Saturday, November 5, 2016

Enduring Citizenship


Let's just acknowledge that neither major political party or its presidential candidate manifests the Christian virtue of humility very well. In your mind, perhaps one candidate stands out over the other in their ability to be self-promoting and self-absorbed. However, to focus on such possibilities is to miss a larger point, I believe.

In my mind, our present situation as citizens of this country is revelatory. What is being revealed are consequences of years (decades!) of indifference, micro-mindedness, and arrogance. While we would like to name and blame the enemy, the other side, "them" . . . we are all quickly realizing that for better or worse, we are in this together.

From within this conundrum we identify ourselves as Christians and profess allegiance to a monarch, none other than Christ the King, whose kingdom is not of this world (see John 18:36).

What do you make of that? How are we called to enact our citizenship in Christ's reign while dealing with the very visceral landscape of our political tempest?

I cling to the hope that the wind that seems to drive this current storm is the Wind par excellence: the Holy Spirit, the Breath of God. We can indeed be hopeful because when and where the Holy Spirit is operative, dry bones can live, repentance is possible, forgiveness is available, and hope can be restored . . . and it does not disappoint (see Romans 5).



All Saints Sunday
November 6, 2016

Prayer of the Day 
Almighty God, 
you have knit your people together 
in one communion 
in the mystical body of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 
Grant us grace to follow your blessed saints 
in lives of faith and commitment, 
and to know the inexpressible joys you have prepared 
for those who love you, 
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, 
who lives and reigns with you 
and the Holy Spirit, 
one God, now and forever.   Amen

Readings 
Revelation 7:9-17 
Psalm 34:1-10, 22 
1 John 3:1-3 
Matthew 5:1-12