power is not always superior to careful thinking. This concept of mind over matter would tell us that obstacles that seem physically imposing might be overcome by a different mode of thinking and addressing them. I am reminded of so many exclamations in my past over how Stone Henge could be built without modern machinery to lift and transport the huge stones of which it is comprised. Then I saw a video of a high school physics teacher using simple ramps, pulleys, ropes, and levers to construct his own Stone Henge without the assistance of big machinery.
There is a theme running through the Scriptures that the battle does not always go to the strong; that we should not rely on brute strength to overcome; that reliance upon God's Spirit is the only definite path to ultimate victory. As the Psalm puts it, '''Not by might; not by power, but by my Breath,' says Yahweh.'' If we look, we see this theme in the lives of Joseph, Gideon, Moses, Joshua, Elijah, Elisha, and so many others. It should be our expectation of life under God's guidance. Time and again, however, we pr ...
Lectionary, Year C, Easter 3
Christopher B. Harbin
Revelation 5:1-14
Arthurian legend, Greek, Norse, Egyptian, Roman, and Babylonian mythologies all hold up examples for us of the great hero coming into battle. His great strength, his weapons, his cunning, his skill, and his dedication to fight the good fight grant him the greatest of worth in our eyes. He is the mighty victor who slays dragons, protects the helpless, vanquishes the enemies, and brings peace. This motif would seem to have been with us from time immemorial. The mighty, the strong, the victor is the one we deem worthy above all others. Is this our best definition of worthiness, the supreme example for us to follow?
Recently, our youngest was replaying as background an old cartoon series they had enjoyed in elementary school. In a couple of the episodes, Ben 10 was wrestling against the notion that physical power is not always superior to careful thinking. This concept of mind over matter would tell us that obstacles that seem physically imposing might be overcome by a different mode of thinking and addressing them. I am reminded of so many exclamations in my past over how Stone Henge could be built without modern machinery to lift and transport the huge stones of which it is comprised. Then I saw a video of a high school physics teacher using simple ramps, pulleys, ropes, and levers to construct his own Stone Henge without the assistance of big machinery.
There is a theme running through the Scriptures that the battle does not always go to the strong; that we should not rely on brute strength to overcome; that reliance upon God's Spirit is the only definite path to ultimate victory. As the Psalm puts it, '''Not by might; not by power, but by my Breath,' says Yahweh.'' If we look, we see this theme in the lives of Joseph, Gideon, Moses, Joshua, Elijah, Elisha, and so many others. It should be our expectation of life under God's guidance. Time and again, however, we pr ...
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