If Not Me Then Who

This week Paul gives us the key line that we as Christians are crucified to the world. Meaning that regardless of what goes on in the world, we are promised better in Christ. In Christ’s kingdom all divisions cease, and we are made new. Which is the truth we proclaim in the creeds when we recite them at mass.

But that doesn’t mean that we are “dead to the world” as famous preachers of old have said. After all we still labor in it. Jesus makes that clear that our work while we travel our journey to the heavenly plane is to bring about the kingdom of God here on Earth, as it is in heaven as much as possible. I think Jesus knew that the work would be hard, I think Paul had an idealistic view like many of the apostles did, and that it would come around as soon as the Empire embraced Christianity.

What Paul didn’t know is that the Empire would embrace Christianity but carry out the same policies. Forced conversions, adopt my way of thinking or else face the sword. Many Kings adopted that out look for their lands in the middle ages.

And it is carried out to this day. The Empire of fundamentalism has spoken against the movement of the spirit and yet again causing a divide in both the church and the world. I am not going to lie to you, it is tiring, to fight the same fights over and over and over again because we have slipped backwards. I know many of you are feeling the same. While some are feeling victorious, many are mourning.

I hear you, I feel your pain. But as Jesus tells us today. “ IF you enter a town and they do not welcome you and listen to your message, shake the dust off your sandals as you depart.” I’m not saying give up, but I am saying show your anger. Move your energy into making ground again. The tide will turn again.

So beloved, I want to know are you going to work in the vineyard? Are you going to be one of the few that carries the torch to rally all? Are you going to sit back and wait idly for the tide of history to turn back.

I am reminded of Pastor Niehmoller’s statement and I am changing the verbiage so that is applies to our country. First they came for Women’s rights, and I did not speak because I was pro life. Then they came for the LGBT but I did not speak because I was not LGBT, then they came for other faiths, and I did not speak because I was not of that faith. Then they came for progressive Christianity, and there was no one left to speak for me.

Be a laborer, join us in speaking out, for it could save the soul and spirit of our freedoms.

God bless,

Matt+