December 4, 2022 - Second Sunday of Advent - To Speak or Not To Speak
Esther 4:1-17
Deborah Laforet
To Speak or Not to Speak
Let us pray. May the words from my lips and the meditations of my heart be guided by your Spirit and be words of wisdom for this day. Amen.
To speak or not to speak. That is my question. As many of you know, I am an introvert. I grew up painfully shy. I found it very difficult to make friends. I wouldn’t stand up for myself when I was teased. I had no boyfriends until I was in university. I was a bookworm. I preferred to be home reading a good book rather than trying to be social and friendly with people. To this day, I still struggle.
So when people talk about standing up to bullies, speaking up when someone says something racist or homophobic, or encourages joining protests or calling the local MP to discuss issues, I physically shrink. Just thinking about doing these things gives me anxiety.
And yet, I have learned the importance of speaking up. I really have to build up my courage and it has to be done in a way that is comfortable for me, but there are times when I know it’s important for me to say something. I’ve learned to do this through practice. Having children helped, as I was a vocal advocate for them, and in my training as a minister, I have learned about justice, oppression, and vulnerability, and that there are times when one has to use their voice to advocate, show compassion, and raise awareness.
I really feel for Esther in our story as all the responsibility for saving the Jewish people seems to fall on her shoulders. All she has to do is show up and speak up. For me, even that would be difficult, but for Esther, there are other challenges.
I don’t know how many of you know the story of Esther. It’s a fairly short story in our bibleand is a part of the Hebrew Scriptures. Jewish groups today have a holiday celebrating this story called Purim, and on this day, they re-enact the story in costume.
At the beginning of the story, set in Persia, we learn of King Ahasuerus and his queen, Vashti. The king had thrown a seven day party, with free and abundant drinks, and a decree that people could do whatever they like. I can only imagine the chaos and mayhem this created. On the seventh day, the final day, the king sent for Queen Vashti, in order to show off her beauty, his prize, to his kingdom. Vashti refused. This might be the first instance of open disobedience of a wife to her husband in biblical history.
The king, of course, became very angry and consulted his advisors on what to do. They told him that Vashti was setting a dangerous precedent and that other women throughout the kingdom might try to do the same with their husbands. They suggested that the king never allow Vashti in his presence again and that he find someone else to fill the role of queen. So he did.
This is when Esther enters the story. The king goes looking for a young, beautiful woman to fill the role of queen, and all young women in the land are required to be presented to the king. The young women had no choice in the matter, and when the king chose Esther, she also had no choice but to accept. So this is Esther’s new reality, living in a palace as a queen, which sounds like a wonderful thing, but also living with this all-powerful king, who has already set aside one queen because she would not obey a simple command.
Now we have an incident that will force Esther to defy one of the king’s commands. As Elizabeth explained, Mordecai, who is Esther’s cousin and who has supported and cared for Esther, has offended the king’s right hand man, Haman. Haman is not as powerful as the king, but close. In fact, the king had commanded that people also bow down to Haman. Mordecai, though, refused, saying that, as a Jew, he only bows to his God. Haman was furious, and as a powerful advisor to the king, instead of just punishing Mordecai, he convinces the king that the Jewish people in his kingdom do not obey the king’s law and should all be destroyed.
Now it’s up to Esther, who, as queen, is in a position to possibly change the king’s mind. Mordecai tells Esther that she needs to talk to the king and save her people from destruction. , Understandably, Esther is afraid. In response to Mordecai’s plea, she says, ““All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that, if any [person] goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law: to be put to death.” (4:11)
Esther has not been called to the king in 30 days and has no idea when she will be called. What does she do? If she enters the court without being called by the king, she could be put to death. If she tells the king that she is Jewish, she might also be put to death. If she advises the king to go against his own command, suggested by his own right hand man, the king might treat her like he had treated Vashti. But if she does nothing, a whole nation of people will die. Esther says to Mordecai, “Go, gather all the Jews to be found…, and hold a fast on my behalf, and neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will also fast as you do. After that I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.” (4:16)
To speak or not to speak. Spoiler alert: Esther does find a way to speak to the king and undermine Haman, and save the Jewish people, but I’ll leave it up to you to find out how. Esther does it in her own way, using her intelligence and wit, her own skills and gifts, which is all any of us can do.
Mordecai said to Esther that maybe she had risen to this high position for such a time as this. When is it your turn? Is it time for you to speak up, to use your gifts and skills to make a difference in the world? Not all of us will have to risk our lives as Esther did, but some of us may risk the security of our job and home, my experience harassment, even by the government or police, risk harm to our bodies, and the risk of the loss of friendships or family. Sometimes when we stand up for something that the rest of society has accepted, denied, or ignored, we get blamed. We get silenced. We get ridiculed or put in danger. To speak or not to speak.
Today we lit the candle of peace. Some think that peace is the absence of war or is about tranquility, but peace is so much more. In fact, the Jewish word, shalom, which is often interpreted as peace, has a much more comprehensive meaning. It’s about harmony, safety, well-being, and wholeness, and unfortunately, sometimes people have to fight for these things.
But we all have to do it in our own way. Which is good, because people need to hear the messages in different ways. If you are a gifted writer, you might want to write letters to the newspaper, MP, the premiere’s office, or you might write a blog or a book. If you are a gifted at bringing people together, you might organize a rally or protest. You might be better suited to be in the background, making phone calls, sending out letters, making posters. You might be the idea person who is great at visioning and wondering. Or you might be a talented speaker, who can stand up in front of people, say what’s on your mind, with ease.
To speak or not to speak. We are all able, in our own unique ways. The question becomes whether we do or not. It can be risky. It takes time and energy. Sometimes it means opening up our minds to new thoughts and ideas. As followers of Jesus who spent three years of his life talking with people about God, justice, and shalom, who encouraged others to follow him, who offered healing and compassion, who spoke up against the authority, and who sacrificed his life to make this a better world, how then do we live?
There are no easy answers. And it tends to be especially difficult for people who live in privilege and comfort, to risk that privilege and comfort.
To speak or not to speak. Esther chose to speak and she saved her people. Who will we save by speaking up? In what way can we make this a more peaceful world, a shalom-filled world? Are we willing to take the risk that comes with speaking up, being an advocate and an ally, supporting those of use who need our strength and courage?
To speak or not to speak. May God be your guide and your strength in this world of need. May the life and death of Jesus be the example you need, and may the Spirit be your companion on this journey. Whatever we decide, we are not alone. Thanks be to God. Amen.