Capitol Riot Epiphany
This week we commemorate Epiphany and the Jan 6th Riot. Ironic juxtaposition, huh?I appreciate theologian Dr. Matt Bolton’s brilliantly understated comments on Matt 2:3: “the civic order of Herod’s Jerusalem was deeply disturbed by Wise Men climbing the Capitol steps to knock on the palace door. Could these astrological immigrants not read the warning? “Auchtung! Any inquiry can be hazardous to your health!” Clearly a case of asking the right questions in the wrong places. What sane ‘local’ would dare stir a seething cauldron of kingly angst, insecurity, and instability? The slightest hint of threat to Herod’s sovereignty and BOOM! The Ruler’s resentment boils over into riot. As KJV put it: “Herod was exceedingly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.” Yes indeed!
Both president and King accomplished their mission— Pot Stirred !
Royalty riles up everything, then retires to the parlor, to pout and observe upheaval in living color. Would this be Herod’s “stop the steal”? Beware unregulated Rulers easily unhinged by hints of any other loyalty — beyond their own Royalty. Neither ruler answers to any earthly power save their own arrogated authority…. which is not proving particularly salvific at the moment. Another Diet Coke, sir?
With good reason, Matthew reports the royal roil in such troublesome terms. No wonder “all Jerusalem was troubled with him!” Savvy citizens had imminent good sense to duck bull-geshickta flying their way. Bolton helps us identify “the violence intrinsic to tyranny.”
Enough with Epiphany already!
When a perturbed tyrant gets disturbed, sane souls suffer a ripple effect. The Wise Men’s words blow the lid off Capitol order. “We have seen his star at its rising.” Psychic shock rips and roars— terror trips up the Capitol steps on NBC, CNN, and Fox.
All the King’s Horses and all the King’s Men… and apoplectic staffers could not restore Humpty Dumpty on Jan 6th. A mysterious malignant lie ripped the fabric of democracy. While Herod’s Jerusalem was hardly democratic, Rome decided to cut their Herod puppet some extra slack. Meanwhile in DC, politicians huddle in a puddle and muddle; fearing life/limb;under desks sequestered in undisclosed locations. All this unholy terror plays out as Royal amusement— jolly good show. Another Diet Coke, sir?
Every sycophant needs tyrants— also vise/versa. It behooves all ‘nobodies’ to just nod and smile; and scram. Epiphany ’21 reveals the wounds of overwhelmed policemen. At long last: an unlikely figure commands the lectern and calls the vote. Our Constitution is adjudicated by the gavel. Grateful for re-Pence-tance. Sycophant saves day. Finally, the exceedingly thin Vice Presidential thread dangling democracy like Damoncles sword over the howling hounds of hell says ‘enough’…. and ALL Jerusalem/Washington with him!
All these ironic juxtapositions lead to an almost unbearable Epiphany. Will Epiphany ’22 come and go and leave us like we are? Will we not raise enough luster to bluster? Seems safer to just “be disturbed” (and dummy up). Dark streets still await Everlasting Light. Years of fears can only be helped by a glimmer of hope’s faint, flickering light. Not much to go on, huh?
Maybe Karl Barth got it right: reading the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other is just about the only way to catch even a little glimpse of Epiphany.