If you were looking for a modern-day John the Baptist, who would be an acceptable candidate?

I’d like to propose

Pussy Riot

Pussy Riot is a feminist punk rock 

and performance art collective from Russia, 

known for their outspoken activism and provocative performances 

that combine music, visual art, and political commentary. 

Founded in 2011 in Moscow, 

the group gained international attention 

for their bold challenges to authority, 

especially the Russian government and its policies under Vladimir Putin,

As well as their critiques of Social and political injustices, including corruption and censorship.

I’d like to read from their song

Punk Prayer (in English Translation).

They received two years in prison after performing this song in a Moscow cathedral. 

The charge was “hooliganism, motivated by religious hatred.” 

The real danger posed by the band, however, 

was its critique of the Russian power structure

Punk Prayer.

Virgin Mary, Mother of God, banish Putin

…, Banish Putin!

Congregations genuflect

Black robes brag, golden epaulettes

Freedom's phantom's gone to heaven

Gay Pride's chained and in detention

The head of the KGB , their chief saint

Leads protesters to prison under escort

Don't upset His Saintship, ladies

Stick to making love and babies

[…]

Crap, crap, this holiness crap!

[Chorus]

Virgin Mary, Mother of God

Become a feminist, we pray thee.

—

This song criticizes the hypocrisy of Russian Orthodox leadership in promoting an uncritical adoration of the strongman president, 

who clamps down on all protest, murders opposition leaders, 

jails sexual minorities. 

The song calls for reform, and for justice. 

It prays that Putin be deposed, 

and that the church recognize the importance and contributions of women beyond motherhood.

While at first glance, 

Pussy Riot seems miles away from John the Baptist,

But perhaps that’s because we’ve domesticated him, 

we’ve made him tame

We think “prepare the way of the Lord”

means the same as “deck the halls with boughs of holly”,

and we forget how radical, revolutionary and threatening 

John the Baptist was to the power structures of his time.

Just like Pussy Riot, he got too outspoken of the political excesses of a corrupt state religion, and he was jailed and ultimately killed.

—

While Pussy Riot has Putin to rail against,

John the Baptiser had his own “big fancy men" to criticize:

Pontius Pilate, the Galilean ruler Herod, 

and high priests Annas and Caiaphas

HE called the religious elites “brood of snakes”.

Following in the line of other Israelite prophets before him, 

Who criticized inequality and injustice,the Word of God came to John in the wilderness, and he wandered in the

(V3) region around Jordan proclaiming:

a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Now this was not the Christian baptism that we know, 

but a precursor.

it was public immersion in water signifying an intention to live a different kind of life.

In other words, people got publicly dunked underwater in the Jordan 

to show that they wanted to change their life, 

to live in a pure and God-pleasing way, 

a way in opposition to the official temple religion in Jerusalem 

that was intertwined with political power and the upper class.

It was a political act of rebellion presenting as a spiritual performance act.

And the words John spoke reminded of Isaiah, who was also a prophet who spoke truth to power many centuries earlier.

(V4)

“Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight

every valley shall be filled and every mountain & hill made low (NRSVUE)

Every ditch will be filled in,Every bump smoothed out, The detours straightened out,All the ruts paved over.” (MSG)

This was radical, inflammatory imagery to be proclaiming.

This was rhetoric that could land you in jail, and get you in trouble with the authorities.

—

To make an extreme point,

One could argue that the message of the Baptist

And even the Gospel of Luke is about 

Smashing the Patriarchy.

In the Gospel of Luke you have Mary, a young brown teenaged girl singing : 

He filled the hungry with good things 

and the rich he sends empty away 

He has brought down the powerful from their thrones 

and lifted up the lowly !

This is a major paradigm shift that is being announced.

Those at the top of the pecking order: 

beware: your time is up!

Those at the bottom will rise up, and tear you down!

This mirrors John the Baptist’s message as well:

That the mountains will be brought low,

So we need to bear fruits worthy of repentance.

As relatively comfortable cathedral Christians,

We need to remind ourselves that the texts of the Bible 

are largely written from the perspective of the underclass, 

of those who are trampled underfoot,

Those who see the world as unjust, unfair and abusive.

That’s why the theme of social justice is so strong throughout the Bible (and in Luke in particular).

Social Justice is about setting things right and redressing injustice.

Such injustice often occurs in three major ways:

Economic injustice: 

where resources are not equally distributed

Socio-cultural injustice, 

where there is a lack of concern and visibility for the other

And political injustice, 

where there is a distinct lack of access to political processes.

By campaigning to set things right in these three areas, people like John the Baptist, Jesus and countless others throughout history have advocated for Social justice,

And remind us that 

Social justice is a precondition for right relations among people.

You can’t gloss over injustice 

and expect everyone to just sit down and get along.

When some groups have so much and hold so much power,

and others have so little,

You need to address areas of equity and inclusion, so that all have an opportunity to participate.

—

Which brings us now to two related themes that resonate today 

with John the Baptist’s inflammatory rhetoric.

The first:

Smash the patriarchy

I first heard the slogan “smash the patriarchy” 

when reading the website of one of our church partners, 

and at first I got quite defensive and dismissive. 

But recently this past week, I’ve warmed up to it

(And I realize the irony as I say this as a man 

standing in a 8 foot tall pulpit)

"Smash the patriarchy" is a feminist slogan and call to action that advocates for an urgent dismantling of societal systems, 

structures, and norms that uphold male dominance 

and perpetuate gender inequality. 

The phrase is often used to express a desire for a society free from sexism, oppression, and discrimination based on gender.

Here, Patriarchy:

Refers to a social system in which men hold primary power in roles of leadership, moral authority, social privilege, and control over property,

A system that often marginalizes women, non-binary people, 

and others who do not conform to traditional gender roles.

The Goals of "Smashing the Patriarchy” are:

Gender Equality: Advocating for equal rights, opportunities, and representation for all genders.

And Challenging Power Structures: 

Addressing systemic inequalities in politics, economics, 

education, and culture that favor men.

Ultimately, "smash the patriarchy" 

is about creating a fair and equitable society where no one is disadvantaged because of their gender.

The second related theme 

Is violence against women.

Which is another facet of “smash the patriarchy” 

And is especially poignant this week with the 35th anniversary of the Polytechnique massacre in Montreal, where a gunman with a vendetta against feminists killed 14 women and injured 14 others.

Making the paths straight must include work to end 

Gender-Based Violence: 

Fighting against sexual harassment, domestic abuse, 

and other forms of violence disproportionately affecting women and marginalized genders.

Right now, The (ELCIC) is joining with people around the world in observing 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence.

Recognizing that such violence is on the rise globally,

That Racialized and Indigenous women are particularly affected by multiple levels of gender-based violence and oppression,

That Women human rights defenders, peacebuilders, community leaders, journalists and politicians are often targeted, attacked and killed for speaking out. 

For more information you can click on our church’s Facebook page link from yesterday.

So along with Mary, John the Baptist and Pussy Riot:

Make the paths straight. 

Prepare God’s Way.

Amen.