Steve Bartman | Wayfarer

[Aaron, the high pries] is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the wilderness in the care of someone appointed for the task.The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a remote place; and the man shall release it in the wilderness.
Leviticus 16:21-22 (NIV)

They are playing baseball in Arizona and Florida. Spring Training is underway and the regular season is right around the corner. Wendy and I have already begun watching some of the Cubs’ spring training games. Hope springs eternal every March for baseball fans.

Several years ago, I was fascinated when ESPN made a documentary about one of the most infamous events in the history of the Cubs and all of sports. With one out in the top of the 8th inning and a 3-0 lead, the 2003 Cubs were just five outs away from punching their ticket to the World Series for the first time since 1945. A fly ball to left field fell right on the edge of the wall and a fan named Steve Bartman reached out to catch it as the Left Fielder, Moises Alou attempted to do the same. The ball was bobbled. Alou was furious. The Cubs fell apart, giving up eight runs. The crowd turned on Bartman. They taunted him, threw beer on him, threatened him, and the police were called to escort him from Wrigley Field. It was one of the most tragic events I’ve ever witnessed.

The ESPN documentary about the incident was entitled Catching Hell and in the documentary they explored the theme of scapegoating in sports. One life-long, loyal fan does what any human being at a baseball game naturally does. I’ve been going to baseball games my entire life and I’ve always dreamed of catching a foul ball. It’s never happened. Bartman does what I would have done, what anyone would have done. But suddenly, the pent up frustrations, anger, and even rage of an entire tribe of fans is channeled into blaming this one innocent member of their own tribe for the perpetual failures of their team. The documentary went into the history of scapegoating, which led them to today’s chapter.

In the sacrificial system that God set up for the ancient Hebrews there were regular offerings for sin that people brought to God’s traveling ten temple. These included “sin” offerings. Yet, once a year, God prescribed a “Day of Atonement.” It was the only time that the high priest (or anyone) entered the “Most Holy Place” in the traveling tent temple where the Ark of the Covenant was placed [cue: Indiana Jones theme]. This was the one major sacrificial offering for the sins of all the Hebrew people and priests. The high priest actually starts with two goats. One will be sacrificed. The other is the scapegoat. The high priest lays his hands on the scapegoat and the sins of the entire nation are transferred to it. That goat is led into the wilderness and released, metaphorically carrying away the sins of the people. (BTW: Have you ever noticed that the symbol of Satanism is the head of a goat?)

Today’s chapter is, once again, key in understanding who Jesus was and what He came to accomplish. Jesus was the ultimate atoning sacrifice bringing grace and forgiveness to all who would believe and receive it. All of sin was placed on Him, God’s own innocent Son. As Paul put it: “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us.”

Nevertheless, we continue to scapegoat individuals in all sorts of situations rather than doing what Jesus called on me to do as His disciple and forgive, as I’ve been forgiven. Jesus even exemplified this while hanging on the cross when He said, “Father, forgive them. They have no idea what they are doing.” The institutional church failed to do this when, once they became the Holy Roman Empire and had all of the worldly power, they decided to make the Jewish people scapegoats for executing Jesus (despite the fact that Jesus made it clear this was the way it was meant to be, and chastised Peter and the boys for trying to stop it or use violence in His defense). The rise of antisemitism and the scapegoating of the Jewish people within the church evolved over time, but it began with the first Christian Emperor, Constantine in the 4th century. If you watch the news, you know it is still happening today.

In the quiet this morning, I’m reminded how relevant Leviticus is today for those who are willing to see it. As a disciple of Jesus, I’m reminded that I am called to follow Jesus’ example and graciously forgive, even when the rest of the crowd is scapegoating and every ounce of me feels like jumping on the toxic gravy-train. I’m also equally reminded that Jesus’ atoning sacrifice means that grace, mercy, and redemption are available to anyone, regardless of their sins – even scapegoats.

In 2016, after winning their first World Series since 1908, the Chicago Cubs owners and organization quietly delivered one of the team’s World Series rings to Steve Bartman.

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“And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.” Luke 1:20 (NIV)

“I don’t know what to with never,” Wendy confessed to me one afternoon.

There are some moments in this life journey that are etched indelibly in my brain’s memory bank, and this is one of them. When the two of us were married Wendy inherited two teenaged daughters. Still, we had always desired to have a child together. After multiple surgeries and what seemed like endless months of fruitless attempts to conceive, Wendy’s admission of fear as we stood silently in our despair on the back porch felt like a giant weight on our souls.

The story of John the Baptist’s parents in today’s chapter holds a special place in my heart. There is so much happening in the subtext of Zechariah’s conversation with the angel Gabriel that is completely lost on any reader who has not walked through the long, depressing, desolate path of infertility.

A few of observations:

I find it ironic that Dr. Luke diagnoses Zech and Liz’s infertility as “Elizabeth was unable to conceive.” Perhaps there’s more to this story than is told. Nevertheless, having walked this journey I know that it’s also possible the low sperm count or poor motility were the culprits of their childlessness. Of course, this medical knowledge was not available in their day, but it makes me sad that Elizabeth got the blame.
I’ve been digging into the theme of exile on this chapter-a-day journey over the past months. The truth is that Elizabeth and her husband were in a personal exile of their own. When you are walking the path of infertility you realize that the vast majority of people don’t understand and it’s usually emotionally painful when they try. Furthermore, you’re not sure you want to talk to those who’ve been through it themselves. Those who walked the path and ultimately conceived are just a depressing reminder that it hasn’t worked for you. Those who never conceived are a reminder that “never” is a possibility which you don’t want to face and don’t know what to do with (a la Wendy’s confession). Infertility can be horrifically isolating for the couple going through it.
When the angel tells Zech “Your prayer has been answered.” My husband’s heart shoots back with a cynical “Which one?” If Zech’s heart was like mine, then there’s a section of it calloused over from month-after-month, year-after-year of fervent, unanswered prayers and wiping away his wife’s river of tears.
When Zech asks Gabriel “How can I be sure of this?” he is, once again, being defensive and protective of the hearts of both his wife and his own. Infertility is a vicious cycle of summoning faith, raising hopes, and having them dashed again and again and again and again. The last thing the elderly husband wants to do is put his wife through it one more time.

It’s easy for the casual reader to point the finger at Zech’s lack of faith. I’m sure many Jesus followers will hear messages this Advent season comparing Mary’s simple acceptance of Gabriel’s message to Zech’s rather obvious doubt. My heart goes out to the dude. He’s been made the Steve Bartman of the Christmas story for two thousand years, but I get where he’s coming from.

In the quiet this morning I find myself contemplating the long-term effects that disappointment and unanswered prayer can have on one’s spirit. As for what to do with “never,” Wendy and I worked through it together with God. We discovered, and continue to discover, deep lessons about joy, grief, faith, perseverance, character, maturity, and hope. At the same time, there is a lingering sadness that rears itself unexpectedly at odd times, which in turn pushes me back to the lessons already learned. I plumb their depths once more.

Still, if Gabriel showed up in my office this morning and told me Wendy was going to have a baby, I totally believe that the subtext of my reaction would land somewhere between sarcastic and cynical.

Zechariah would understand.