Rumors, Wars and Insurrections

‘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.'

(from Luke 21:5-19)

I for one, rejoiced on November 9 when the mailings, posters, social media posts, and TV ads ended. 

I am finished with the distortions, accusations, and dehumanizing of political candidates.

As a Christian with a core theology of peace, I am deeply disturbed by the violent acts and threats against candidates, poll workers, and volunteers who are simply trying to perform civic duty.

It's in Jesus' Sermon on the Plain that I find hope. 

Jesus is talking to people who are trying to make sense of the destruction of the temple by the Romans in year 70, which was the equivalent of 9/11.

In short, the Jews' world of 70 was a broken world like ours is post-election.

 So, I read this scripture as a reflection on what happened, not a prediction of future events.

Jesus is using apocalyptic literature which uses unsettling language and images to reassure the faithful so that, even in their broken world, they keep their trust in God.

When bad things happen, don't be terrified by conspiracy theories about God's judgement, or other disasters.

Instead, Jesus says, trust in God's presence in our lives even in the midst of hardship and persecution.

Jesus, with his firm belief in God's hope and faithfulness, reassures them, and us, that even when it feels as though the world is collapsing around us, God is present.

Knowing God's presence and power,use this unsettled time to persevere as my disciples by feeding the hungry,clothing the naked, sheltering the homeless and loving your neighbor as yourself.

As I write, the world is still broken, but I believe the world is also full of God’s grace and love.

Therefore, I remain full of hope that no matter the brokenness of the world I see, God is present.