sermon excerpts: My Secret Identity

...the book of Esther is used only once in the 3-year lectionary cycle and making the connection to Worldwide Communion today seemed at first to be too great a stretch. It’s not just tying in some feast to a biblical event, like the Last Supper. Yet, I see some parallels.

Like Jesus who kept telling the disciples not to tell anyone what they know about him being the Messiah, we see that Esther keeps an important part of who she is a secret. She is Jewish, but does not tell this to anyone. Given the political and social circumstance of her time, and seeing a similar campaign enacted by Nazi Germany, we can understand why.

Yet, the truth will out and true identity cannot be denied. Within each of us is planted a purpose and a ministry. There is a message or truth that needs to be expressed. We can deny it, too frightened by what it may mean, lacking confidence in ourselves or fearful of the cost. The truth that dwells within is from God and must find voice and action, otherwise our spiritual health will suffer. Esther let her true self come forth when she acted to save her people.

In Jesus, the gospel truth was revealed in his wisdom, in his miracles, and on the cross. He journeyed with the outcasts of society, the downtrodden poor, sick and alienated. Esther shed her position of privilege and protection, to side with the vulnerable and at risk. Jesus has done the same for us going to the cross for our sake. We see in the Last Supper, his demonstration of service and care, teaching that others follow in this way.

In Esther, we witness the things that James was writing to the church about: the power of prayer, of solidarity with people. In a corrupt and self-serving world, we see the mark of true leadership as Esther shows her inner strength in standing up against evil so that she might protect the innocent. She used her position for the benefit of many people, instead of using the labours of many people, servants, taxpayers, and the like, to benefit her position.

She opens herself to sharing the same fate as every common Jew in the empire. Her secret was out and the truth was known. At the table of Christ, as we celebrate communion with the rest of the world, we taste of the bread of life and drink from the cup of the new covenant. As we do so, let us open ourselves to receiving God’s grace, the Holy Spirit of solidarity with others and follow in Jesus’ way.