The story of Esther shows her to be a significant influencer in Biblical times. Today's influencers on social media are often setting fashion and lifestyle trends, but Esther influenced her Uncle Mordecai to act, the conniving Haman to fail in his plot and King Xerxes to free her people. The poignant phrase that we read in Esther 4:14 says, "who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
We are in tumultuous times, suffering through a pandemic that has taken lives, jobs and food security. The recent insurrection into our Nation's Capitol and threatened violence at Wednesday's inauguration are compelling the call up of many protective personnel. Too many deaths of brown and black people at the hands of police have come to light demonstrating the horrific cost of ongoing racism in America.
Who knows but that WE, like Esther are positioned "for such a time as this!" In her textbook, Science
and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy writes, "What I term chemicalization is the upheaval produced when immortal Truth is destroying erroneous mortal belief. Mental chemicalization brings sin and sickness to the surface, forcing impurities to pass away, as is the case with a fermenting fluid." 401:16
Imagine the sins of the world: the illness, the insurrection and the intolerance as liquid in a test tube. Then imagine a second test tube filled with our prayers, our intentions, our good works to change our culture. As we pour all of that good into the test tube of evil, there is an incredible reaction--a chemicalization that fiercely foams and overflows its container. What is happening is that the impurities--the hate--the sin are being forced to the surface, into the light where they cannot survive.
We experience this reaction both in society and within ourselves as we let down our walls and let love in. Do not fear. Know that love wins. In the words of The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who we celebrate next Monday, "Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."
We are in tumultuous times, suffering through a pandemic that has taken lives, jobs and food security. The recent insurrection into our Nation's Capitol and threatened violence at Wednesday's inauguration are compelling the call up of many protective personnel. Too many deaths of brown and black people at the hands of police have come to light demonstrating the horrific cost of ongoing racism in America.
Who knows but that WE, like Esther are positioned "for such a time as this!" In her textbook, Science
and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy writes, "What I term chemicalization is the upheaval produced when immortal Truth is destroying erroneous mortal belief. Mental chemicalization brings sin and sickness to the surface, forcing impurities to pass away, as is the case with a fermenting fluid." 401:16
Imagine the sins of the world: the illness, the insurrection and the intolerance as liquid in a test tube. Then imagine a second test tube filled with our prayers, our intentions, our good works to change our culture. As we pour all of that good into the test tube of evil, there is an incredible reaction--a chemicalization that fiercely foams and overflows its container. What is happening is that the impurities--the hate--the sin are being forced to the surface, into the light where they cannot survive.
We experience this reaction both in society and within ourselves as we let down our walls and let love in. Do not fear. Know that love wins. In the words of The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who we celebrate next Monday, "Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."
Wesley United Methodist Church
Concord NH
Join us for worship Sundays at 10:30
on YouTube at this link
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