Two Wounded Ears

There’s another story about political violence and wounding a right ear.  In this case the victim was Malchas, a servant of the high priest and part of the group coming to arrest Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. According to John’s account, it was Simon Peter who drew a sword that cut off Malchas’ ear.  Peter was a fisherman, not a soldier or a swordsman. It could just as easily have been Malchas’ head. 

Peter and probably some other disciples were in the mood to “Fight, Fight, Fight.” And the arresting group, we’re told, came with swords and clubs, and at night. But Jesus would have none of it, declaring “those who take up the sword will die by the sword.” He refuses to respond in kind, even rebuking those who there to seize him, asking why they are coming armed, at night, when they were with him as he was teaching and debating in the temple.

Jesus knew what was at stake. But he wanted to de-escalate situation, teaching the disciples, and all who followed, that violent confrontation would never be the means for the kingdom which he proclaimed. Jesus’ warning in Matthew 26:52 is one of the reasons cited by the early church fathers for their nonviolence and pacifism. He held raised no triumphant fist but was embodying the love of the suffering servant which would, three days later, reveal the redemptive power of God.  

So, I’ve been thinking about the wounded right ears of Malchas and Donald Trump. An atmosphere of enmity, fear, and confrontation, then and now, is the breeding grounds for political violence. It can spring up from almost anywhere in volatile situations and become easily ignited. In Gethsemane it was from the disciples, responding in defense of their master.  In Butler, Pennsylvania, it was from a young man determined, for whatever reasons, to kill a highly influential leader. What matters, in any situations like these, is the response.

Jesus breaks the deadly cycle of responding in kind to an enemy and accuser. He reverses the pattern of escalating reactivity. He won’t allow his disciples to adopt the tactics of his aggressive, vengeful opponents.

In our political environment today, most of our violence is verbal. And it’s toxic, fearful, terrible, and dehumanizing. We witness how, in terrifying moments, it unleashes physical violence.  But the root is the violent enmity and accusations which now dominate so much of our political discourse. That’s the cycle that must be broken, like Jesus did that night, with a phrase that has echoed through centuries to today. I wouldn’t limit that to taking up physical swords. Violent speech has become, all too often, the weapon of choice for politicians.  

I don’t think the responses thus far to Donald Trump’s wounded right ear are encouraging.  The iconic image of his bloody face and raised fist, saying fight, fight , fight, is becoming the new, ubiquitous T-shirt worn with MAGA pride. Yes, we’ve heard some conciliatory words and warnings, for which I’m grateful.  But it takes so much more to dramatically change our political culture. Tens of millions of dollars sponsoring attack ads by all sides, with consultants crafting sound bytes which wound the opponent, and strategies which purposely evoke fear, distrust, and the desire for retribution—these all fuel the discourse of violence in our political environment, from all and toward all. These are non-partisan sins.

Several years ago, I had the privilege of meeting with President Obama in the Roosevelt Room of the White House with colleagues who were leaders of mainline denominations. It was a time, in his second term, when the toxicity of the political environment was increasing, and troubling. This was a precursor to today’s reality, but was concerning to all of us serving as leaders of religious institutions.

I was asked to read this passage from James to share with President Obama:
For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.  (James 3:16-18)

Those words seem so contrary and out of place in our political and cultural life today.  But I think they reflect the memory and model of how Jesus responded that night in Gethsemane. All who are his disciples today, in whatever place of witness and service, and at any points of partisan political allegiance, should heed and obey this wisdom.