We are captives. We are enslaved in this New Babylon by resuscitated Robber Barons!
Biblical Analogs
Nonetheless, in the face of all this, today's readings urge us not to give up hope either in the face of seemingly inescapable exploitation nor in that of premature death. As such the readings are not just happy talk. They're seriously calling us instead to face the undeniable fact that this too will pass. It will. And (hard as it might be to believe) what we're promised instead is God's Kingdom. The Robber Baron system is on its last legs.
Babylon's empire fell; so did Rome's. And genuine tears, compassion, and words of comfort like those Jesus shared with Martha and Mary can somehow restore life that seemed hopelessly lost. Both Ezekiel and Jesus believed in resurrection. In the present crisis, their followers are urged to do the same.
Review the readings for yourself here. What follows are my own "translations" of their content.
Ezekiel 37: 12-14 Death as a Metaphor for Political Captivity: Five hundred years before Jesus, while God's people were imprisoned in what we now call Iraq, the Prophet Ezekiel predicted their release from captivity and return to Judah. It would be, he promised, like a resurrection from the dead. God's people would once again experience her goodness and feel Life's Spirit rushing through their veins.
Psalm 130: 1-8: The Spirit of God Favors Such Release: This is because when people cry out to their Great Mother, God always hears. She is completely trustworthy, kind, and above all, forgiving.
Romans 8: 8-11: And This Despite the World's Denial: No one ever enjoys fullness of life living by the values of the world. That's because we are not merely bodies as the world teaches. No, we are Divine Spirits who enjoy our bodies to serve the world, just as Jesus did. So, don't worry. What the world calls defeat and death can never be final. The Divine Spirit we share will always return to life.
John 11: 5A, 26: So, those who follow the path trod by our Enlightened Master are never afraid of death. They never give up.
John 11: 1-45: A Living Parable Showing that Death Does Not Have the Final Word: Lazarus along with his sisters Mary and Martha were among Jesus' best friends. So, the Master was heartbroken when word reached his hideout that Lazarus was deathly ill. However, his careful measures to avoid the police kept Jesus from getting to Lazarus' home before it was too late. When he finally arrived, a distraught Martha gently scolded him for his delay. Mary was softer in her expression of disappointment. "I'm sorry," Jesus said through his own tears, "but don't you see that nothing in this world - not even death - is final. Life always has the last word. That's true for Lazarus; it will be true for our suffering people." Unconvincingly, both Martha and Mary nodded agreement. He embraced both sisters fondly and asked to be taken to Lazarus' tomb. Once there, from his profound heartache, Jesus shouted, "I'm so sorry, Lazarus. I loved you so much, my dear brother!" And true to his words, Jesus' grief and evident love somehow made everyone realize that he was right: death is not the end. Everyone's sorrow turned instantly to joy. It was miraculous!
Conclusion
Once again, I know that in our present crisis, it's almost impossible to take those hopeful readings to heart. It's hard to believe that one day we'll be released from the captivity of the rich and powerful who are using the COVID-19 crisis to even further consolidate their power over us. It's hard in such circumstances to believe that Life and History are on our side.
But that's what our readings today call us to. Improbably it seems, they ask us to believe that Life and Justice will eventually triumph over the ways of the world that seem so overwhelming and powerful - that seem to be winning.
The hammerlock the rich have on all of us is painful and seems absolutely inescapable. They don't care about us and neither do most of our elected officials.
Meanwhile as we sweep up our crumbs, as we await our Thanksgiving turkey, we have to watch our loved ones die for lack of testing kits, face masks, hospital beds, protective clothing for heroic healthcare workers, and universal healthcare coverage for the rest of us. It's all so sad. As with Ezekiel's people in Babylon, as with tearful Martha and Mary - and Jesus - we're hard put to believe in resurrection. But Easter is on the horizon. . .
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