Going High
Isaiah 65:17-25Luke 21:5-19 |
For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating; for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy, and its people as a delight.
I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and delight in my people; no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it, or the cry of distress. No more shall there be in it an infant that lives but a few days, or an old person who does not live out a lifetime; for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth, and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed. They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labor in vain, or bear children for calamity; for they shall be offspring blessed by the Lord— and their descendants as well. Before they call I will answer, while they are yet speaking I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox; but the serpent—its food shall be dust! They shall not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain, says the Lord. When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, “As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.”
They asked him, “Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?” And he said, “Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am the one' and, ‘The time is near!’ Do not go after them. “When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.”Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven. “But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will give you an opportunity to testify. So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls. |
A Post-Presidential Election Meditation and Reflection |
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So here we are not even a week after receiving the surprising results of the presidential election, and as predicted, many people are upset. I'm not sure how many of us pictured what that might look like, or imagined that we might be the ones upset. Some of us expected to be upset but weren't, and some frankly, couldn't have cared less about the outcome. And for sure, many in our community of faith have cried out, acted out, and opted out over the past few days. Grief does that to a person.... and celebration does that to a person.
And whether we are grieving or celebrating this week, everyone can share this truth- we need to figure out, as a community of faith, how to go forward from here, and how to go forward together.
So first, let's talk about the dream. God gave the Prophet Isaiah a vision of the world as it was created to be. A world unlike the one they lived in; where people only cried tears of joy, where all people were healthy, fed, housed, and treated each other with respect and gratitude. In God's dream, even the animals would get along with each other. Arguments, hatred, bullying, racism, homophobia, death threats, killings- none of this exists in God's dream. Only love, and joy, and peace.
I would be hard pressed to find anyone who wouldn't hope this for our planet and its people. For the most part, down deep, we are a people who want love, and peace, and joy. We have many different ideas on how those things could be achieved, and even more definitions of those words themselves; most of them involving a set of ideals, a plan, and unshakable confidence that what we believe is best.
Isaiah's words to us, perhaps sound like more than a dream. Perhaps they sounds like fantasy, this week especially, when we are more divided than ever as a people, and as Christians. But the interesting things is, Isaiah wasn't talking of some day in the future when God's realm will be in control, and God magically takes away all of our pain and fear and heartache. Isaiah tells the people, tells us, this dream becomes a reality as we live the way Jesus teaches us to live- when we begin to live God's way.
Ridiculous, right? Well, let's move on to the New Testament reading, because that sounds a bit more realistic- Luke's prediction of persecution and destruction seems more on topic- besides, I'm feeling terrible after the election this week, so it's easier to affirm what I'm feeling with a scripture.
Except here's the thing about this scripture, in fact, about the whole New Testament- despite what people are facing and what they will face in the future, despite wars and rumors of wars, nation rising against nation, hunger, persecution, prison, torture, families being ripped apart, betrayal by family members and friends, despite all of these things, there is an underlying thread of something remarkable. In the words of Walter Wink,"... despite its sober expose of the Domination System, the New Testament is so free of gloom or quailing before the Powers! From beginning to end, there is only the note of victory – a victory in the unknown and open future, for the whole human race and the universe, and victory even now, in the midst of struggle. There is an absolute and unshakable confidence that the System of Domination has an end. A new world of partnership, of compassion, of human community, of conscious awareness of the limits of power, awaits us. We are to struggle with all our might and courage for its coming, yet we cannot make it come…"
To many people this week, the system of Domination in this country have never seemed so foreboding. The list of "isms" that loom before us is enough to make even the bravest among us long to escape to Isaiah's fantasy. How do we find what the writers of the New Testament had- how do we live in victory amidst a week of defeat- where can we find absolute and unshakable confidence in a better tomorrow? And how on earth do we, as Michelle Obama entreats- "Go High" amidst those who have gotten elected going so low?
First, we meet- and meet- and meet. I know it's easier to not meet. It may feel more secure to cozy up on the sofa with a blanket, or head anywhere else on a Sunday. Especially for those on the margins already, it might feel safer to stay away. Why risk someone in our congregation saying something stupid or hurtful- and I would rather surround myself with things and people who bring me comfort. But listen, "here" is the place where we learn to live God's way. Here is the place that we can struggle with what God's truths are- and struggle with the answers. Where we learn so much about each other that we build trust, and relationship, and community- and with a community, we have power beyond measure.
Do you realize what a gift this place is? None of us are close to perfect, and the best part of that is no one here even tries to pretend they're perfect. It's more like the Island of Misfit toys. We come here, broken, rejected, or lost and we find a place to call home- of acceptance- and when we are intentional, of love. We create the new reality within these walls, and together, can find absolute and unshakable confidence in a better tomorrow; this is the place where we can begin to live out God's dream.
Second, we stay awake- I read a humorous article by Garrison Keiler in the NY Times about how it's time for liberals (sorry, progressives) to sweep out the garage, rake leaves, take long walks and smell the roses- we're free for four years. While the article was tongue in cheek, please don't get lulled into disengaged slumber. Keep your eyes wide, and your ears open- and your mind open to understanding things below the surface.
Third- we organize. We get educated on the issues; not the stuff they tell you in biased media coverage, but gain knowledge of what's really going on- and yes, this is much more work- and yes there are a myriad of issues that will need to be understood, addressed and in some cases, fought for. Get a lot of different perspectives, talk to a lot of different people from varying viewpoints- we need to know the whole picture to make informed decisions and to promote justice. And not everyone has to know everything, but that's the beauty of community- we each do our part- we meet together- we teach one another, discuss, pray, discern, and mobilize when necessary.
Fourth- We live in faith, not belief. Now this one takes a minute. We have a lot of people going around saying "I believe this, or that," but their actions don't match their words. I can say "I believe the world is going to get better," but if I then live the way I have always lived, waiting for proof, or waiting for someone else to do something so I can get on board, or waiting for God to do some miracle, that's not living in faith. Faith, is taking what we believe and acting like we believe it.
And while we are on the subject, what exactly is it that we do believe? Do we believe that hate wins in the end? Do we believe that the spirit of truth can be subdued? Do we believe God has given us a Spirit of fear?
No! So then we need to stop acting like it.
We live in faith! Faith- the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things we have not seen- the confidence of things hoped for and the certainty of what we do not see.* If we believe that love trumps hate, and courage trumps fear, that God's way trumps any human system pf domination, then as Christians we don't wait around for proof, or for someone else to do something that we might get on board with, or even a miracle.
Instead, we behave as if Gods reign has already come! Even though we may be in the middle of the struggle, even though it is not here yet, we live as if it is. And take a lesson from the early Christians- they declared as fact what existed only in the imagination. 'Like God in the creation, faith calls into being what does not yet exist, and races ahead to form something new that never was before.' (W.Wink) Faith creates!
Did you know there are people around the world who are victims of oppression and domination who are, instead of sitting silent and wringing their hands, acting in faith? And yes, they face persecution for it; our leader, Jesus Christ faced death for it- but despite the threats, or the imprisonment, or the persecution, or much worse, they live in freedom- as if the systems of power have been dismantled already. We live in faith, we pray in faith, we walk in faith, we sing hymns and songs in faith, we thank God for the new reign that abolishes corruption in faith.
You want to talk about going high? Walk in faith- live out love- create the peace that God has promised, no matter who says we can't. When everything in the world is out there pulling us down, and the forces seemingly beyond our control press us toward the dust, we rise up- from the Spirit within us we find the that confidence, we find the strength, and we find the courage to defy the forces that threaten to keep us grounded, we rise up, together and live out God's idea- and we go high!
And whether we are grieving or celebrating this week, everyone can share this truth- we need to figure out, as a community of faith, how to go forward from here, and how to go forward together.
So first, let's talk about the dream. God gave the Prophet Isaiah a vision of the world as it was created to be. A world unlike the one they lived in; where people only cried tears of joy, where all people were healthy, fed, housed, and treated each other with respect and gratitude. In God's dream, even the animals would get along with each other. Arguments, hatred, bullying, racism, homophobia, death threats, killings- none of this exists in God's dream. Only love, and joy, and peace.
I would be hard pressed to find anyone who wouldn't hope this for our planet and its people. For the most part, down deep, we are a people who want love, and peace, and joy. We have many different ideas on how those things could be achieved, and even more definitions of those words themselves; most of them involving a set of ideals, a plan, and unshakable confidence that what we believe is best.
Isaiah's words to us, perhaps sound like more than a dream. Perhaps they sounds like fantasy, this week especially, when we are more divided than ever as a people, and as Christians. But the interesting things is, Isaiah wasn't talking of some day in the future when God's realm will be in control, and God magically takes away all of our pain and fear and heartache. Isaiah tells the people, tells us, this dream becomes a reality as we live the way Jesus teaches us to live- when we begin to live God's way.
Ridiculous, right? Well, let's move on to the New Testament reading, because that sounds a bit more realistic- Luke's prediction of persecution and destruction seems more on topic- besides, I'm feeling terrible after the election this week, so it's easier to affirm what I'm feeling with a scripture.
Except here's the thing about this scripture, in fact, about the whole New Testament- despite what people are facing and what they will face in the future, despite wars and rumors of wars, nation rising against nation, hunger, persecution, prison, torture, families being ripped apart, betrayal by family members and friends, despite all of these things, there is an underlying thread of something remarkable. In the words of Walter Wink,"... despite its sober expose of the Domination System, the New Testament is so free of gloom or quailing before the Powers! From beginning to end, there is only the note of victory – a victory in the unknown and open future, for the whole human race and the universe, and victory even now, in the midst of struggle. There is an absolute and unshakable confidence that the System of Domination has an end. A new world of partnership, of compassion, of human community, of conscious awareness of the limits of power, awaits us. We are to struggle with all our might and courage for its coming, yet we cannot make it come…"
To many people this week, the system of Domination in this country have never seemed so foreboding. The list of "isms" that loom before us is enough to make even the bravest among us long to escape to Isaiah's fantasy. How do we find what the writers of the New Testament had- how do we live in victory amidst a week of defeat- where can we find absolute and unshakable confidence in a better tomorrow? And how on earth do we, as Michelle Obama entreats- "Go High" amidst those who have gotten elected going so low?
First, we meet- and meet- and meet. I know it's easier to not meet. It may feel more secure to cozy up on the sofa with a blanket, or head anywhere else on a Sunday. Especially for those on the margins already, it might feel safer to stay away. Why risk someone in our congregation saying something stupid or hurtful- and I would rather surround myself with things and people who bring me comfort. But listen, "here" is the place where we learn to live God's way. Here is the place that we can struggle with what God's truths are- and struggle with the answers. Where we learn so much about each other that we build trust, and relationship, and community- and with a community, we have power beyond measure.
Do you realize what a gift this place is? None of us are close to perfect, and the best part of that is no one here even tries to pretend they're perfect. It's more like the Island of Misfit toys. We come here, broken, rejected, or lost and we find a place to call home- of acceptance- and when we are intentional, of love. We create the new reality within these walls, and together, can find absolute and unshakable confidence in a better tomorrow; this is the place where we can begin to live out God's dream.
Second, we stay awake- I read a humorous article by Garrison Keiler in the NY Times about how it's time for liberals (sorry, progressives) to sweep out the garage, rake leaves, take long walks and smell the roses- we're free for four years. While the article was tongue in cheek, please don't get lulled into disengaged slumber. Keep your eyes wide, and your ears open- and your mind open to understanding things below the surface.
Third- we organize. We get educated on the issues; not the stuff they tell you in biased media coverage, but gain knowledge of what's really going on- and yes, this is much more work- and yes there are a myriad of issues that will need to be understood, addressed and in some cases, fought for. Get a lot of different perspectives, talk to a lot of different people from varying viewpoints- we need to know the whole picture to make informed decisions and to promote justice. And not everyone has to know everything, but that's the beauty of community- we each do our part- we meet together- we teach one another, discuss, pray, discern, and mobilize when necessary.
Fourth- We live in faith, not belief. Now this one takes a minute. We have a lot of people going around saying "I believe this, or that," but their actions don't match their words. I can say "I believe the world is going to get better," but if I then live the way I have always lived, waiting for proof, or waiting for someone else to do something so I can get on board, or waiting for God to do some miracle, that's not living in faith. Faith, is taking what we believe and acting like we believe it.
And while we are on the subject, what exactly is it that we do believe? Do we believe that hate wins in the end? Do we believe that the spirit of truth can be subdued? Do we believe God has given us a Spirit of fear?
No! So then we need to stop acting like it.
We live in faith! Faith- the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things we have not seen- the confidence of things hoped for and the certainty of what we do not see.* If we believe that love trumps hate, and courage trumps fear, that God's way trumps any human system pf domination, then as Christians we don't wait around for proof, or for someone else to do something that we might get on board with, or even a miracle.
Instead, we behave as if Gods reign has already come! Even though we may be in the middle of the struggle, even though it is not here yet, we live as if it is. And take a lesson from the early Christians- they declared as fact what existed only in the imagination. 'Like God in the creation, faith calls into being what does not yet exist, and races ahead to form something new that never was before.' (W.Wink) Faith creates!
Did you know there are people around the world who are victims of oppression and domination who are, instead of sitting silent and wringing their hands, acting in faith? And yes, they face persecution for it; our leader, Jesus Christ faced death for it- but despite the threats, or the imprisonment, or the persecution, or much worse, they live in freedom- as if the systems of power have been dismantled already. We live in faith, we pray in faith, we walk in faith, we sing hymns and songs in faith, we thank God for the new reign that abolishes corruption in faith.
You want to talk about going high? Walk in faith- live out love- create the peace that God has promised, no matter who says we can't. When everything in the world is out there pulling us down, and the forces seemingly beyond our control press us toward the dust, we rise up- from the Spirit within us we find the that confidence, we find the strength, and we find the courage to defy the forces that threaten to keep us grounded, we rise up, together and live out God's idea- and we go high!
Photo from wbaiv
