Monday, November 24, 2014

Monday, November 24, 2014

Zechariah 10: 1-12

Monday, November 24, 2014

Zechariah 10: 1-12

“I will signal for them and gather them in, for I have redeemed them, and they shall be as numerous as they were before.”

One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest is Milos Forman’s now-classic 1975 film about life in a state mental institution. Set in the early 1960s, the film features Jack Nicholson as con man R.P. McMurphy who feigns mental illness to avoid a prison sentence. 

            During his evaluation period, McMurphy befriends the other residents and quickly learns that many of them stay in the hospital voluntarily because the severe Ward Nurse Ratched holds an immense power over the men. She plays on their vulnerabilities to convince them they are not good enough to survive without the institution. Nicholson’s character tries to undermine Nurse Ratched, and to give power to the men, helping them to believe that they can function on the outside world.

            In particular, McMurphy tries to convince Chief, a Native American resident to escape the institution. At first, Chief refuses the challenge. He admits his fear and claims he is not a “big man.” Despite being six-feet-seven-inches tall, Chief is “small” because society has broken him down. Through McMurphy’s friendship and example, Chief regains his identity and his courage, and eventually flees the institution.

            Today’s reading from Zechariah mirrors the dynamic of Forman’s film. Scholars agree that chapters 1 – 8 encouraged the Judahites returning from their own institutional exile in Babylon, while the writer of Second Zechariah (chapters 9-14) records a time much later. Despite the end of both the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities long before, Second Zechariah chapter 10 takes aim at those Israelites living outside the Jewish homeland who voluntarily stay in spiritual captivity. They are deceived by household idols instead of trusting in Yahweh (vs. 1-2), and they suffer because of poor leadership: they “lack a shepherd” (vs. 2-3).

            Despite their spiritual bondage, Yahweh remains compassionate to the flock (v. 6), and promises to release them from captivity and bring them home: “I will signal for them and gather them in, for I have redeemed them, and they shall be as numerous as they were before.” In images reminiscent of the Exodus from Egypt (vs. 9-11), Yahweh promises to bring them through the “sea of distress” and to “make them strong” (vs. 11-12).

            Zechariah was beloved of the early Christians, and the Gospel writers quote the prophet often. Like Yahweh, Jesus is the good shepherd who cares for his sheep. He is the liberator who awakens his people to their self-imposed captivity and sets them free. He is the one who gives power to his followers to reclaim their status as the beloved children of God.

            Don’t mistake me. I don’t exactly see Nicholson’s character in Cuckoo’s Nest as a Christ-figure. The differences between them are too strong to make that comparison. I am also making no blanket statements about mental health or institutions. Instead, I see the film and the prophet Zechariah raising profound questions about unhealthy individual and corporate mindsets. Are we aware of the Nurse Ratched-like voices in our heads that convince us we are not loved, that we are not good enough? The mad rush of Black Friday and Christmas shopping is surely one concrete example of the captivating influence of consumerism that challenge our sense of self-worth.

            Unlike the Israelites in Zechariah’s day, are we aware that our spiritual exile is over? Through his reconciling work, Christ has removed the barriers separating us from our true selves, from our neighbors, and from God. The doors of our prison cells stand open.

            In this year of renewal, what are all the ways we, as individuals and as a church voluntarily remain captive to the allure of false messages within us and to the power of false messengers over us?

- David Shumaker