But one thing that is absolutely undebatable is this: it did not crash in Roswell. Whatever it was, it smacked into the earth in tiny Corona, a good 70 miles from Roswell.
Hunh?
I know. It's confusing. If it didn't happen in Roswell, then why call it the "Roswell Crash"?
We'll come back to this.
Almost everybody knows about David Koresh and the 51-day FBI siege that led to the horrible events at the Branch Davidian Compound in Waco, Texas on April 19, 1993. In fact, people use "Waco" as shorthand for such things, saying something like, "We don't want another Waco."
But, as every local will tell you, the Branch Davidian debacle did not happen in Waco, the leader's name was not David Koresh, and the people in the compound weren't Branch Davidians. *
Hunh?!
In both these cases, the media provided considerable coverage. One key challenge faced by all reporters is how to help the reader/listener/viewer understand where the story is taking place. In 1947, almost no one could have found Corona on a map ... but Roswell was a good sized city, and the closest to the crash site.
Similarly, it was unlikely the average news consumer would be able to picture Elk, a tiny, unincorporated village east of Waco. Easier to just say "Waco."
And that brings me to this week's Lectionary selections: some of them deal with the actual "Branch of David," especially the first two on the list. Scripture is quite clear about the true identity of that person, and it was never David Koresh.
Beware those who claim the mantle of Christ and yet propagate violence. Fact: Jesus ignored the call of those who wanted Him to seize an Earthly crown. He chose, instead, to obey His Heavenly Father.
Whether or not David Koresh truly believed himself to be the second coming of the Messiah, he certainly had convinced his followers of it. And by claiming what can only belong to Jesus, he led most his followers to a horrible end.
What to expect from the true Messiah: "By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." (Luke 1:78 NRSV)
Beware those who sum it all up in a word or two. In reality, shorthand names never sum up the truth. It takes the whole story to have the whole story. Make it your goal to get the truth.
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READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK
Reign of Christ - Proper 29 (34) (November 20, 2016)
http://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/
Luke 1:68-79
Jeremiah 23:1-6
Psalm 46
Colossians 1:11-20
Luke 23:33-43
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Join us at 8:00 on Friday mornings at the "Egg and I" in Waco. We meet for about an hour to chow down on food for the body and food for the soul.
Enjoy the week!
Steve
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* BONUS CONTENT:
The so-called "Davidians" of Waco fame split from the main body of the Seventh Day Adventists Church in the 1930's. The reason: the Davidians believed the return of The Lord was imminent, and that the larger body of Adventists were too worldly. They originally settled to the west of Waco, Texas, where they farmed semi-communally. They were very successful, even during the Great Depression. They produced more than they needed, sold the excess, and increased their acreage; all the while peacefully awaiting the second coming of the Messiah.
It was into this pleasant situation charismatic narcissist Vernon Wayne Howell stepped. He claimed new revelation from God, changed his name to David Koresh, and declared himself to be the Messiah. Koresh led a splinter group to Elk, Texas. There he had his followers abandon the name "Branch Davidian," and instead declared they were to be known as "Students of the Seven Seals." The rest is well known.
[A somewhat different version of this Lectionary reflection appeared in November 2013]
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