I used to teach about the book of Revelation when I was a college professor, and it cannot be stressed enough that this book was specifically written for a community under persecution by the Roman Empire. It may have consequences because people’s motives and desires rarely change- especially when they feel powerless.

Sigh.

But it’s really important to remember that the triumphant- the hero of the book is the lamb- the most meek and powerless of all the figures mentioned in the book- and also let’s not forget the tree of life- which is available for everyone who seeks the God of justice and love.

We associate the lamb with Jesus. We don’t associate Jesus with power, cruelty, injustice and violence. He is the lamb.

Not the lion.

He chose the power of love over the love of power.

How clear can this be?

Jesus for us is the prince of peace for a reason.
He’s not an AK-47 brandishing partisan advocating cruelty and starvation, disease and murder. I can find no justification for that in the gospel.

And I fear that some “Christians” believe that he is that exactly.

As biblical Christians, our job is to serve those in pain, to serve those in need, to deny ourselves and follow in the path of the one who offered his life for the salvation of the world. 

We are mandated to give to our less fortunate human beings.

If we can, we are to help.

And if we cannot physically help, we must pray and advocate for those in pain- those who suffer.

The Jesus I know, and love would never deny hungry people food. And this seems to be when we’ve lost our way. If Christian nationalists want to be “Christian” this is not the way to go.

“For God so loved the WORLD , that he sent his only begotten son….”

Lord, have mercy upon this nation that arrogantly believes it is loved more than any other.

Or maybe not mercy.

Maybe we deserve to be punished for heresy. It is not up to me to say….

But the vision of the Kingdom of God is not that of violence, oppression, pain, ignorance, arrogance and horror.

It is the exact opposite.

Just thought thoughts from a priest.… 

Antichrist

Antichrist will be heartless.
They will be after only power.
The Beatitudes will be trampled.
Christians who love the example of Jesus must always pay attention to the poor and the promulgation of mercy, of compassion- not the heartless dismissal of human beings that seems all too common today.
If Jesus had any message, it was compassion and it was sensitivity to those at the bottom of the social ladder and those in pain. Antichrist doesn’t care about any of those things. And I’m afraid that we’re going to see more and more of that moving forward.

Antichrist will be heartless.
They will be after only power.
The Beatitudes will be trampled.
Christians who love the example of Jesus must always pay attention to the poor and the promulgation of mercy, of compassion- not the heartless dismissal of human beings that seems all too common today.
If Jesus had any message, it was compassion and it was sensitivity to those at the bottom of the social ladder and those in pain. Antichrist doesn’t care about any of those things. And I’m afraid that we’re going to see more and more of that moving forward.

Forward

I sit with kids and adults in despair because the future terrifies them.
All I can say are platitudes- that we must pay attention and do what we can to move forward- that everything will be all right.
But will it?

And what is forward?
What is all right?
Is it advancement?
Is it simply moving into the minute beyond this one moment?
Is it moving beyond the political reality of this one?
Is it beyond the injustice, the war, the hate, the intolerance of this one?
Is it fear for my life because I am different?
Is it hiding my face for fear of being shot?
Is it moving into the basements and the attics because those are the “safe” places?
Is it cutting out my tongue, silencing my voice,
Lobotomizing my brain just to stay alive?
Is it handicapping life?
Is it?

Forward seems to be the promise of freedom.
That nebulous thing that we’ve all been programmed to worship.
For everybody- even those we hate- and who hate us.
Freedom is the belief in hope- that there is more than hate and despair.
Freedom believes in the song of each soul.
And that it is not unheard.
And seriously, no soul wants to be imprisoned.
Freedom needs the brave,
Has needed the brave.
The gun can’t kill me,
The beating can’t diminish my message.
I am created in the image and likeness of God- and I will not be disregarded.
But is it?
Is that freedom?
Is there existence without anxiety?
Seriously.
And I sigh.

I wish this was more poetic, but poetry won’t save lives the way I want it to.
And neither will tears.
Only standing up- boots on the ground, songs on our lips, conviction in our hearts and an angry ,sad, powerful community that sustains us.
It might just save us.
And that “might” is the only thing we long for.

Gianforte’s fundamentalism and his anti-federalism government. The crazy fundamentalism. The ass-backward denial of science and philosophy and theology and sociology and just basic facts.
Here we are.
They are in charge now .
In charge of the facts that are passed on to our children.
But they aren’t passing on facts.

I’m angry.
I grew up in Montana in the public school system in the 70’s and I and my classmates (who differ in my political preferences) were just fine.
We were neighbors.
We might not have seen the world the same way, but when somebody’s barn caught fire, we didn’t ask their political affiliation. We helped put it out.
Today, 50 years later, I see that people are asking to see people’s credentials before they help.
That disgusts me.
As a priest, a minister, I find that reprehensible for those who proclaim themselves Christian.
Because it is not Christian.
Not in the least.
If your worst enemy is in trouble a Christian helps them out.
If someone who hates you is in need, you do what you can.
If children are hungry, you feed them.
If people are homeless you shelter them.
If people are cold, you clothe them.
If people disagree with you, you love them.

The thought that “they should provide for themselves” enters your mind, that is that is not Christian- that is ignoring a way for you to be Christ.
Do all the good you can, for as many you can, as long as you can.
And if you have anything that can be helpful- give what you can.

In short, Christianity is about the other- the primacy of the other.
Anything else is narcissism hidden in a religious framework.