WATCHWORD:
Never Forget:
June 6, 1944 — More thn 156,000 American, British, and Canadian troops invaded Europe at Normandy (D-Day). In the first 24 hours over 9,000 allied soldiers died so that freedom wouldn’t die. Never forget the ultimate price others have paid for our fragile democracy!
Suffer the little children and forbid them not to come unto me for such is the Kingdom of heaven. Matthew 19:14
The king will reply, truly I tell you, whatever you did for the for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. Then he will say to those on his left depart from me you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in. Matthew 25:40-43
Meditation:
WWJD
I’d like to pick up where I left off at our last Watchword, June 2, entitled “History Repeating?” The last sentence in that meditation was: “What would Jesus have us do?” (WWJD)
So, this is what I think: Jesus said that the most important commandment was to love God with all of our being, and the second commandment was to love one’s neighbors as ourselves. Jesus also taught us to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us. He was also explicit in his identification with those who are marginalized in society for he called them ‘the least of these’ and went on to say when you neglect them, you neglect Him. Clearly Jesus wants us to open our hearts to envelope everyone in his love.
So it’s astonishing, even weird, when conservative Christians justify such policies as mass incarceration and mass deportations regardless of legal status, as well as passing laws targeting transgender individuals simply to make their lives more difficult than they already are. They accuse liberals of being seduced by the ‘sin of empathy’. This is clearly an attempt to rationalize otherwise cruel and mean policies, as well as assuage what conscience they may still have. (Thank you Brother Martin, St. Gregory’s Abbey, for speaking truth so clearly.)
The ’Sin of empathy’? Come on. Can you even imagine empathy as a sin? I can’t. Empathy is a gift from God to give us open and tender hearts, equipping us to reach out to those who are hurting. Empathy is a character trait that I think must be absent from those who are holding down positions of responsibility in our nation.
What all of that does is to simply twist the teachings of Jesus in such a way that turns our Lord and savior into a judgmental bigot who came to us not to redeem humanity but rather to judge and punish all who don’t measure up in some way to someone’s capricious, stupid, and power-hungry mindset.
What we need are Christians who love God and those around them, who find value in all who are marginalized, as well as who open their hearts and welcome their enemies. I can hear Jesus telling us quite clearly, “Little children, let’s love one another.” Amen.
First They Came…
First they came for the Transgender and I did not speak out, for I am not transgender.
Then they came for the Same Sex Marriage and I did not speak out, for I am not in a same sex marriage.
Then they came for those in Interracial Marriage and I did not speak out, for I am not in an Interracial Marriage.
Then they came for the Lesbians and Gays and I did not speak out, for I am neither Lesbian or Gay.
Then they came for the Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, and Islanders and I did not speak out, for I am not Black or Asian or Hispanic or an Islander.
Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me.
by Kathryn Redman, based on ‘First They Came’ by Martin Niemoller
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we pray for our country and for those who hold positions of responsibility. We pray especially for those and ask that you give them hearts that understand, a full measure of empathy so that they can imagine the fear and the destitution that has resulted and so many seeking refuge within the gates of our nation. Grant us understanding hearts Lord and an increasing awareness that you are truly in charge, that you love us, and that Your Will will be done. We offer these prayers, Lord, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
