January 29: Fourth Sunday of Epiphany

Micah 6:1-8; Psalm 15; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; Matthew 5:1-12

Karl Barth advised preachers to preach with the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other.  That goes for bloggers too, I guess.

Donald Trump, are you listening?

“. . . and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)

“LORD, who may dwell in your tabernacle?  Who may abide upon your holy hill?  Whoever leads a blameless life and does what is right . . . shall never be overthrown” (Psalm 15:1-2, 7)

“God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong . . . so that no one might boast in the presence of God” (1 Cor. 1:27-28).

Got it yet?

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth . . . Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy” (Matthew 5:5, 7).

Parker Palmer says that disillusionment is one of the great accidental sources of contemplative awareness.  When we are disillusioned, we lose our illusions.  We become aware of what is, rather than how we’d like it to be.  It is a painful way to contemplation, but if contemplation is an honest confrontation with reality, disillusionment is essential.

This week we’ve heard that both the Dakota pipeline and the Keystone will be cleared to go forward, devastating the earth and all the inhabitants near these monstrosities.  The wall is being planned.  Refugees are being turned away.  We’ve seen foreign aid cut for family planning and abortion services.  We’ve seen a blank check to ignore the Affordable Care Act, sending millions scrambling to find a way to get what they need to live.  And more is on the way.  We’re used to seeing Washington in bed with Wall Street; now Washington IS Wall Street, blended in a weird way with white supremacists and isolationists of all stripes.

Now, I don’t expect that this will change because of today’s Scriptures.  I don’t believe Donald Trump believes in God, or cares what any god might think.  But I believe, and I care.  I believe that these words are inspired by the Holy Spirit.  The question today is, how will that belief and these words shape my life?  Will I let them take me beyond despair or self-righteous anger to transformation in the midst of this new face of empire?

I need to be meek, and merciful, and pure of heart: more than ever.

I need to believe that our weakness binds us together and makes us a sign of God’s love.

I need to do justice, and love kindness, and walk humbly with God: in marches, in emails and letters, in our neighborhoods, even, God forbid, in our churches or faith communities.

In the depths of Communist rule in Czechoslovakia, Vaclav Havel organized underground theater and writing groups.  Like Nelson Mandela, he went from political prisoner to President.  He doesn't put his trust in God so much as in “man,” but the human spirit he invokes we know as the Holy Spirit dwelling in our hearts.  The path of non-violent resistance and mercy looks like foolishness to many, but it is the power and the wisdom of God.  May you, may I, may we follow that path faithfully today and in the days to come.