What is our model of interreligious dialogue? What scriptural models could we choose from?
Well, on the one hand we might choose the model of Moses and the Pharaoh. This might be called a kind of fanatical and violent exclusivism. In the encounter of Yahweh and the gods of Egypt, the side that wins is the side that can out-catastrophize the other. And it really is one catastrophe after another, one tragedy after another, isn’t it. In the interreligious encounter between Moses and Pharaoh, competition, power, and spite prevail. Just because it is in scripture doesn’t mean we need to emulate it. So, I hope we can set aside this Exodus model for interreligious dialogue.
Better might be the encounter of the Magi with Mary and Jesus as recounted in the Gospel of Matthew (and in no other Gospel). Here’s the familiar story from Matthew 2:1-3;9-12:
“When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. … After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.” (NAB)
I don’t have lots to say this Christmas Eve. Just this:
I wonder: Are we really searching for one another? Is there a genuinely questing heart in each of us to truly meet the religious other?
As a result of their genuine quest, the Magi do find Mary and Jesus. The interreligious encounter is a genuine exchange between a Jewish mother, her child, and these mysterious visitors of an unknown religion from the East. Mary receives them, and they receive her and her little child. Yes, of course, we hear of the highly symbolic material treasures, which by the way we attend to with laser-focus as an oblique scriptural authorization for our absurd buying habits. But, far more importantly, to my thinking, they exchange the gifts of one another. In the interreligious encounter between the Magi and Mary and her son, reverence, generosity, and gratitude prevail.
This Christmas and in the coming year, how can we do any better than to do homage to one another by this kind of generous offering of ourselves, and grateful reception of each other?
My hope is that we can live out the model of interreligious dialogue taught to us by the Magi and Mary—so that maybe (maybe) the Moseses and Pharaohs of our world will see a new way and cease their competition to endlessly accumulate tragedies. Let’s do homage to one another.
And, let’s become a new creation together.
I love your question Paul, and I think it cuts across ANY type of diversity, even between those who choose the light and those who choose the darkness. Some of the most profound spiritual experiences I have had in my life have been those with the people I love, whose shadow is the antithesis of mine. I am impressed you are going for your doctorate Paul! If I had the time and money I would love to get a doctorate in theology, psychology and philosophy. Good for you!!
There is something so important in what you say: my light can seems like darkness to another, and their light can to me seem like darkness. And if we limit ourselves to including in our lives only those whose light we readily or easily recognize as our own, we run the risk of shortchanging our own experience, and the experience of the other. We might have something to offer them; and they might have something to offer us.
And, thanks, Nancy! I am so lucky to be doing this.
Merry Christmas.
A lovely Christmas message, Paul. I love the idea of becoming a new creation. Blessings.
Thanks James. Merry Christmas.
I have been searching for a link between Christmas and dialogue this year–finding a few, but none quite like yours here. It is beautifully put. I also appreciate that the magi had to “dodge” their own tradition’s authorities to experience this new family without threat to them. Sometimes we, too, must step outside of the structures that would bind us and keep us from authentic curiosity and engagement with one another. Thank you for bringing this to new light!
Jennifer- Thanks for the enlargement of the vision in your recognition of our need to “step outside of the structures that would bind us and keep us from authentic curiosity and engagement with one another.” We impoverish ourselves and we impoverish one another when we give in to those temptations of security and comfort to engage only with those most like us. There are a number of points of dialogical encounter in Christmas: for instance, I’d say that the Incarnation itself is the ultimate encounter of Other with Other. What were some of your other insights? Cheers!