Esther 4:1-17, NRSV
Matthew 5:13-16, NRSV
Reflections
Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point, which means at the point of highest reality. A chastity or honesty or mercy which yields to danger will be chaste or honest only on conditions. Pilate was merciful till it became risky.
— “Screwtape,” a senior devil, to his nephew, “Wormwood,”
in The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
- “It reminds us that our engagement with the (U.S.) empire can quickly become a case of the frog in the pot of boiling water. A little support of war, a little indifference about the environment, a little disregard of poverty, a little failure to notice racism or sexism, a little collapse of indignation and hope, a little innocence about class privilege; a little of this and a little of that, and all too soon comes a lethal society.” from Out of Babylon, by Walter Brueggemann
- Courage is needed to save others, the poor, the oppressed
- Esther has the power to save, but there is risk
- We too, like Esther, have great power, also with risk
- Courage is needed to save ourselves
- Esther’s identity was replanted
- Has to be fueled by grace of God
- It’s all gift from God (v14)
- We need the “Great Esther” in Christ Jesus
- Not trying to be Esther ourselves
