January 9, 2017
Jews Burned Alive in Basel Switzerland
Blamed for the spread of Black Plague
 
On this date, January 9, 1349, 700 Jews are burned alive in the homes in Basel Switzerland.  “These Jews, nearly the entire Jewish population of Basel were massacred by townspeople because they were blamed for the Black Plague.  Ignorant to the causes of the plague, the people and local leaders of modern Switzerland, France and Germany accused Jews of poisoning wells. Most were burnt alive.  There were many factors that converged to turn the Jews into the perfect scapegoat for a plague now believed to have spread from China. Anti-Semitism had been a problem for Jews in Europe long before the plague worsened their fate. In the centuries leading up to the Basel massacre, the Church enforced laws similar to the Nuremberg laws seen over half-a-millennium later. Jews were barred from working as weavers, shoemakers, carpenters, miners and bakers, among other professions. As a result of these racist laws, Jews often worked as money lenders, a practice that lead to public resentment against them and may have contributed to the events of 1349. Another law, passed in 1215 by Pope Innocent III was particularly similar to those passed by Nazi Germany in the 20th century – Jews were required to wear a yellow badge at all times.

Despite the general anti-Semitism present at the time, the massacre in Basel can be more accurately ascribed to specific accusations against the Jews in relation to the plague; it was alleged that Jews were suffering and dying from the Black Plague at a much lower rate than Christians. It is not clear if this was actually true, but there are several theories explaining the apparent phenomenon. One theory suggests that Jews buried their dead much more quickly than Christians and in separate cemeteries, thus making their deaths less visible. Another theory speculates that Passover was responsible for saving a great portion of the Jewish population. According to Dr. Martin Blaser, as reported by The New York Times, the clearing of hametz (leavened bread) from homes ahead of Passover deprived rats of food and shelter, helping to stymie the disease’s spread. He adds that the plague peaked in the spring, around the time that Passover would have fallen.”  (Michael Ober-man, January 14, 2011, The Jerusalem Post)

Our society is often driven by irrational fear.   Even today, many people live a fearful life.  We can certainly understand how fearful people could be during the medieval times, when fear and superstitions were firmly connected.  However, we ponder the reaction of people today – people who are supposed to be enlightened.  When the AIDS/HIV virus first became evident as a problem in this country, I was working with individuals who were dealing with the disease Hemophilia.  These individuals were often especially prone to contracting the virus because of the need to use blood concentrates to supplement the blood factors their bodies could not produce.  The fear that circulated within this community and the regular community often reached hysterical levels – with suggestions to establish “camps” where individuals with HIV/AIDS should be housed – separate from those without the virus.

We can see how fear can drive us to irrational fears – and often those fears will circulate around people who we consider as “other” – “those people” – people we determine, for usually irrational reasons, we determine to be agents of disease, disorder, and general mayhem.  As Christians, I pray we can move beyond our irrational fears to be people driven by love first, and fear last.  That requires us to trust in our faith – trust in the promise of life with G-d beyond these earthly bonds.

Pastor Dave

January 8, 2017
Baptism of Our Lord

“Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:13-17

“Apparently, baptism was always a problem. The first time it was a problem was when Jesus came to be baptized by John. After all, if Jesus was the Messiah, why in the world would he need to be baptized by John? While you can sense that each evangelist struggled with this question, Matthew’s discomfort is perhaps most palpable. He solves his dilemma by two deft additions to the tradition he inherits from Mark:

1. John protests: “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” In his incredulity you sense Matthew’s.
2. Jesus grants the awkwardness of the situation and gives both of them an out by saying a) that this is a temporary condition (“let it be so for now”) and b) that in this way they “fulfill all righteousness.”

But while Matthew and his colleagues solve this initial problem of Jesus being baptized by John, Christians ever since have struggled with a second question: Why is Jesus baptized at all? Given that we typically connect baptism to forgiveness of sin, if Jesus is the sinless Son of God, in what way does he need baptism? Or, more broadly, how does baptism benefit him at all? On this point, all the evangelists agree: Baptism is not a simply a mechanism for forgiveness but rather announces God’s favor and establishes Jesus’ identity. For example, in Matthew’s account the voice from heaven announces that Jesus is God’s Son, the One with whom God is well pleased. Baptism, for Jesus, was less about forgiveness than it was about commissioning, the inauguration of his mission and ministry and assurance of God’s presence.” (David Lose, working preacher website, January 5, 2014)

I know, from my youth, that I was always happy when my parents gave me some affirmation – told me they were pleased with me, pleased with my behavior – certainly I was told too many times to remember when they weren’t pleased with me. I think we all are happy when someone says to us “well done”. But, Jesus gets affirmation from G-d his Father without doing anything – there was nothing that Jesus had done to please G-d. G-d it seems is pleased simply because Jesus has come – come to the Jordan – come to be baptized. He is doing what G-d would want him to do. It is important for us to take note of this for two reasons. First, there is nothing that we can do to earn G-d’s favor – because all righteousness has come through Jesus – he fulfills all righteousness in his baptism. Second, G-d is pleased because in Jesus being baptized, G-d now has turned the world upside down. Everything is turned upside down according to the world’s standards. Jesus, the Savior, is being baptized by John the Baptizer. The superior is being baptized by the inferior. The Son will be a servant. The world’s expectations of a Savior is now redefined – it is not about the powerful defeating the weak – power now is shown as emptying the self – and through it all, G-d is present in and through the ministry and mission of Jesus.

Pastor Dave