Feb. 2, 2020

“When the time came for her purification according to the law of Moses . . .”  Luke 2:22

“There is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28

“Again a voice from heaven answered a second time, ‘What God has cleansed no longer consider unholy.” Acts 11:9

Wednesday I went to lunch with a woman friend to celebrate her birthday.  She was telling me about a recent initiative that she has undertaken to promote dialogue and understanding between Christians and Moslems.  Part of the purpose in reaching greater understanding is clearing up prejudices and preconceptions.  I asked her what one of those are, from the Christian perspective.  She answered, “The treatment of women.”

Friday I had another conversation with a friend, also a woman, who said that one of the reasons she no longer attends a Lutheran Church of the Missouri Synod  is because of the view of women.  In case you aren’t aware, women aren’t allowed to be pastors, and in most congregations are not allowed to be elders or congregational presidents either.  Of course this position is defended by scripture.

Today marks the purification of Mary.  You can read about it in Luke 2:22 and following.  As law-abiding Jewish believers Mary and Joseph took what must have been quite a bit of a journey less than a week after Jesus was born to Jerusalem to have Him circumcised, and then stuck around for another month so that they could make the required temple offering required so that Mary could be ritually clean.  (You can read about this in Leviticus 12. Note here that the birth of a girl requires a time of cleansing twice as long!).

A traditional theological interpretation is that all of this was necessary so that Jesus as the Christ could and would fulfill EVERYTHING that is written in the law of Moses/God.  Furthermore, this cleansing that is performed for Mary here at the temple finds its ultimate fulfillment in the death of Jesus on the cross.  (You can read about this in Hebrews 9, especially verses 11-16).  The requirements of the law, the distinctions made, the sacrifices required, and specifically in this case the category of “uncleanness” as applied to places, food and especially people is done away with.  In case that message wasn’t clear it was conveyed from heaven, delivered directly to Peter in his vision, not once but twice.  NOTHING and NO ONE is unclean!  It is a safe assumption that God is not excluding pigs, gentiles or women with that statement!

So why, then, are women still treated that way?  I’m not referring to Moslem countries that practice Sharia law, nor other countries like Papua New where some places still hold to uncivilized and pagan practices and perspectives, where women are still being beaten and killed for practicing withcraft, nor even this country where women are still disrespected, mistreated, abused and trafficked.  I’m talking about the Christian Church; specifically the church body that I used to belong to. 

The Gospel message is very clear on many things, one of which is the lack of distinction between people.  Jesus Himself modelled this message by the manner in which He spoke to and about people, and the way in which he treated them.  One of the most damning accusations made against Him was “This man welcome sinners and eats with them.” The Gospel is incredibly clear on many points, one of which is that Jesus made no distinction between Jew and Gentile, prostitutes or publicans, slaves or free, children or adults, whites or blacks or women and men.  In fact he said that those perceived as the most unworthy human beings in the eyes of men are actually the greatest and most valuable in the eyes of God.  Jesus was born OF A WOMAN, born under the law, to redeem everyone under the curses of the law—both God’s and man’s.  (And let’s be honest, sometimes what is recorded as God’s law is so ridiculous that it couldn’t possibly have come from an all-loving God who would give His life for all creation!  Have you read Leviticus?)

On the island of Iona there are ruins of an ancient nunnery.  Unlike the Abbey it has never been rebuilt. Intentionally.  For it stands as a monument to the mistreatment of women not at the hands of radicals, but the religious leaders who relegated women to a place as second-class citizens; unclean and impure; property not people;  All the while venerating, adoring and worshipping Mary.

In the message that some clergy will be preaching today, the day of the Purification of Mary, the clarion call should be one to reconsider how women have been treated historically in the Christian church, specifically by Christian men.  I’m sorry that I held some of those perspectives and upheld some of those practices for twenty seven years as a clergy man in the Missouri Synod.  And I am sorry for all the ways I have given anything less than honor to all the women who stand in the place of Mary, whether that be my mother, sisters, daughters, former wife, friends, lovers, co-workers or casual acquaintances.  They are nothing less than clean and pure vessels who bear the image of Christ, though they are much, much more!  As we all are.  For the message of the Gospel, though it includes much more, is nothing less than that everyone has been cleansed and purified.  That God sees each of us as Mary and Simeon saw Jesus; the beloved of God.