Links for today’s readings:
Read: Esther 4 Listen: (2:53)
Read: 1 John 1 Listen: (1:28)
Scripture Focus: Esther 4.16-17
16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”
17 So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.
Luke 1.38
38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
Reflection: Mourning With Hope — Hope of Advent
By John Tillman
Esther and Mary’s stories are at the center of joyful holidays, but both passed through distress, danger, and mourning.
Mary’s situation may not seem as dangerous as Esther’s, but her life also hung by the thread of a man’s decision to spare her or kill her. Mary’s song of joy expressed a mournful longing for justice. Both women saw life’s danger, wickedness, and unfairness up close. Both surrendered their lives to God’s providence and took action.
Mordecai and Esther found themselves in privileged positions with reasons to celebrate. When Esther heard Mordecai was mourning, she was distressed. She tried to encourage Mordecai by sending clothing and an attendant but he rejected her gifts. Esther didn’t understand Mordecai’s mourning because she didn’t understand the depth of the problem. Once Esther understood Mordecai’s mourning, she joined him in fasting and prayer. She followed that with action.
Mordecai refusing to bow to Haman is inspiring. We recognize standing up for one’s beliefs and refusing to give undue honor to a human as a righteous act of resistance. (Although many of us give undue honor to humans.)
But, like Esther, Mordecai’s mourning distresses us. Many today scorn public mourning as weakness. Even if we don’t scorn mourning, we want Mordecai to move on. Do something. But he is doing something. There is a time to “move on,” but there is also a time to mourn. Mordecai’s mourning is as righteous an act as his refusal to bow.
In a wicked world, mourning declares that we hunger and thirst for righteousness. In a violent world, mourning declares our longing for peace. In a darkening world, mourning declares we are children of light. Even in seemingly hopeless situations, we do not mourn hopelessly as the world does. We mourn with hope. Surrendering to emotion leads to spiraling. Surrender instead to hope in God.
Even in a celebratory season, we may find evil to resist or to mourn. These are righteous acts. Perhaps you have come to your position for such a time as this. Perhaps you, like Esther, can take action despite the risks. Perhaps you, like Mary, can sing of hope in a hopeless land.
Might your own mourning with hope declare to others that light, peace, love, joy, and righteousness are on the horizon?
Might the mourning of others call your attention to something you don’t understand? How might you be stirred to action?
Divine Hours Prayer: The Morning Psalm
Lord, how many adversaries I have! How many there are who rise up against me!
How many there are who say of me, “There is no help for him in his God.”
But you, O Lord, are a shield about me; you are my glory, the one who lifts up my head.
I call aloud upon the Lord, and he answers me from his holy hill;
I lie down and go to sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. — Psalm 3.1-5
– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.
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