Gathering sermon asks ‘Who are the Esthers of our day?’
By Paula R. Kincaid, The Layman Online, July 20, 2000
LOUISVILLE – “Perhaps You Have Been Chosen For Such A Time As This,” was the message given by Magdalena I. Garcia, a minister from Chicago Presbytery, during Sunday morning’s worship service at the 2000 Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women.
The sermon was based on Esther 4:1-17, where Mordecai sent word to Queen Esther asking for help after King Xerxes ordered the killing of the Jews. Esther was hesitant. By going into the king’s presence without being called she risked death, unless the king extended the gold scepter and spared her life. Esther did approach the king, her life was spared, and so were the lives of the Jews.
“In this book where God is never mentioned by name,” Garcia said, despite her fears and hesitancy, Esther did the will of the Lord and saved the Jews.
Three guidelines
From the story of Esther, Garcia spoke of three guidelines for ministry. The first – actions speak louder than words. Esther planned before she went before the King. She sent word to Mordecai asking for all the Jews in the land to fast for three days, while she and her maids did the same. She also planned how she would ask the King to spare the Jews, preparing banquets before she made her request.
“God is not in the business of hiring sweet-talkers, but calling faithful servants,” said Garcia.
The second guideline is to use the community of faith, “God’s gift to us,” she said.
Garcia said Esther avoided two pitfalls that some women still fall into – the inability to trust their own judgment and the inability to accept the help of others.
Esther made her own plans and then asked all the Jews to fast with her, with no distinctions between social class.
“The community of faith is not a nuisance, but God’s gift to us,” said Garcia.
The third guideline for ministry is that “discipleship requires imagination.” She asked “Why is it that we are so afraid to use imagination? Being imaginative is part of our calling in being God’s co-creators.”
Garcia asked when the women of our time are going to use their power and wealth to help the abandoned children or the people of color.
“Who are the Esthers of our day?” asked Garcia. “I pray that each and everyone of you will join Esther and come forth and declare ‘use me as you see fit.'”