Esther 3: 1 – 6
After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him and set his seat above all the officials who were with him. And all the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate bowed down and did obeisance to Haman; for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai did not bow down or do obeisance. Then the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate said to Mordecai, ‘Why do you disobey the king’s command?’ When they spoke to him day after day and he would not listen to them, they told Haman, in order to see whether Mordecai’s words would avail; for he had told them that he was a Jew. When Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow down or do obeisance to him, Haman was infuriated. But he thought it beneath him to lay hands on Mordecai alone. So, having been told who Mordecai’s people were, Haman plotted to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.
Reflection
Today’s reading continues the build up towards the climax of the book of Esther. Haman decides that because one Jew does not bow down to him, he will destroy all Jews. This sort of conflation and stereotyping is at the root of much fear, aggression and blame casting, which in turn causes a lot of the pain, violence and injustice in our world today. We see it used against Jews, Palestinians, asylum seekers and many other groups.
Yet we all do it, to a greater or lesser extent. It can be difficult not to. However, we are not so happy when we are labelled ourselves, because of others’ behaviour.
Jesus showed us how to treat each person as a unique child of God. When he healed the centurion’s servant, he said that in no one in Israel had he found faith such as that of the centurion. Yet many of his compatriots, with some justification, would have spurned all Roman soldiers.
If we claim to be a child of God, made in God’s image, beloved of God and capable of being forgiven whenever we get things wrong, then we must accept that this is also true for each of those we are disposed to label. Jesus said that we should forgive seventy times seven and that goes for groups of people as well as individuals. After all, Jesus was able to forgive even those who crucified him.
If before we do or say anything regarding any group of people, we remember that each of them is one of those for whom Jesus died, then perhaps we will temper our speech and actions. So let us strive to love each of those made in God’s image, that others might know that we are disciples of Jesus.
Prayer
God of love and compassion,
we rejoice that we are made in your image
and that Jesus showed us your love by dying for each of us.
Help us to remember that each of those we encounter day by day
and all of those we hear, speak and think about far away,
are your children, loved by you,
brothers and sisters, who you have created to be loved by us.
Thanks be to God. Amen.