Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church.”
NL Daily Devotion for Tuesday, July 13, 2021
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
This hierarchical language is heavily influenced by Greek philosophy. Aristotle’s entire framework was about ranking things—this is over that or under that—which went a long way toward justifying and perpetuating the harmful patriarchy that has characterized the western world. Paul was talking to the Ephesians in language they could understand about who Jesus was and is.
A lot of work is being done to break us out of this hierarchical, patriarchal understanding of who God (and God in Jesus) is. Concepts like the African notion of ubuntu, which roughly means “I am because we are” and feminist and womanist lenses on scripture, for just a couple examples, are opening us to seeing Jesus in a different light.
Don’t get me wrong—God is God, and as a human being, I am clearly not God. God is the knower and be-er and holder of all truth, justice, and beauty, and in all things, I’ll do my darndest to do what God asks. But I also see God and Jesus as a holy collaborator. As present in and through me and others and creation. As wholeness, community, and unity rather than up there somewhere lording it over everyone “under his feet.”
It is freeing to get out from under the Aristotelian notion of ranking and into the all-encompassing, embracing, and affirming love of God.
Where do I see myself in relationship to God? Where do I see God in relationship to me?
![1 Kings 17:1-16 [17-24], God’s Care for the Widow](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56b39b61ab48de92d991a40a/bf37035e-33d5-439f-a0d6-a68b02d0f1bc/24-11-03.jpg)
