Josephine, Jesus and the Rosa Parks Decision; Sermon on Mark 6 1-13

Rev. George Miller
Feb 9, 2020
Mark 6:1-13

February is Black History Month, a time to lift up and celebrate the many achievements that have been made by our Sisters and Brothers.

Earlier this week, I came across a comment that is so appropriate for this month and today’s reading.

The author, Parker Palmer, discusses the importance of caring for oneself.

He states that we are a gift, and that self-care is not selfishness, but good stewardship.

He states that if we are untrue to who we are, we cause great damage to those around us. But- if we are true to ourselves, we end up planting seeds that create change.

He refers to this as the “Rosa Parks Decision.” Meaning, that on the day Mama Parks decided to stay where she was, she was being true to herself.

According to Parker, she was being bravely authentic, realizing the punishment she could receive was nothing compared to the punishment she was already experiencing in an unjust society.

There’s another element of the “Rosa Parks Decision”- she was just an ordinary person; she was no superwoman.

According to Parker, we tend to make people into otherworldly, untouchable icons because as long as they are on a pedestal, we never have to find our own courage to be challenged in our lives.

But if we see their every-day humanity, then we get to look at our own personhood and realize that we are our greatest gift, that we too have the seeds of change and greatness. (Let Your Light Shine, pp 31-35, 2000)

This notion makes me think of one of my heroes- Josephine Baker.

Born in 1906 St. Louis, Josephine lived at a time of great poverty and race-related violence, a dangerous era for anyone who did not have 100% European blood.

Overcoming numerous obstacles as a father-less black girl, Josephine discovered 2 things- she had a gift for making people laugh and she had a gift for alluring their curiosity.

She used these gifts on stage, at one moment making funny faces, at another time dancing with great sensuality.

Josephine was Beyoncé before there was a Beyoncé; she was Marilyn way before there was a Monroe.

Soon she was in Paris, finding herself beloved and admired as a model, actress, singer, dancer, muse.

She was larger than life, dripping in couture, literally walking a cheetah down the streets of France; one of the richest women who ever lived.

Josephine embraced who she was, becoming an outspoken advocate for equality, diversity, and love, adopting children of all backgrounds, doing her part for WWII.

Then there was the trip she made back to her home country of America.

People couldn’t wait to see her, but- the criticism soon poured in: she’s too odd; her voice is too weak, she’s too uppity.

There was the harsh American reality- Josephine, one of the biggest stars in world could not enter hotels through the front door, but had to walk through the kitchen, even as she dripped with diamonds and couture.

One day she was denied service at a restaurant. As they escorted her out, she confronted a member of the press about the injustice and his in-action.

He in turn publicly attacked her- questioning her talent, her morals.

Heartbroken, Josephine returned to France where she was once again greeted with open arms and restaurants that allowed her to walk in the front door and have a place at the table.

Though her heart was hurt, she did not allow it to squash her spirit. She continued to radiate welcoming love and je ne sais quoi.

One thing Josephine Baker said, that has shaped my entire life, ministry, and sense of stewardship is this- “One is never punished for giving too much.”

Like Rosa, Josephine was not a superwoman, or otherworldly.

She was an ordinary human being with humble beginnings who made the decision to be true to who she was, and therefor planted seeds that are still bearing fruit.

This fits into today’s reading from Mark, a story in which we witness Jesus in his hometown and how he is criticized, shamed, and dismissed.

This isn’t the 1st time this happens either. In ch. 3 his own family tries to constrain him, he’s accused of being demon- possessed, and unclean.

How can this happen? How can those he grew up with, those who knew him all his life shame him, judge him, deny him?

If what Mark states is fact, then we have such an insightful reading, a perspective into the ordinary, human, part of Jesus.

First, where he was raised- Nazareth, a small town, about 500 people.

His town was agricultural, which would explain why he spoke parables about seeds and weeds and wheat.

He’s called a carpenter, which means he’s a blue-collar artisan, working with his hands. He probably made farming tools like yokes and plows.

He had siblings, and since the sisters aren’t named, it could’ve meant they were married, meaning Jesus would have had brothers-in-law and perhaps nieces and nephews.

He’s referred to as “the son of Mary,” which has the hint of insult, a crafty way of saying the “B” word, inferring that he is illegitimate, and his mother has loose morals.

Perhaps most informative of all, verse 3 tell us the townsfolk took offense at him. However, there is another translation of this verse, found in the New American Bible-

The town-folk “found him too much for them.”

Meaning that Jesus was too much to take, too in your face, too loud, too obnoxious, too full of himself, too flamboyant, too dramatic.

As my friend Tonya would say, Jesus was “extra.”

I wonder if we know anyone here today who can be a bit “extra” or “too much” at times…

No wonder Jesus was not accepted. No wonder they questioned his right to teach and heal. No wonder they weren’t open to his restorative abilities.

They knew him too well. They saw him grow up. They knew what he was like as a kid.

They saw him through his awkward teenage years. They knew he went to trade school instead of Harvard.

So, who is he to teach them about God’s Kingdom and offer them authenticity?

He was not Emmanuel in their eyes.

He was just “Bubba”, the illegitimate child of Mary who made tractor supplies and was too much to take.

So, what do we do with this info?

What do we do knowing that folk like Rosa Parks and Josephine Baker were just ordinary folks?

What do we do with the knowledge of Jesus’ very human side?

That the one we call Emmanuel, God-With-US, who our church is named after, failed the popularity contest from time to time?

That even Jesus couldn’t successfully navigate small-town shenanigans?

That even he was questioned about his work, his wisdom, his right to teach, preach, and heal?

…Maybe, it is because his own family and neighbors tried to constrain him, thought he was demon possessed, and called him unclean,

maybe that is why Jesus was so able and available to-

cast out demons,
free men in chains,
heal women from sickness,
raise children from the dead,
deem people clean,
call the exiled “Daughter”,
sit at table with enemies of the state, prostitutes,
and anyone else who
truly, humbly sought out
to be their authentic
and whole selves.

We spend sooooo much time placing Jesus on a heavenly pedestal that we can often forget the deeply theological claim that he embodied the same flesh we do and he experienced the same societal highs and low that we do.

As today’s reading shows, Jesus had moments of great welcome, and moments of great disregard.

He had moments when he was looked up to, and moments when he was looked down upon.

He had moments when people couldn’t get enough of him, and moments when people wanted absolutely nothing to do with him.

The fact that Jesus stuck it out, the fact that he continued to be true to himself,

the fact that he still continued to teach and preach and heal…

…The fact that he was even willing to go to the cross for those who scorned him, betrayed him, belittled him…

It.
Is.
Absolutely.
Amazing.

We claim that Jesus is fully human and fully divine, but let’s be honest-

the notion that the divine would even want to slip into our skin is amazing enough.

But to know that the divine was willing to live as fully human, even if it meant suffering, rejection, and humiliation-

My God…

So, as we continue to celebrate our 30 years of ministry here in our own little small town of Sebring,

located in an agricultural society, anchored by our own lake made up of many, many sides,

may we accept that like Jesus, no matter what others will say or do, if we are authentic and true to ourselves, we are planting seeds that create change.

This is my prayer for us-

Like Josephine, may we embrace generosity, knowing that it will never be the cause of punishment.

Like Rosa, may we sit with the knowledge that ordinary people can do extraordinary things.

Like Parker, may we celebrate that we are a gift, and taking care of ourselves is perhaps the greatest act of stewardship.

In Christ, we are all apostles.

We are all daughters and sons.

We all a thread in the fabric of faith, sent out into the world to make God’s Eternal Kingdom better known

May we trust that we are enough, and the dust that’s on our feet is the dust that can be shaken off.

For that, let us say, “Amen!”