If America had its own Beatitudes what would they be?
Blessed are those who pick themselves up by their bootstraps and are self made people for theirs will be fortune and fame.
Blessed is the lone ranger, the one who does it their way, for they will never need comfort.
Blessed are the powerful and the influential for they will get what they want.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for instant self gratification for they will be filled and then empty and need more.
Blessed are those who stand up for their rights at all cost and have the attitude “take no prisoner” for they will be admired.
Blessed are those who are strong willed and those who do what feels right in their own understanding, those who stay true to themselves, for they can create God over in their own image.
Blessed are those who can tell others off and demean those who oppose them, for they will be called a good leader, a child of America, and offered their own television show.
Blessed are those who stand up for what they believe and keep people out of their exclusive clubs, for this temporary world is theirs.
Showing posts with label peacemaking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label peacemaking. Show all posts
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Thursday, December 9, 2010
December 9
Psalm 37: 1-18
Do not fret because of evil doers but trust in the Lord and wait on the Lord.
That is easier said than done. As we watch the bankers and wall street brokers who helped drive us into the recession get bonuses and watch unemployment go up and receive phone calls from bill collectors, it is hard to not fret because of the unfairness of the system. It is hard to just wait for God to make things right when there is so much wrong happening. The people we love and care for being stricken with cancer, homes burning down, children going hungry. How can the psalmist say just wait and God will make your righteousness shine like the midday light. The psalmist promises in a little while the wicked will be no more. The promise is the meek and peacemakers will inherit the earth. So as we wait on the Lord in the midst of injustices, the call of Scripture is not to take justice in our own hands, like Christ didn't take justice in his own hands on the cross. Have we given peacemaking a chance? Stopping the violence and injustice by not rewarding violence and injustice with more violence and injustice.
Do not fret because of evil doers but trust in the Lord and wait on the Lord.
That is easier said than done. As we watch the bankers and wall street brokers who helped drive us into the recession get bonuses and watch unemployment go up and receive phone calls from bill collectors, it is hard to not fret because of the unfairness of the system. It is hard to just wait for God to make things right when there is so much wrong happening. The people we love and care for being stricken with cancer, homes burning down, children going hungry. How can the psalmist say just wait and God will make your righteousness shine like the midday light. The psalmist promises in a little while the wicked will be no more. The promise is the meek and peacemakers will inherit the earth. So as we wait on the Lord in the midst of injustices, the call of Scripture is not to take justice in our own hands, like Christ didn't take justice in his own hands on the cross. Have we given peacemaking a chance? Stopping the violence and injustice by not rewarding violence and injustice with more violence and injustice.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
The difficulty of Advent
Perhaps it begins in our youth, the need to rush Christmas. The rush continues as adults in our preparation for the holiday season. We want to get the shopping done quickly. We want to sing the hymns of Christmas during Advent. Why must we journey through Advent?
It is a difficult season. Advent calls us to walk through our brokenness waiting for our Deliverer. It reminds us we are still going on to perfection, we have not reached it yet.
Advent also reminds us that the problems of this world are not easily dealt with. The rush and commercialism of Christmas can not be thwarted by cute sayings and more family time. No, we overcome through self sacrificing. That is what Advent calls us to. It reminds us that the greed of this society can only be diminished by our generosity. Advent reminds us that the selfishness of our culture must be faced with our laying down our rights. It is a reminder we are to fight the anger and hatred of this world with forgiveness and peacemaking. Advent reminds us we can only combat the violence of humanity with turning the other cheek and praying for the happiness of our enemy. Love in the face of hatred and anger. Forgiveness in the face of hurt and frustration. Sacrifice in the face of greed and the ever growing cry for "My Rights". These are the weapons of Christianity. Advent reminds us the way of the Cross is not comfortable. It goes against my instincts and my nature. Advent calls us back to this reality--the reality of the Kingdom of God coming in a helpless baby, saving the untouchables, dying on a cross, rising from the dead.
It is a difficult season. Advent calls us to walk through our brokenness waiting for our Deliverer. It reminds us we are still going on to perfection, we have not reached it yet.
Advent also reminds us that the problems of this world are not easily dealt with. The rush and commercialism of Christmas can not be thwarted by cute sayings and more family time. No, we overcome through self sacrificing. That is what Advent calls us to. It reminds us that the greed of this society can only be diminished by our generosity. Advent reminds us that the selfishness of our culture must be faced with our laying down our rights. It is a reminder we are to fight the anger and hatred of this world with forgiveness and peacemaking. Advent reminds us we can only combat the violence of humanity with turning the other cheek and praying for the happiness of our enemy. Love in the face of hatred and anger. Forgiveness in the face of hurt and frustration. Sacrifice in the face of greed and the ever growing cry for "My Rights". These are the weapons of Christianity. Advent reminds us the way of the Cross is not comfortable. It goes against my instincts and my nature. Advent calls us back to this reality--the reality of the Kingdom of God coming in a helpless baby, saving the untouchables, dying on a cross, rising from the dead.
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