"Malolo"

Last week, when we were in Hawaii, one of my hopes was to spot a whale. So we booked a catamaran for a day of fishing and whale watching. As we left the harbor area and got past the breakers, the water began to turn from a greenish blue, to a beautiful dark almost navy blue. One of the guides looked out and said – "ok, now that we’re into the deeper water, you’ll want to be on the outlook for a variety of fish. One of the things that we are likely to spot is a flying fish…”

And then, as if on cue, one of those very fish leaped out of the water and literally flew several hundred feet before it dove back into the waves.

“Did you see that?” He asked. “The Hawaiians call them ‘malolo’” then he paused and said, “The word means confused.”

Flying fish, confused? Quite possibly an accurate description of how we humans understand the difference between fish and fowl.

It seems the early Hawaiians had an affinity and understanding that was similar to those early Israelites. That is in terms of how animals, fish and birds are supposed to behave and for the Israelites, this is understood in terms of holiness, cleanness is the way to be. Skin irritations, blood not remaining in your body, eating food like shrimp, or pigs, these are ways that defiled yourself and make you unclean.

Why? well, Leviticus says it this way, “You shall not defile yourselves and so become unclean. For I am the Lord your God; sanctify yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy.”

Now let me be clear…Cleanness not should not be confused with what is good and unclean is not an analogy for what is bad. Leviticus is not saying that shrimp are bad, or if you cut yourself and you are bleeding that you are bad. On the contrary, it has more to do with confusion of who we are created to be. Like the flying fish – confused – after all fish swim and birds fly.

So it was for the people of Israel. The laws on diet and sickness reflect Israel’s understanding that all of life is befitting of praising the God who created them. And this God, is a God of order and goodness.

Think back with me for a moment to the first story of creation from Genesis 1. God has given order to the world by establishing plants on the ground, birds in the air, fish swimming in the sea and animals that graze on the plains. All of the forbidden foods in Leviticus fall under failure to keep this established order.

Shrimp live in the water but walk on the bottom of the sea floor, pigs do not graze on the land, osprey’s do not fly in the air. Or for that matter, blood should remain in the body not outside of it, skin should be free of rashes or impairment – for that is how our bodies were created. Inside things should remain inside!

So, taking a closer look we discover that Israel’s outlook on food and the body was not just about nourishment and health but is a reflection of God’s goodness in creation. Looking at the world of Leviticus with our modern eyes, we do, indeed have trouble at times wondering what these archaic and terribly outdated rules have to say to us today.

But, I submit to you that they continue to have much to say that is relevant to our everyday life. Because the essence of Leviticus and the holiness code is about living in a way that reflects who God has created us to be. For the Israelites, the call to holy living was a way to set them apart from the culture around them. Remember, too, that it is in Leviticus that we learn holy living is also about living together – in community.

Caring for the poor, not taking advantage of those who are deaf or blind, administering justice with impartiality. This understanding then is summed up in Leviticus 19 by this simple “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

So, don’t be Malolo, strive for holiness because God is holy and you are created in God’s image.

InJoy,
Suzy