Imago Dei/Pride Sunday

For Such a Time As This

Esther 3:1-11; 4:1-17, Luke 6:35-38

Reading the story of Esther from scripture reminds me of a plot for an opera. It is so dramatic and full of plot twists! In fact, Esther’s Biblical narrative has been turned into operas by two composers.

Let me provide an overview of the plot of Esther’s story, as best I can, and then explain why I chose it to preach upon.

We begin in the late 400s BC. The Persian Empire has conquered all its foes and has a vast kingdom with more than 127 provinces. King Ahasuerus, also known as Xerxes the Great, was the King who ruled Persia from 485 to 465 BC. This kingdom spans approximately 2,400 miles, from Ethiopia to India, and northward past the Black Sea. Many Jewish people are part of the makeup of Persia, as their ancestors were captured a century before during the Babylonian invasion of Judah.

The story begins with Ahasuerus having a party for all his princes, noblemen, and governors. The party lasts for 180 days! It’s good to be the king. Once that ends, the King gives a banquet for all the people of the capital city of Susa, which lasts seven days! It’s terrific to be the king! At the end of the banquet, Ahasuerus, whose heart is “merry with wine” according to scripture (Esther 1:10) to translate to modern ears- has been on a pub crawl for 187 consecutive days- asks his seven eunuch chamberlains to summon queen Vashti to the party, wearing her crown, and according to most Rabbis who have looked at this passage, nothing else. Ahasuerus wants to show her off, and she will have none of it. She tells the eunuchs she will not come, which enrages the king. In examining this section of scripture, American novelist and abolitionist Harriet Beecher Stowe notes, “Vashti’s ‘No’ was the first stand for women’s rights.” Vashti is banished, and a new queen is sought.

Regarding the eunuchs mentioned in this morning’s story, note the key role that eunuchs play throughout, occupying a liminal space between class and gender, which many trans and gender-expansive persons can relate to, particularly in fostering communication between Esther and Mordecai.

Cue the beautiful young virgins of the kingdom, who are gathered as a harem to be prepared to meet the King. Among them is a young, beautiful Jewish girl, Esther, whose name in Hebrew means “Star.” Esther quickly rises to the top and becomes the King’s favorite. But there is a catch. Esther is not Persian. She is Jewish and the adopted daughter of Mordecai, who holds a position in the royal court, working closely with the king and the harem. As Esther becomes the King’s focal point, Mordecai warns Esther not to reveal her Jewish identity. She is an outsider in Persian culture, a foreigner, and a member of this peculiar tribe that Persians tolerate unevenly.

When Esther is brought to the King, he falls instantly in love with her, and she is made Queen.

Then, the king promotes his favorite prince, Haman, to be the prince of all princes. All the other princes and the entire kingly court are then made to bow before Haman, and all follow suit, except…Mordecai, who will only bow to God. Haman is offended and devises a dastardly plot to exact his revenge. Since Haman is the king’s favorite, he has his ear. Haman mentions a people within the kingdom with unusual customs, who are distinct and do not adhere to the laws of Persia. He doesn’t name them, but tells Ahasuerus that he will give a ridiculous sum of almost 30 years’ worth of wages to the king’s coffers if he lets Haman rid the kingdom of “these people”. Ahasuerus, seeing 10,000 talents in his eyes, agrees.

Haman gets the King’s ring to seal the deal on an edict, calling for all Jews throughout the Persian empire to be exterminated by royal decree. Mordecai learns of this and begins to wail and mourn. Esther finds out about his behavior and sends her eunuch, Hathatch, to his side. Mordecai then tells Hathatch to tell Esther it is time for her to stand for her people and ask the King not to allow their people to be killed. (There are so many places for fantastic operatic solos in this story!)

Initially, Esther is happy with her position as queen of a vast empire. It’s good to be the queen, and she tells Hathatch to tell Mordecai that the king has not summoned her, and that you can’t just go up to the king without being summoned, for in doing so, you can be put to death. So, Esther chills where she is. Mordecai then tells Hathatch (which I imagine is a fun role in those operas, or indeed a role to get your steps in for the day) that if she does not act, she and he will not be safe, and that it is time to stand up for her people, and that, who knows? Perhaps she has come to this moment for such a time as this? Esther is then compelled to risk her life to approach the King, and through many other plot twists and turns (Haman ultimately receives his just deserts), she saves her people. Jewish people celebrate Esther’s brave leadership through the annual celebration of Purim, a time to commemorate Esther, exchange gifts with friends, have a festive meal, and provide food to those in need.

Why share this story on ImagoDei/Pride Sunday? Who are the individuals and communities targeted for elimination today? Who are the messengers called to address their cries?

Do those of us who identify as cisgender and straight also identify with our LGBTQIA+ community? Can we see ourselves as connected to this community whose rights and privileges are being withdrawn? Can we see the image of God in all people? Can we, like Esther, risk our Cis gender straight positions of power and speak up?

Perhaps, we like Esther, are here now for such a time as this:

When More Than 850 anti-LBGTQ bills have been filed So Far in 2025 — the Most in US History. Laws are being considered or voted in in several states calling for a ban on gay marriage, banning any trans people from serving our country in the military, limiting bathroom access, limiting who can have access to legal IDs, limiting who is allowed medical care, and even questioning the legality of one’s identity. In June, the current administration ended a national suicide prevention program for the LGBTQIA+ community, known as the Trevor Project. What we are witnessing now is not a legislative trend — it’s a coordinated nationwide campaign, much like what Haman tried to pull, a threat to take away the rights of a particular group of people.

In light of living at a time such as this, what complicit agreements do we make with popular culture or political power to maintain our own status? What kind of risks are we willing to take on behalf of those vulnerable and threatened? How might God be preparing us to step forward, like Esther, and speak truth to power? Our congregations and denominations need Esthers who will step into the hard places of fear and vitriol to speak words of life and light. Like Mordecai, Esther, Hamatch, and others, we too are part of God’s story, right here and now as it unfolds, called to be the messengers of God’s justice.

And now, I invite you to hear from one of those messengers who speaks truth to power, who risks speaking out regularly despite her position as a member of that oppressed group, and who is my sister in Christ, Joanie, who will preach on forgiveness.