The Centurion in today's gospel (at post's end) has several things working against him when he asks (by proxy) Jesus to heal his slave. He's a gentile, soldier (man of at least potential violence), he represents the oppression of the Jews by the Romans and he's gay. Say what? Now you've gone too far John, what's next a tea dance (guess I'm dating myself here!) before the last supper? Let's look at the story a bit closer.
The first thing we notice is that all communication between the Centurion and Jesus is done by proxy. Initially, he sends some Jewish elders to ask for the favor of curing his slave, then "some friends". He sure seems intent on Jesus' not showing up at his door in person. The gospel story phrases this in terms of great humility " Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof...". Humble indeed! The Roman liturgy puts these words on the lips of each communicant prior to receiving the sacrament. Jesus responds to this humility by proclaiming " I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith." High praise indeed.
What of the nature of the relationship between the Centurion and the slave? A slave was property and thus an object upon which economic value was placed. Was it just the economic impact the loss of this slave would mean to the Centurion that prompted him to send quite an entourage to make his request of Jesus? Certainly it is not beyond the realm of possibility that some affection and regard could develop between master and slave. Despite the inequity represented in their respective positions, they were feeling human beings capable of a complex relationship. I would also argue (as have many respected theologians and scripture scholars) that it is just as plausible that the two shared a mutually felt romantic, intimate and even sexual relationship.
Because of a few obscure, confusing and much disputed passages in scripture, we LGBT people have been trained not to see ourselves in the stories that outline our faith. There is no reason we cannot see these stories through "queer" eyes and claim them as belonging to us as much as anyone. I may be finished with the institutional church, but I have many miles yet to travel with the Galilean Carpenter.
Luke 7:1-10
After Jesus had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. A centurion there had a slave whom he valued highly, and who was ill and close to death. When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him, asking him to come and heal his slave. When they came to Jesus, they appealed to him earnestly, saying, "He is worthy of having you do this for him, for he loves our people, and it is he who built our synagogue for us." And Jesus went with them, but when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to say to him, "Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; therefore I did not presume to come to you. But only speak the word, and let my servant be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, `Go,' and he goes, and to another, `Come,' and he comes, and to my slave, `Do this,' and the slave does it." When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, he said, "I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith." When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.
No comments:
Post a Comment