A reflection suitable for the Daily Lectionary readings for March 17 Please see the Daily page for tools to help you make daily prayer and scripture part of your rhythm.
(Psalm 146; Isaiah 42:14-21; Colossians 1:9-14)
I’m not going to say anything directly about our readings today but please, if you haven’t already, do read them as they offer a beautiful portrait of God’s Kingdom-on-earth-as-in-heaven painted with love, compassion, God’s glory, and grace.
This piece began as a journal entry this morning as I tried to wrap my head around all of the violence, anger, and hate that is going on in our world. My heart is heavy and sad; I am praying for peace; I am asking God to help me love well so that I can share God’s love with others. It’s part exasperated rant and part prayer. I hope it offers what you need to hear today.
None of it makes sense to me. He started a war without consulting our NATO allies (or congress or the American people for that matter).
Now he wants those same allies to get him out of a jam with the strait of Hormuz.
Most said no. Some said nothing. No one said yes.
He said “I didn’t need you any way. I only asked to see how you’d react.” And then promised he’d announce who is helping soon. He said a former president supports what he’s doing but all 4 of the living former presidents deny this.
And he intentionally caused an energy crisis in Cuba and is saying he’ll “happily” take over there. You can’t be the hero of the crisis you intentionally created so you can play the hero. That’s not how heroism works.
He’s causing an economic crisis not just in the US but worldwide – groceries, utilities, fuel prices are climbing each week and he’s telling us to just hold on while he spends billions not just on the war he started but also on lobster, donuts, and shoes that don’t fit for his inner circle because he believes these particular shoes will make them better people?
This isn’t leadership. It’s a narcissistic act of coercion from a wannabe dictator who’s willing to lie to everyone in an attempt to brainwash others into blind acceptance. True leaders don’t blame others or dodge accountability for their own behavior. True leaders don’t have to demand loyalty with threats of retaliation.
If it makes sense to you, please explain it to me because I can’t make it make sense much less see any good in any of it.
Love as Jesus teaches us in flesh and blood how to love makes sense. If we spend our energy looking for and defining enemies, then eventually every one else is my enemy. If we spend our energy looking out for each other, we all thrive. Why on earth would God come to be with us as one of us in the person of Jesus just so we could get better at eliminating others from our lives? I can’t comprehend how anyone can look at the way our national leaders are convincing us we should hate anyone they hate, making us suspicious and afraid and call it ‘from God’? None of this is what they are claiming to be biblical. Jesus said that the greatest of all God’s commands is to Love God, our neighbors, and ourselves. And then he told us to love our enemies. For those who claim to follow Jesus, we can only seek to love, not hate, not define enemies but define our neighbors as Jesus does. Any other way is not the Way of Jesus.
Love desires the best for all and intentionally works to lift others up so we all thrive. Love doesn’t start wars to look powerful; Love doesn’t boast about the people killed.
Love corrects without condemning because Love build others up, Love never seeks revenge or retaliation. Love is not a bully.
Love doesn’t require conformity but seeks to help everyone be who God created them to be with the wisdom that diversity is beautiful and helps us all reflect the full image of God within.
Love doesn’t control or coerce or plot to inflict intentional harm.
When harm is done unintentionally, Love seeks growth and renewal because Love knows that asking for forgiveness comes with a plan to learn not to do whatever caused the harm again.
If you’ve supported him, if you’ve thought and said he’s a good person, if you’ve lost your way following Jesus because you followed him, reset your compass. Admit you have been wrong. I won’t say ‘told you so’ or condemn you or make fun of you because Love doesn’t do these things. I will see you and hear you and walk with you as together we follow Jesus in the Way of Love.
And if you choose to continue to support him, I will not condemn you, I will not shame you. I still want what’s best for you because that’s what genuine love wants. I will listen if you want to help me understand your side, because that’s what genuine love does.
I will choose love over hate. But I will not stay silent about the harm being done to the world; I will not label harm as God’s work. I will strive to see my enemies as my neighbors and love them all.
Keep lovin’ louder than the hate, Y’all!
Mother Nancy's Coffee Thoughts 