“Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town by injustice! – Habakkuk 2:12

Today’s Scripture Reading (March 2, 2017): Habakkuk 2

 

Flavias Phocus Augustus (known simply as Phocas) was the Emperor of the Byzantine Empire from 602 C.E. until 610. C.E. Although very little is known of Phocus before his rise to power; we do know that he took the throne away from his predecessor, Maurice, through inciting the army to rebel against the Emperor. Maurice fled Constantinople, and Phocus was crowned as emperor in his place. Then Phocus captured Maurice, who at this point was not really a political threat to Phocus, and had him and his six sons executed. A story is told of how Phocus made Maurice watch with his own eyes as each one of his sons was killed – and then finally the executioner allowed Maurice to die. This action marked the first violent change in leadership since Constantine took charge of the Empire early in the 4^th century.

In the initial days of his reign, Phocus was well received by the people. He lowered the taxes (which had been high during the reign of Maurice) and even garnered praise from the reigning Pope (Gregory the Great). But there were also rumors of the way that he handled those who dared to oppose him – often dealing with his opposition in a very cruel manner. (Later histories report that he killed thousands in trying to maintain his rule of the Empire, but since no records remain from the time of his reign and those that have survived were written by people who had a desire to blacken Phocus’ name, we are unsure of how many were actually executed by the Emperor.)

But there is no doubt that Phocus’ Empire was an example of one that was built on blood. Even in an Empire that was outwardly built on Christian principles (Phocus was crowned in the church of St. John the Baptist in Constantinople) the word of the prophet Habakkuk was ignored. Phocus had built an empire on the blood of his enemies – and that empire could not stand.

And it didn’t. In 608, a rebellion began in Africa against the reign of the Byzantine Emperor. By 610, the war had been brought to the door of Constantinople. Phocus’ personal guard (including his son-in-law) defected on mass to the rebel Heraclius – and Heraclius entered the city without resistance. And when Phocus was brought into the presence of Heraclius, the new Emperor had one question for the former ruler. It was a simple one – “Is this how you rule, wretch?” We are told that Phocus simply looked up the usurper standing in his place and responded: “Will you do any better?” The answer outraged Heraclius, and he personally executed Phocus on the spot, beheading him with his sword. A reign that had begun in blood ended the same way. And a new Emperor was given a chance to “do better.” 

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Habakkuk 3

Look at the nations and watch— and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. – Habakkuk 1:5

Today’s Scripture Reading (March 1, 2017): Habakkuk 1

Today is Ash Wednesday, or more commonly known as the day after Mardi Gras. Actually, Ash Wednesday was the reason for Mardi Gras. If you are going to spend the next forty days contemplating your mortality and giving up for things for Lent, shouldn’t you party hard and indulge yourself on the day before the self-sacrifice begins. I think originally Mardi Gras was “eat as much chocolate as you can day” – chocolate is one of our standard Lent fasts, which leads chocolatiers to be anti-Christian. But now the party is over (cue the dramatic music); now your fast begins.

So in the midst of your brand new fast, consider answering this question. When you look at your world, what is it that is obvious to you? When you open your eyes, what is it that you see? We have fallen into a trap where we believe that if we see it, it is real. We have believed that eyewitness reports are the most reliable evidence. But they aren’t. Our memory is tricky, and it likes to play games. There has been a movement that has gained popularity in recent years that says that the Bible has a literal obvious truth – one that we don’t have to dig into or chase after. But even Jesus disagreed with that. When he was asked why he taught in parables, his answer was basically that he wanted to frustrate those that didn’t want to work for the truth (see Matthew 13).

Habakkuk has an eyewitness account of his world. And his eyewitness account leads him to ask this question – God, how long. And God’s answer contradicts everything that Habakkuk believes that he sees. God tells him – even if you knew what was happening – you wouldn’t believe it. Habakkuk – I am about to raise up your enemy, and he will sweep the world – and it will be a good thing. Watch, Habakkuk, what I am about to do. Trust me Habakkuk; all this is that you see, is subservient to me.

I have a theory about an alternate explanation of the origin of Halloween (Okay, I know the real reason, Since All Saints Day is on November 1, isn’t there some justice in having an All Devil’s Day the night before – it is the Mardi Gras-Ash Wednesday thing all over again.) But in a world where we sometimes believe that science will allow us to live forever – Halloween makes us confront that we are mortal and one day we will die. Halloween is modern, and a little less scary, replacement of Ash Wednesday. And it is just possible that God has raised up this day that we consider to be an enemy of him, to convince us of a truth that we don’t want to hear.

The truth that God needed Habakkuk to understand was that in prosperity Israel missed what it was that they really needed – him. And for us, until we embrace our own mortality – we forget that our real need is still him. This life is short – but eternity is long.

So, Happy Ash Wednesday! Embrace this day as if it were from God. Just remember that on this day you can’t collect candy unless you pay for it and it is not on your “given up for Lent” list. Remember to consider your own mortality, that fact that you do not want to see. Death is in all of our futures. And just as was true with Habakkuk, our real need is God.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Habakkuk 2