Texts: Esther 7:1-6, 9-10, 9:20-22; Mark 9:38-50

There are many stories in the Hebrew Bible about heroes who save God’s people from dire threats. The Book of Judges, in particular, consists of a series of such accounts, the best-known perhaps being the life of Samson. When we think of God’s heroes and how they acted, most of us would probably have a sense that they were filled with the Spirit, seeking divine guidance and assistance through prayer and sacrifice.

We heard a bit of another hero-story today, from Esther, who saved the Jewish people in exile in Persia from destruction. Even though it is almost certainly not historical, this event is commemorated to this day in the Jewish feast of Purim.

Esther is quite unlike other Biblical heroes. She does not behave like Joshua or Samson, calling on the name of the Lord for assistance. The closest she comes to religious practice is commanding the people to fast. There are no prayers in the book, and God is never mentioned. Esther accomplishes her purposes through very worldly means, using her beauty and political smarts to appeal to the King’s self-interest.

However, if Esther is so "secular" in her methods, how can the people of God celebrate her actions? It seems a bit like adding Bill Gates to our list of contemporary saints, because of the amount of money he has given to good causes. Should we not reserve our commemorations and feasts for those people who are clearly inspired by God, and who at least appear to conform to some standard of piety?

There’s a clue to this question in today’s Gospel reading, when the disciples are outraged at finding a person from outside their group driving out demons in Jesus’ name. "Jesus, tell him to stop!"

Part of Jesus’ reply is almost startling:

The test of what he is doing is in the doing and the results, not in which group he owes allegiance.

The test of discipleship, and of being one of God’s heroes, is in the work that is actually done.

Esther saved God’s people by means that we may find less than purely religious. The purist and the exclusivist find this worrisome, and want to deny Esther her place of honour. But others say, "Look what she did. Surely her results are worthy of celebration."

The Jews of today really celebrate the story: Purim is perhaps the most joyous feast in their calendar, with singing and dancing, and a lot of drinking. It seems to me that Christians can still learn much from our Jewish brothers and sisters about how to enter into a spirit of celebration.

I sometime look at "celebrations" here and elsewhere and see a lot of glum faces, when what we are celebrating Sunday by Sunday is not just a semi-historical victory somewhere in the distant past, but the ongoing victory of Christ for us and for all humanity. "Hosanna in the highest!" is an exultant, joyous cry of praise for the God who continues to save his people.

Christians in general and Anglicans in particular can get very worked up about liturgical forms and church order and "how we do things." It seems to me that the lesson from both Esther and Mark is that God will do God’s work in the way that God will do it—very often without regard to our carefully constructed systems and categories.

I submit that it is not for us to complain that "he was not following us," but to honour and celebrate those who do holy work in whatever way God leads them to do it. If others are doing the work that we should be doing, give thanks to God. Do not try to stop them, but encourage them in the name of Christ.

Jesus tells us that the work of the Church—God’s people, Jesus’ disciples—is done wherever someone brings a cup of cold water to one of God’s "little ones." This does not refer to children, but to those who are the most vulnerable in this life—the weak and marginalized. And let us not trivialize the cup of cold water, which was not a readily available commodity in Palestine, but which required a trip to the communal well.

I am reminded of words from a little-used hymn from our previous hymnbook, not included in Common Praise:

Let us look around us, beyond our own fellowship, beyond our own Communion, and see God at work in the world through people of many persuasions.

Let us truly celebrate God’s work in our own midst, giving thanks for the many ministries of care and prayer. And let us also cooperate with God wherever else God is at work, healing the ills of this broken world, saving God’s people, and bringing a cup of cold water to the least among us.

God is at work in the world.

Hosanna in the highest!

(1) see http://onefamilyoutreach.com/bible/Mark/mk_09_38-50.html
(2) Carol Rose Iekeler. The Hymn Book (1971) #148, v. 2