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http://www.sycharlutheran.org/sermons/hatfields-and-mccoys
Hatfields and McCoys
2/19/2017
0 COMMENTS
First Lesson: Leviticus 19: 1-2, 9-18
Responsive Reading: Psalm 119: 33-40
Second Lesson: 1 Corinthians 3: 10-11, 16-23
Gospel Lesson: Matthew 5: 38-48
Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
The Hatfields were an upper-class Confederate family from West Virginia. The Hatfields made their money in timber. The McCoys were a lower class Union family from Kentucky[1]. The McCoys took to distributing moonshine. The origins of the feud begin with a murder of a McCoy by a Hatfield relative in the waning days of the civil war. The feud though would not get hot though until the year 1878.
Floyd Hatfield had a pig. Living on the other side of the Tug River from the Hatfields was the McCoys. The McCoys also owned hogs. One day Randolph McCoy saw Floyd Hatfield’s hog and noticed something funny. Floyd’s hog had his ears notched just like the McCoys would do to their pigs. Floyd Hatfield was immediately branded to be a pig thief by the McCoys. The case eventually ends up in court. The judge for the McCoys court case was the Honorable Anderson Hatfield. The McCoys lose the case on the testimony of one witness (Bill Stanton) who is a friend of the Hatfields. The McCoys then kill Stanton.
Around this time one of the Hatfield children (Johnson) impregnated one of the McCoy children (Rosanna). The McCoys don’t like this, so they set up Johnson Hatfield to be arrested for bootlegging. Pretty soon blood is flying on all sides. Cabins were burned down. Over a dozen lives were taken from these families. One small family feud gets so heated that the Governors of Kentucky and West Virgina eventually get involved in its mediation[2]. A court case involving the families eventually makes its way to the United States Supreme Court. The powder keg for all this bloodshed was a hog.
Now, this all seems a little extreme for a hog. But what if there was something else involved. You see as Malcolm Gladwell writes about in his book Outliers, The Hatfields and McCoys were merely one of several famous family feuds that took place in Appalachia in these years[3]. What made Appalachia unique was the origins of its settlers. Primarily Scottish and Irish herders. Herdsmen have to possess a different mindset than farmers. Whereas farmers are dependent on cooperating with their neighbors, herdsmen have to be on guard at all times against their livelihood being stolen. Herdsmen almost by nature need to be aggressive in defending their turf. The history of Herdsmen is why the Hatfields and McCoys explode over a pig.
Now Jesus understood the herder's mentality. Jesus audience for the Sermon on the Mount knew the mentality of shepherds. The following history is why Jesus invokes them during his ministry proclaiming himself to be the Good Shepherd. Now in our Gospel lesson for Today: Jesus needs to speak to the shepherd’s mindset.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. “-Matthew 5:38-39.
I came across an interesting psychology article this week entitled “Enemies enhance the meaning of life[4].”
The point of the article is nothing unites a group of people like having a common enemy. You might have nothing in common with a person until you both find out that you cheer against the Green Bay Packers. Enemies enhancing the meaning of our lives explains why people unfriend people on Facebook for having a different political viewpoint. Enemies bring stability to our life. If we lose our job, then blame the President. If the Vikings lose, then the Refs must be for the Packers. If we lose a relationship, we call the other person every name in the book. The article explained people often see the world as safer if they have a group of a bogeyman on which to pin its failings.
Hatfields and McCoys
2/19/2017
0 COMMENTS
First Lesson: Leviticus 19: 1-2, 9-18
Responsive Reading: Psalm 119: 33-40
Second Lesson: 1 Corinthians 3: 10-11, 16-23
Gospel Lesson: Matthew 5: 38-48
Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
The Hatfields were an upper-class Confederate family from West Virginia. The Hatfields made their money in timber. The McCoys were a lower class Union family from Kentucky[1]. The McCoys took to distributing moonshine. The origins of the feud begin with a murder of a McCoy by a Hatfield relative in the waning days of the civil war. The feud though would not get hot though until the year 1878.
Floyd Hatfield had a pig. Living on the other side of the Tug River from the Hatfields was the McCoys. The McCoys also owned hogs. One day Randolph McCoy saw Floyd Hatfield’s hog and noticed something funny. Floyd’s hog had his ears notched just like the McCoys would do to their pigs. Floyd Hatfield was immediately branded to be a pig thief by the McCoys. The case eventually ends up in court. The judge for the McCoys court case was the Honorable Anderson Hatfield. The McCoys lose the case on the testimony of one witness (Bill Stanton) who is a friend of the Hatfields. The McCoys then kill Stanton.
Around this time one of the Hatfield children (Johnson) impregnated one of the McCoy children (Rosanna). The McCoys don’t like this, so they set up Johnson Hatfield to be arrested for bootlegging. Pretty soon blood is flying on all sides. Cabins were burned down. Over a dozen lives were taken from these families. One small family feud gets so heated that the Governors of Kentucky and West Virgina eventually get involved in its mediation[2]. A court case involving the families eventually makes its way to the United States Supreme Court. The powder keg for all this bloodshed was a hog.
Now, this all seems a little extreme for a hog. But what if there was something else involved. You see as Malcolm Gladwell writes about in his book Outliers, The Hatfields and McCoys were merely one of several famous family feuds that took place in Appalachia in these years[3]. What made Appalachia unique was the origins of its settlers. Primarily Scottish and Irish herders. Herdsmen have to possess a different mindset than farmers. Whereas farmers are dependent on cooperating with their neighbors, herdsmen have to be on guard at all times against their livelihood being stolen. Herdsmen almost by nature need to be aggressive in defending their turf. The history of Herdsmen is why the Hatfields and McCoys explode over a pig.
Now Jesus understood the herder's mentality. Jesus audience for the Sermon on the Mount knew the mentality of shepherds. The following history is why Jesus invokes them during his ministry proclaiming himself to be the Good Shepherd. Now in our Gospel lesson for Today: Jesus needs to speak to the shepherd’s mindset.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. “-Matthew 5:38-39.
I came across an interesting psychology article this week entitled “Enemies enhance the meaning of life[4].”
The point of the article is nothing unites a group of people like having a common enemy. You might have nothing in common with a person until you both find out that you cheer against the Green Bay Packers. Enemies enhancing the meaning of our lives explains why people unfriend people on Facebook for having a different political viewpoint. Enemies bring stability to our life. If we lose our job, then blame the President. If the Vikings lose, then the Refs must be for the Packers. If we lose a relationship, we call the other person every name in the book. The article explained people often see the world as safer if they have a group of a bogeyman on which to pin its failings.
