More on scandal - which Jesus says must happen. Girard writes: If Satan could indeed cast out Satan, it means that Satan himself and not God would be the policeman who keeps his own disorder in check. This necessarily means that, at some point in the crisis that scandals generate, they must turn, somehow, into a force for order. This idea sounds impossible and even crazy but a careful examination of the various uses of 'scandalon' reveals that it is both possible and true. This goes back to something from last week when Satan was described as one who personifies order and disorder. If Satan is to stay in control (if evil is to continue - if scapegoating and mimetic rivalry is to shape the day) there must be some sort of order that will let this kind of existence continue and thrive. Therefore, war - though it is bad and evil and destructive and no one really wants war - when we end a war it is always with a sense of peace that keeps a new war as an option. For the sake of order, the warring madness/brokenness must be held back for now. But it will be the shape of what is to come. Evil brings about evil by ridding the day of evil only to make room for more and more evil. I thought of the Germans after WWI. The consequences of losing the war meant that the alliance had to put controls/order on the German people. This 'order' was seen as evil to many Germans. It created at peace but it was an order that led to more disorder and the rise of the Third Reich who would throw these evil ones out and in order to create a new 'order' - evil grew all the more. Connection: So we live within a day in which various people or actions are being considered 'evil.' To act against that 'evil' -however it might be defined- there is an attempt to create an order that will stop the perceived evil and disorder. And yet, so often this 'order' is in fact a power that creates enemies,scapegoats and even when the thought that order would bring peace, it brings a culture of separation and suspicion and, eventually, war of some kind. Evil it seems prevails even when we work so hard to create an orderly world. As you walk with us, O God, help us to see how easily we turn to walk another way and disregard the Reign of love and peace that we are to call our home in you alone . Amen. |
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