Pushed Out, Lonely, or Marginalized

Today we’re reading from Leviticus. It’s probably not the most inspirational text you’ve read in a while. But it’s what Donna preached on yesterday. Pay attention to how you’re feeling about the way women are treated in this passage:

The Lord said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites: ‘A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be ceremonially unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during her monthly period. On the eighth day the boy is to be circumcised. Then the woman must wait thirty-three days to be purified from her bleeding. She must not touch anything sacred or go to the sanctuary until the days of her purification are over. If she gives birth to a daughter, for two weeks the woman will be unclean, as during her period. Then she must wait sixty-six days to be purified from her bleeding. - Leviticus 8:1-5

What do we do with portions of scripture like this? Let’s listen in to Wilda Gafney, Old Testament scholar, as she comments on this passage:

“As a womanist reader/hearer, I see deep, ancient sexist beliefs and practices in and behind this text. The belief that women are “less than” men–less competent, less capable, less intelligent, less capable of contributing meaningfully to society, a lesser reflection of the image of God–finds good support in some parts of the Scriptures. This is one such place. I name it and preserve it as Scripture, teaching that all of our human institutions and productions, including and especially religious, are flawed. Sexism is one of those ancient, enduring flaws.” -Wil Gafney in Womanist Midrash

And let’s listen in to Donna as she reflects on it:

I don’t know what Mary’s post partum experience was after birth, but it might have followed the ritual in this passage. I would imagine if she adhered to these postpartum rituals, then it might have been very lonely. The distance and shame of bleeding after giving birth. Did Joseph stay by her side when she bled, how alone was she alone? Did the magi come after that post partum time or during? We see even in scripture how lonely it is for first-time moms and parents. In our modern world, we are just now being honest and open about what it is like.

Spend some time now reflecting on what it means to you and/or to others to be pushed out, lonely, or marginalized. In light of your reflections, what might it look like to embrace the radical welcome of Christ for yourself and others?