Slaying Dragons
The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, [and] they said to [Jesus], “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” He straightened up and said to them, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders. – John 8:3-9 excerpted (NRSV)
The tale of St. George is one of those stories that raises questions for me about the whole enterprise of having saints. If you’re unfamiliar with George, legend has it that he was a soldier who triumphed against a dragon that was terrorizing a village.
A town with a dragon guarding its well, so they have to sacrifice their children to have water to drink? A brave young soldier that stands up to stop it? There’s no way it’s true.
Except the ways it is.
The way a broken system feels impossible to change? “Of course we don’t want to sacrifice our children, but how else would we get water?” The way that brokenness becomes its own justification? “How dare you question our way of life; I gave my child so you would have something to drink.”
The way a single person’s refusal to cooperate is sometimes all it takes? “Let anyone among you who is without sin…”
What’s remarkable about this story from John’s Gospel is how little resistance Jesus meets with. How ready everyone is for a new way. The moment he stands up, what had seemed impossible is accomplished.
There’s no way it’s true. But we need stories to tell us it can be. To make us brave. And bold. Because there are dragons everywhere.
Prayer
Make injustice vulnerable again.
About the AuthorVince Amlin is co-pastor of Bethany UCC, Chicago, and co-planter of Gilead Church Chicago, forming now.