After Jesus' Sermon Was Over..

The gospel for this Sunday continues the story of Jesus' first sermon in Nazareth. The people are first amazed and then angry. 

All who were there, watching and listening, were surprised at how well he spoke. But they also said, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son, the one we’ve known since he was a youngster?”

23-27 He answered, “I suppose you’re going to quote the proverb, ‘Doctor, go heal yourself. Do here in your hometown what we heard you did in Capernaum.’ Well, let me tell you something: No prophet is ever welcomed in his hometown. Isn’t it a fact that there were many widows in Israel at the time of Elijah during that three and a half years of drought when famine devastated the land, but the only widow to whom Elijah was sent was in Sarepta in Sidon? And there were many lepers in Israel at the time of the prophet Elisha but the only one cleansed was Naaman the Syrian.”

28-30 That set everyone in the meeting place seething with anger. They threw him out, banishing him from the village, then took him to a mountain cliff at the edge of the village to throw him to his doom, but he gave them the slip and was on his way. -Luke 4: 22-30 The Message

Here's some helpful insights from Lutheran preacher/professor David Lose, well worth sharing. It seems to raise some observations and questions about us as Americans, which I raise at the end. First, the preacher:: 

I’ve got this feeling, deep down, that as well as these folks knew Jesus, he knew them even better.

Let’s not forget that he’s just finished reading Isaiah’s prophecy of a year of favor, of Jubilee, when the blind find sight, the captives release, the oppressed relief, and all the poor of this world consolation. And, lest we be mistaken about the direction Jesus is heading in, it’s just as important to note what he doesn’t read. Because Isaiah goes on, you see, telling of that day when the Lord will trample down all Israel’s enemies, crush them underfoot and restore Israel to its rightful place. But no, Jesus doesn’t read that part. 

He’s not thinking locally, you see, but globally, and this isn’t a nationalistic sermon, but one in which he declares that God loves all the world and has a special concern for the poor.

And so for this to come true, there’s going to need to be some changes. For as Mary sings before her boy was even born, in order to raise the lowly God’s going to have to bring low the powerful; and in order to feed the poor, the rich are going to go away empty.

This is what Jesus is talking about, and the home crowd doesn’t get it. So Jesus gets mad, drives his point home, and this time they do get it, so clearly, in fact, they’re ready to get him.

God favor Syria, not Israel?! God heal in Capernaum, that land so full of gentiles, not Nazareth. I don’t think so. That’s heresy. And you know what we do with heretics.

You see, it really is all Jesus’ fault – he goes and does the one thing you’re never supposed to do, even to strangers, let alone to friends and neighbors: He tells them the truth, the truth about their pettiness and prejudice, their fear and shame, their willingness, even eagerness, to get ahead at any cost, even at the expense of another. And so they want him gone in the most permanent of ways.

And let’s face it; that’s pretty much the way it usually is. Because this text, and Luke’s whole gospel for that matter, isn’t about Jews or Romans, it isn’t about Nazarenes or Jerusalemites. No, it’s about every race and nationality, about all the crowds of every time and place who, when they meet one who tells them the truth about themselves, will go to almost any length to silence the messenger. For from the prophets of Israel to our own prophet, Martin Luther King, Jr., it’s not just the keepers of the dream that get rejected, beaten, and shot, but the tellers of the truth as well.

And so here we are, at the very outset of Jesus’ ministry, and already we see how it’s going to come out. Because while Jesus somehow gets away today, later on they’ll catch up with him. They’ll listen a little longer, get a little madder, and then lay their hands on him and nail him to the cross.

So here’s the another interesting question for the day: do you think things have changed all that much? I mean, do you think Jesus’ sermon about change and equity and release would go over any better today, in a nation tied up in knots over whether millionaires should have their taxes raised and whether it’s fair to make sure everyone who wants to buy a gun has a clean record? I doubt it. Jesus’ message, whenever and wherever it’s spoken, still makes people see red.

So what are we to do? Now that Jesus’ words have revealed the truth that we’ve got just as much fear and shame and prejudice as did the folks in Nazareth, what are we to do?

There’s only one thing I can think of. And that’s to keep our eyes fastened on the one who told the truth in the first place, the one we nailed to a cross because of it. Because of all the prophets, you see, of all the folks who came and told the truth only to be rejected, or beaten, or killed, this is the only one God raised from the dead...

Good news, for sure. But one interesting question is left for us to ask: now what? ... Well, here’s an idea: 

What would you think about us bringing good news to the poor, proclaiming release to the captives, helping the blind regain their sight, and setting the oppressed free. 

Why don’t we, that is, proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor? 

(excerpted from http://www.workingpreacher.org/dear_wp.aspx?article_id=663)

Good questions, Rev. Dr. Lose.

Here is the inescapable truth about we Americans: by any measure, historically or contemporary, we are among the wealthiest, most privileged people who have ever lived and are living now. 

This, it seems, gives us a position like that of the biblical role of the nation of Israel as a Chosen People- one of both privilege AND responsibility.

We now have the resources and capacity to end hunger world wide.

We can make sure the safety net holds in our country, so that no one goes hungry, and children have the crucial nutrition they need at the beginning of life.

We have the ability to re-establish income equality in the US, significantly improving related social and health problems.

We can end the oppression of minorities who are disproportionately imprisoned in this country.

Do we- followers of Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth -hold Jubilee as the same priority it was for our Master?

If not, what's keeping us from doing so?

God,

Give me the courage to be revolutionary, as your Son Jesus Christ was.

Give me the courage to loosen myself from this world.

Teach me to stand up free and to shun no criticism.

God, it is for your kingdom.

Make me free, make me poor in this world.

Then I will be rich in the real world, which is what life is all about.

God, thank you for the vision of the future, but make it fact and not just 

theory.

~ Henri J.M. Nouwen

What Is Jesus' Agenda for Our Country?

Good morning America! We've just inaugurated a President, and heard his agenda for the next four years spelled out. Some of us are inspired by what we heard, some of us not so much- as we can't seem to agree on a common course of action.

As Christians, we might ask: 

Of course, we also tend to disagree on things we see Jesus as being "for" or "against." But Jesus seems pretty clear on one subject- poverty.

For instance, consider Jesus' own inaugural address. 

"Wait!", you say. "Jesus didn't hold public office."

No, that's right! He was anointed, not elected. THE Anointed One- to be exact.

And he didn't give a speech, but maybe a sermon. Actually not even a homily.

It was short, lacking any pomp and circumstance- and actually was a total rip-off of Isaiah (you'd think the Messiah would have original material, wouldn't you? Perhaps there's something to note in that), but here it is:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,

    because he has anointed me

    to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners

    and recovery of sight for the blind,

to release the oppressed,

  to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

The reference is to the Year of Jubilee (Leviticus 25) an occurrence EVERY 50 YEARS when all property was to be returned to the original owner, all debts where forgiven, all slaves and indentured servants freed. It was essentially this:

It was God's plan to see that the wealth of the nation was available to everyone- that none would remain disproportionately wealthy while others remained their whole lives in poverty, slavery and servitude.

The issue of income inequality was something that plagued the nation of Israel, and brought Yahweh's displeasure, judgment and punishment. It was the re-occurring theme of the prophets like Isaiah- the very lineage Jesus announced himself to be the fulfillment of. So there you go: not new ideas, but "...the time to act!" - as Petersen transaltes in the Message.

And this is what Jesus proclaimed his mission was- to demonstrate that the year of the Lord's favor had arrived in an even greater sense- the Kingdom of God on earth.

So here's a question: Just what does the distribution of wealth look like in America- a Christian nation - over the past 50 years?

Richest 5% = +$186,000; Richest 20% = +$101, 583; 2nd 20% = +$62,435; 3rd 20% = +$38, 521; 4th 20% = +20, 263; Poorest 20 % =  - $20, 262

Makes you wonder why this has occurred, doesn't it? HOW did this happen?

Why might Jesus be concerned about this? Why has income inequality ALWAYS been not just a neutral phenomenon of wealth distribution based solely on how hard people may or may not work -but a complex social interaction with great benefit to some and serious consequences for others. Maybe this chart helps explain:

The research suggests not just correlation but causation. The many social and healthcare issues we face and debate vigorously are connected to the fact of markedly disparate income- though we often want to blame other factors or people.

So if we are going to follow Jesus and BE good news to the poor, proclaim freedom to prisoners,  recovery of sight to blind, free the oppressed and proclaim Jubilee- the year of the Lord's favor- it looks like there's an underlying problem to address if we really want be of help. Wouldn't we want to cure the cause, not just charitably treat symptoms?

Here's a link to an interesting take that spells out some of the dynamics we are facing:

http://www.ted.com/talks/jonathan_haidt_how_common_threats_can_make_common_political_ground.html

It sure looks like it might be high time to hit the button, doesn't it?

And since most of us have benefited from this inequality,  probably being in at least the top 40%  if not higher, what does being a follower of Jesus mean to us?

What is our responsibility given what we can now see, and the degree to which we have prospered?

Clearly, our sense of concern for others and justice is strong. 

What would it take for us to live into the "better angels of our natures"?

What would it look like if were inspired enough by Jesus' inaugural message to seek to live it out?

What if we sought liberty and Jubilee for all?

Jesus: To Baptism, and Beyond...

Jesus' baptism was a beginning in one sense, but a continuation in another. 

Our human growth is like a trees- layered season on season. Think for a moment about your growth and significant faith events in your life. What led up to them? what was going on in your environment? If you could see a cross-section of your life like below, what would you see?

Jesus was raised a Jewish boy and the one story we have of his youth tells us he was growing this way, too. 
"And Jesus matured, growing up in both body and spirit, blessed by both God and people." Luke 4:52 The Message

By the time he was 30, somehow he had come to a profound sense that his Jewish religion had become distorted, self-serving & self-preserving- rather than a path to an Abba- father-God. And perhaps, most nagging of all to a Jewish boy-why had God's promises to his people not been fulfilled?

We don't know how this happened to Jesus. We haven't been left that story. But we can see what Jesus did about it.

He must have began asking himself how should he live in response to this realization? What should he do? 

His baptism may have been his ritual demonstration that he was purifying himself from his own participation in this. It also was clearly, a preparation for the exercise he would undertake to answer this question- a vision quest.

So the Spirit leads him into the wilderness for a struggle. 

There were several ideas people had about how the promises to Israel would be fulfilled. Jesus was tempted with three of them:

"Since you're God's son, turn these stones into bread..." 

Would he respond by being a new Moses, who would lead people from bondage to an enslaving political and religious system to some new temporal reality - like Moses led the Hebrews from Egypt, feeding them in the desert by miracles when they were hungry?

Or would he be a new David, and seek to conquer all the kingdoms of the world, establishing a new Israel? Many would-be Messiahs had, and would, continue to pursue this path.

Or would he be a sensational miracle worker- in the footsteps of Elijah, who called down fire and over-threw the false prophets? In Jesus' case Satan suggests he pull some dramatic temple stunt to demonstrate his supernatural abilities.

Jesus refused all of these roles, is filled with the Spirit's power, and gains a different vision. 

He returns to Galilee with a clear sense of identity,  purpose and direction. And so he stands up in the synagogue in Nazareth and declares:

God's spirit is on me;
He's chosen me to preach the Message of good news to the poor,
   Sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind,
    to set the burdened and battered free, to announce  "This is God's year to act!" -Luke 4 The Message

This is different kind of Messiah- one not seen before-yet one clearly following the vision of the prophets- the vision of a Kingdom on earth:

•  where there is enough for all; 
• where realizing we are all God's child makes us whole, and transcends divisions; 
• where justice rolls down like waters, righteousness like an ever flowing stream.

So some questions for us:

What did your baptism mean/do for you? 

Do we know ourselves to be God's beloved child- no matter how others see us or treat us?

What vision directs your life? Is Jesus' vision reflected in that?

What if we understood Jesus' Nazareth sermon literally (and we would do that based on seeing how Jesus then lived):

What are we doing to be good news to the poor? 
How are we seeking the pardoning of those imprisoned? 
How are we helping the those who are incomplete to be made whole? Then, metaphorically, who are the blind that need to see?


Baptismal Covenant from the Book of Common Prayer (with editorial comments)

Celebrant     Will you proclaim by word and example the Good
                 News of God in Christ? (and remember, Jesus said this was specifically for the poor.)
People          I will, with God’s help.

Celebrant      Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving
                 your neighbor as yourself? (and we know from Sunday School that our neighbors are not just those folks living next door).
People          I will, with God’s help.

Celebrant      Will you strive for justice and peace among all
                 people, and respect the dignity of every human
                 being? (justice and peace comes from the prophets; not sure of the citation of the dignity clause, but can't argue with it).

People          I will, with God’s help.

Jesus' Baptism- My Baptism

You know if you think about it at all, baptism is a bit bewildering. We've had all kinds of fun with the arguments over infant baptism and "Believers Baptism" and which one is the "real" one. Most of the arguments made about all this are very rational and rule based. The different traditions have their preferences at this point- although some still want to be right.

Infant Baptism

Believers Baptism

Hybrid Baptism I

Hybrid Baptism II

There is clearly more than one meaning -even in scripture.

For instance, John's baptism was a Jewish practice of ritual and moral cleansing prescribed by the Torah. For the Essenes - a Jewish sect who left us the Dead Sea Scrolls and lived near John - it was a ritual, accompanied by a "change of heart", necessary to enter their community.

Essene Baptismal Pool at Qumran

Jesus underwent John's baptism, but then never baptized himself. However, his parting words in the Great Commission were instructions to baptize in the name of the Trinity.

After he died, his followers began baptizing, presumably following his instructions  and apparently using the same method as John. (see Acts)

In Acts we find whole households being baptized- so presumably everyone of any age.

The Apostle Paul relates the meaning as representing participating in Christ's death and resurrection.

The church over time would express all of this these meanings  and practices.

If we look at the gospel accounts, we have a good idea about it's core essence. Look here at Luke's account:

 The interest of the people by now was building. They were all beginning to wonder, “Could this John be the Messiah?”

 But John intervened: “I’m baptizing you here in the river. The main character in this drama, to whom I’m a mere stagehand, will ignite the kingdom life, a fire, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out. He’s going to clean house—make a clean sweep of your lives. He’ll place everything true in its proper place before God; everything false he’ll put out with the trash to be burned.”

After all the people were baptized, Jesus was baptized. As he was praying, the sky opened up and the Holy Spirit, like a dove descending, came down on him. And along with the Spirit, a voice: “You are my Son, chosen and marked by my love, pride of my life.”

It's clear John expected that the Messiah would take this to another level.

We see this in the affirmation Jesus received of who he was- God's beloved child.

When we baptize infants, this is a powerful sense that we affirm of all of us - this too is who we are. And we have a Spirit life within us that needs to be cultivated. It's a fire to empower, a light to share, a destiny to live into.

Jesus is about to find out what this means for him. He's headed here next...

If we go with him, maybe we can find out what it means for us, too!

The Gifts of the Magi

Here they are! The exotic, flashy show-stealers of every Christmas pageant and tableau- 

The Three Wisemen!

They travel from a far, foreigners coming to pay tribute to the newborn King of the Jews. 

We know very little about them from Matthews account: don't know why they cared about a Jewish king, what motivated them to go looking for him, nor why they brought expensive gifts. The gift giving of the Magi was the early inspiration for giving gifts at Christmas- long before Santa Claus was invented.

Holy imagination has painted us a full picture of these regal visitors- and inspired other stories.

There's O'Henry's short story "The Gift of the Magi"- the tale of a young couple living on the edge, who each sells the thing of most value they have to buy a gift for the other.














There's "Amal and the Night Visitors"- the first opera written for American television, which tells the story of a poor crippled boy and his mother, who encounter the Wisemen and find both healing and a king to follow.

There's The Little Drummer Boy- a well-loved song written in America and recorded by The Trapp Family Singers in 1955. "I'll play my drum for him. Pa-rum-pa-pa-pum!"

And perhaps most poignant is Henry Van Dykes "The Story of the Other Wisemen"- the guy who missed the camel train, because he was helping those in need. Who spends thirty years seeking Jesus, giving away the gifts he had brought in the process to help people along the way. 

After thirty three years he arrives in Jerusalem in time for the crucifixion. He spends his last treasure, the pearl, to ransom a young woman from slavery. He is struck by a falling roof tile in the temple and is about to die, fearing he has failed, when he hears a voice saying, 'Verily I say unto thee, inasmuch as thou hast done it unto the least of these, thou has done it unto me." 
And he dies in a calm radiance of wonder and joy- he has found his King.


This last story seems to most compellingly answer the question: What gift would Jesus want?

So here's an idea: Since our Christmas gift-giving is inspired most by the Santa Claus model- perhaps during Epiphany we can again be inspired by the gift-giving of the Magi -those whose arrival begins the season - and these stories they have inspired.

We can let the Wisemen ride off after the Feast of Epiphany, and return home. Or perhaps we can join the search of The Other Wiseman- looking for Jesus, and helping others along the way.

What if we spent the season of Epiphany giving gifts to Jesus- "for inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these... ye have done it unto me."?

Child in a Manger-Growing Up Jesus

I had a recent conversation with my 20 year old daughter in which I reminisced about what a fun time it was when her and her brother where little kids. I recalled fondly her ever-present smile and creative energy.

Jordyn, Justin and Dad after building a driftwood fort on Kenai Lake late 90's.

She replied: "I'm glad I was a fun kid for you, dad."

The unspoken sub-text here, from a young lady who is working so hard at adulthood, was: " Is it not cool me being an adult, dad? Did you prefer me as a kid?"

And of course I am very proud of her and her brother as they mature, and enjoy they're increasingly equal company (but darn they were cute kids).

Jordyn and Justin summer 2012

Now, though, we can share so many more things- Bob Dylan, The Beatles and Bach- not just Baby Beluga.

We get to talk literature beyond Harry Potter.

World history, philosophy, politics, religion, spirituality, world views, psychology- so many more ideas to explore.

We can build a house together. Ski at the same pace. Drive separately.

But we also get to talk about navigating college and careers, automobile ownership, travel costs and insurance, taxes and cost-of-living, budgeting, sex, relationships, mind-altering substances and internet safety.

The complexity has increased.

It's the same with Christmas.

We celebrate the birth of a baby full of promise and possibility.

But it gets more complicated.

Christmas is probably the funnest, most celebrative - and in some ways, least complicated - part of the church year.

But Jesus doesn't stay a cute baby in a manger- he can't. None of us can.

He was born for a mission- and a big one at that!

The kingdom of God on earth is a big job! It is realized only through God becoming flesh.

First in Jesus- and then in you and me!

Jesus is growing up - are we with him?

Sing We Now of Christmas

Unto Us a Child is Born
And his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace

It's that time of year again: we remember the birth of Jesus of Nazareth -  also called the Prince of Peace, the Son of Righteousness, the Anointed One.

It's the perfect time for those of us who seek to follow him to ask ourselves how that's going for us.

The answer may surprise you.

Evidently we live in one of the most peaceful times in world history since Jesus was born. Seriously- and that's including two World Wars, Stalin's Russia and Mao's China. And now's not a bad time to take a look at the broad view.

Noted Linguist Steven Pinker, chronicles the decline in world violence in this fascinating video:

Steven Pinker: The Surprising Decline in World Violence

Given the horrible violence in our own society in just the past year, we may wonder about this. Particularly we might seem curious as to why some countries are doing better than others. Part of the answer might lie in the chart below:

Top 20% > $91,000   Bottom 20% < $19,000
See the full discussion: How Income Inequality Harms Society

What's interesting to note here is that the United States- a Christian nation - is having the most difficulty, while Japan - where less than 1 percent of the population is Christian- is doing the best. Hmmm...

My Soul Magnifies the Lord

Singing along with Mary

Mary starts the seasons' music. How's our harmony as the season goes along?

My soul magnifies the Lord

And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior;

Because he has regarded the lowliness of his handmaid;

For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed;

Becuase he who is mighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his name;

And his mercy is from generation to generation

on those who fear him.

He has shown might with his arm.

he has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.

He has put done the mighty form their thrones,

and has exalted the lowly.

he has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent empty away.

Have you ever noticed which part of the Magnificat our beautiful Christmas carols, anthems and songs reflect? The beginning is certainly well reflected- but what of the later part?

The latter part seems to foreshadow Jesus' own sense of why he was born, which he proclaimed in the synagogue in Nazareth:

God's spirit is upon me;
he's chosen me to preach the Message of good news to the poor,
Sent me to announce pardon to prisoners
and recovery of sight to the blind.
To set the burdened and battered free,
to announce, 'This is God's year to act!"
Luke 4:18-19 The Message

Away in  Manger No Crib for a Bed

Taking the Christmas story literally.

Pope Benedict recently took it upon himself to point out that the Christmas story as we currently remember it is quite embellished  For instance, he relates, there are no animals recorded in the Bible (To which Stephen Colbert retorted: "You know what else isn't in the Bible- the Pope!" If you didn't know Stephen was RC, you'd think he was a Lutheran!)

What if we did take the Christmas story literally- before the embellishments?  What if we read it as the first hearers would have: as a political protest against the religious and governmental powers who were not doing justice, loving mercy and walking in the way God had called them too?

Instead, they were oppressing the poor and putting burdens on them that they were unable to carry- as Jesus would later call them out on. So Rome and Jerusalem were by-passed when God sent the Messiah. Instead, Jesus was born to the poor and powerless-in the little town of Bethlehem (re-designated "The city of David" as that was actually Jerusalem, if you will recall)- that's what these stories literally tell us.

That should probably be a prominent theme in our singing, no?

Ye Who Now Will Bless the Poor...

In Good King Wenceslas' footsteps

What if it is literally true that Jesus came to bring good news to the actual poor - not necessarily the poor in spirit, as we in our affluence would prefer to hear it.

What if he came to pardon actual prisoners- not necessarily just those of us held captive by compulsions, addictions and bad habits?

This last question about prisoners hits incredibly close to home, as in the last 40 years the US prison population has increased dramatically until we now have incarcerated 25% of the worlds prisoners- even though we only have 6% of the population. The reality, too, is that this these are not violent crime offenders- which have steadily been dropping during this same period-  but disproportionately minorities arrested in the war on drugs.

Bryan Stevenson - Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative, and recent recipient of the Smithsonian American Ingenuity Award,  makes the case that this is the new Jim Crow- the new slavery. He reports, that 1 out of every 3 black men between the ages of 18 and 32 are either incarcerated,  on probation or have a criminal record.  (How does our voice sound when protesting other countries human rights violations with this board in our own eye?)

Is it really possible that we could make racial discrimination illegal, and then turn around and use the same legal system to remove racial minorities from the larger culture?

This is a stark realization for me as I have a young man I am close to who will be home for Christmas this year, but most likely would be in jail if he had been black- instead of white, with a dad who could afford to hire him a good  lawyer, and professional relatives who could lobby the judge on his behalf. This is a bitter-sweet realization, where the happiness I feel for him and his family is damped by the reality that others are behind bars because of the color of their skin and their economic status.

The  bigger picture is here::

Bryan Stevenson: We Need to Talk About an Injustice

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

And what do our celebrations look like?

Much of our celebration impulses are actually probably older than Jesus (but not Methuselah!) 

We will -as indigenous peoples and our ancestors have done for millennium -  pull our families and friends closer, tell story's that give us hope and encouragement  have potlatches and feasts, and entertain ourselves to make us laugh, smile and enjoy each other's company. There is a compelling need to fill our lives with beauty, light and warmth, as the days grow colder, darker and shorter - especially those of us in the Great White North.

The power of this impulse is especially felt when someone (or you yourself) does not make it home for Christmas.  This year our daughter will not be home for the holidays for the first time (interestingly, she will be in Rome seeing the Pope!) And Bing Crosby not withstanding, dreaming about her being home just doesn't cut it (Skype is much better!)

He is Born, the Divine Christ Child

 We celebrate a possibility

And we sing of salvation:

Be near me Lord Jesus

I ask you to stay

close by me forever 

and love me I pray.

Bless all the dear children

in Thy tender care,

And fit us for heaven 

to live with Thee there.

What kind of salvation are we singing of- and for whom?

We pray every Sunday- "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, ON EARTH as it is in heaven."

Is this salvation for the poor? The prisoners? 

Or do they have to wait until heaven to experience what you and I get to live every day?

Of course, we give to the poor - we provide charity- and probably more so at this time of year.

But as Lutheran Preacher David Lose points out (quoting the song by Jackson Browne):

“if any one of us should interfere / In the business of why there are poor / They get the same as the rebel Jesus.”

(Click to see his blog post on this)

And I would add: why there are so many people in our jails.

If we are followers of Jesus, is it enough to simply provide short-term relief  and not also work to change the dynamics that creates the problem?

Which Shall Be to ALL People

Good tidings, great joy, salvation!

So with our emotional bank accounts full of holiday cheer, good will and energy that we accumulate during this season, can we sing particularly:

Surely he taught us to love on another,

His law is love and his gospel is peace.

Chains will he break for the slave is our brother.

And in his name all oppression shall cease.

Will we then- in his name- be a part of ending the oppression? 

O Come, All Ye Faithful...

God’s Spirit is on YOU;

He's chosen YOU to preach the Message of good news to the poor,
Sent you to announce pardon to prisoners
and recovery of sight to the blind,
To set the burdened and battered free.
To announce "2013 is God's year to act!"