What comes to mind when I say the word privilege? Special treatment, rich, granted opportunity. Maybe you think of the Great Gatsby, or the Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. Privilege of course refers to “special advantage or right possessed by an individual or group.” This week Cooper gave me an online survey assessing my “privilege.” We have been discussing privilege, racial, socio economic and gender privilege. Then Parker told me he did a similar thing in his Government class. You gotta love those teenage years. There seems to be a shift in the discussion. Historically we looked at the privileged on one end of the spectrum and the disadvantaged on the other; with most of us falling somewhere in the middle, somewhere safe. Now there is a move to get everyone to see their privilege compared to those who have been discriminated against. It reverses the lens through which we evaluate. No longer is it poor so and so who has endured violence or discrimination, now we are to look at ourselves through a new lens, the lens of privilege, and see ourselves differently. So this privilege survey asked if I had traveled internationally,
felt shame for being fat,
felt threatened for my religious beliefs,
had endured violence or racial slurs. Not the usual questions about privilege.
Our first lesson from James speaks of favoritism and how we treat people, possibly another perspective of privilege. The themes of the book are wisdom, wealth and generosity. The section we read deals with neighborly love, but the underlying truth is that our actions speak louder than words- leading to the quote, “Faith without works is dead” (2:17). We can believe all we want, but without actions of mercy our faith is empty. The author of James is calling Jewish people out for showing favoritism to the rich, especially those who enter into their synagogue. Today, he might ask us, “Do you show special treatment to those with Gucci purses, and Brooks Brother clothing while turning a blind eyes to the people not in Sunday best, or who are down and out?” Do you judge people based on their economic status? He challenges our judging minds and our tendency to discriminate and play favorites. To bring home his point, he harken us back to Jesus’s word in the beatitudes, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Mt. 5:3). Interestingly, the kingdom of heaven and blessing is also granted to those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake (5:10). Certainly those without privilege fall in that category.
If we are honest we all play favorites, we all discriminate, we all judge others.
It is part of our nature.
In some corrupt way, I think we feel better about ourselves if we judge someone less than us. It is warped, but true. Scripture is calling us to “love neighbor as yourself,” not judge neighbor for your own comfort. James is not talking about us comparing ourselves favorably with our friends, like I had a better vacation than so and so, or I have a nicer home. No. It is our judgment and action against the poor that is being questioned. Favoritism is not just some slight, ignoring the poor is not a minor offense; it is an affront to God and a sin. This partiality is likened to breaking one of the Ten Commandments. One commentator wrote, “If one keeps the whole law, but fails in one point- showing favoritism- the whole weight of the law falls upon that person” (Feasting on the Word, B4, p.43). Favoritism calls into question our faith and our loyalty to Christ. How can we truly be Christ-like, when we blatantly disregard Christ’s practice of caring for the marginalized? Once we are reminded of Christ’s love and mercy for us, it makes it easier to show mercy to those who might not be as privileged as we are.
With no favoritism, mercy triumphs over our petty judgment.
With true faith, mercy triumphs over judgment.
Before we think we have this all wrapped up, with no favoritism and full of mercy, let’s look at our gospel lesson. In a rare moment, Jesus declines to help a woman, refuses to heal her daughter. Not just any woman; but a person without privilege. She is a Gentile, a Greek, from Phoenicia in the Syria. Lots of ways to say she is not Jewish. Jesus’ response to her plea sounds harsh and without mercy, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” It sounds like Jesus is playing favorites, and likening the Gentiles to dogs. Troubling to be sure. Commentators have struggled with this passage. Jesus is saying I will not be distracted by a Gentile’s need because I favor the Jews. In its best light Jesus is remaining true to his primary purpose of being the Messiah to the Jewish people. What if Jesus is modeling a way for us to look at our biases through a new lens? What if in this moment Jesus favored the Jews, only to reassess that choice and show mercy to the Gentiles, to this woman? Maybe Jesus speaks harshly so that we can see the transformation after ending his own favoritism.
Remember it was her challenging words, her declaration of their intrinsic human value, worthy of the food offered by Christ, that changed the situation. She said, “Even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”
She admits their lower status, but proclaims their humanity! Isn’t that exactly what people who are marginalized today are doing? They are declaring their value to a world of privilege and favoritism.
People with physical and emotional disabilities-saying I am worthy of the food offered by Christ.
Immigrants who put food on our table- saying I am worthy of the food offered by Christ.
Gays and lesbians seeking equality- saying I am worthy of the food offered by Christ.
The people devalued and killed because of the color of their skin, saying I am worthy of the food offered by Christ.
The poor and homeless- saying I am worthy of the food offered by Christ.
We will soon partake of the food offered by Christ, the body and blood of Christ shed for every human life. At Christ’s table, may we value everyone as a creation of God, seeing and checking our own privilege while ending our use of favoritism. I pray that like the man Jesus healed, we will hear the word “Ephphatha” our ears will be opened and our tongues released to speak the truth of our faith, the truth of equality and end discrimination. Amen.
