One of the stories in the lectionary readings today is the
tale of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. As I read the passage it gripped me.
Not so much the story and the detail but the opening sentence, actually in the
reading not even a full sentence but a phrase. I just kept mulling it over and
over.
“the road that goes from Jerusalem to Gaza (this is a
wilderness road).”
It was on this road, a road linking Jerusalem and Gaza that
Philip, a Jew, met a eunuch from Africa. Wow, myriads of thoughts went through
my mind. I went to sleep thinking about this phrase and woke up thinking of
this phrase.
There is so much contained therein. My thoughts were of
unrest, fighting, killing, race, religion and sexuality. The events in Middle East and Baltimore with
the accounts and photos coming from those areas also figured. I will leave you
to pause and consider all these different strands as there are too many events and
they are too overwhelming to be considered in this one short blog.
In the last blog I wrote I talked of how patriarchy is alive
and well. Today, I want to expand that thought. I actually prefer the term
coined by Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza in 1992 (But She Said: Feminist Practices of Biblical Interpretation),
Kyriarchy. Patriarchy is just a small
part of Kyriarchy. This word is derived
from the Greek , kyrios (Lord) and archo (rule). Fiorenza used it to
describe any system of domination and submission. It encompasses racism,
sexism, homophobia, economic injustice and any other oppressive system.
It was to kyriarchy my mind went as I read the phrase in
today’s reading. There are underlying references to race, sexuality, religion
and economic systems. Today, I just want to consider one strand.
The story of the eunuch is an interesting one. He was from the court of Queen Candace in
Ethiopia. We are told he was returning home from Jerusalem where he had been to
worship, but we are not told which of the many religions he was part of. Obviously,
he had some interest in Judaism, as he was reading but not understanding the
Jewish scriptures. The story continues that the “Holy Spirit sent Philip to
join him”. I think that is also important to remember. This was a God-ordained
meeting.
Eunuchs were
considered outcasts in the law (Deut. 23:1).
Although, it should be noted that attempts at integration, with
conditions, were mentioned in the book of Isaiah (56). The eunuch was reading the book of Isaiah.
Sadly, like many other marginalized characters in the bible the eunuch remains
unnamed. But, I think, here, in this story, is the seed of something happening
which will take centuries to come to fruition. Jack Rogers says,
“Over the years, “ Black theology” has brought profound new
insights about race to our understanding of the biblical texts. “Feminist
theology” opened our eyes to the prominent role of women in the Bible.
“Liberation theology” focused our attention and on the Bible’s liberating
gospel for the poor and oppressed. Today, “Queer theology” is illuminating our
understanding of the role of sexual minorities in the biblical text. In each
case the theological insights of formally marginalize groups have enriched the
whole church’s understanding of Scripture … Once we remove heterosexist
assumptions from our reading of the biblical text a whole new world of depth
and meaning emerges.” (Jesus, The Bible,
and Homosexuality, 136)
The story of the eunuch continues with Philip explaining the
scriptures, and the eunuch ultimately asking if anything “prevents” him being
baptized. Philip saw nothing to prevent him, neither his race, nor his
sexuality were a barrier.
John J. McNeill comments, “I like to think of this eunuch as
the first baptized gay Christian” (Freedom,
Glorious Freedom, 186)
Of course, this Bible story is not just about a person being
converted to Christianity. It is about so much more. It is about God-ordained
radical inclusiveness, where nothing prevents a person entering into God’s
realm.
A final word from Jack Rogers,
The fact that the first Gentile convert to Christianity is
from a sexual minority and a different race, ethnicity and nationality together
form a clarion call for inclusiveness radical grace and Christian welcome to
all. (Jesus, The Bible, and Homosexuality,
135.)
