Reflection: A Word for this Season, From the Founder's Desk to Yours

From the Founder’s Desk: 

 

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness” 

(Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities)

It is common to see whatever time we are living in as unique. Our perceptions are easily molded by our emotional state, our circumstances, the media, and the opinions of those whose lives influence our own. Having said that, the season we are currently in really does seem beyond the ordinary. For those of us in the U.S., we are entering into the final stages of an election cycle that has already been marked by unprecedented polarization and rancor. Globally, it feels as though dark spiritual powers have cried “Havoc!” and let slip the dogs of war”. (Julius Caesar Act 3; Wm. Shakespeare) I lived during the time when the horrors of  Vietnam invaded into our living rooms every night. But now, we are bombarded with terrible, visceral images of death coming at us from many directions at once: in Sudan, Ukraine, Gaza, Israel, and the West Bank. 

With all of these factors at work around us, we must guard our hearts and our thoughts––even when we feel upset or disrespected. In the midst of the political and humanitarian swirl, this is the time to follow the way of Christ. How, specifically, do we manage to do that?

The core of Jesus’ teaching is found in the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5-7), and the nucleus of that core is the Beatitudes. They are the distilled values and power of the Gospel. The Beatitudes are also a clear biography of the One we have chosen to follow.

 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.

 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

With these words, Jesus has given us:

      • A litmus test that empowers us to live with a greater awareness of the condition of our own hearts, words, and lives
      • An explanation of how life in God’s Kingdom really works. When the world says that it is the powerful, the abusive, the dominant who get ahead, Jesus tells us that actually it is the meek who will inherit the Land
      • A way to evaluate, according the the truest standard that Jesus has given us, what we see and hear from those wanting to lead us

Over the next several weeks, politically we will see and hear a lot. The Beatitudes that Jesus has given us will serve us well, not only to determine the value of what we are hearing, but as a check for our own hearts. And as war rages on in Israel and Palestine, Ukraine, and Sudan, let us remember that our fight is not against flesh and blood. In our intercession for the millions who are suffering, let us remember the blessing promised to us when we embrace poverty of spirit, deep identificational mourning, meekness, mercy, and hunger for the compassionate justice of God.

Indeed, we live as humans but do not wage war according to human standards,  for the weapons of our warfare are not merely human but they have divine power to destroy strongholds. (2 Cor 10:3-4)

Lord have mercy.

Christ have mercy.

Lord have mercy.