When the powers that be are corrupt, oppressive, and idolatrous, the people of faith take to the streets to proclaim, in contrast, the power of love. This is the story of Palm Sunday and last weekend (with 1,300 Hands Off rallies around the nation).
James Baldwin wrote: "Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced."
The events we commemorate on Holy Week--the arrest, torture, and killing of Jesus--remind us that these times, living under a dominant and uncaring government, are not unique to us. But let us also remember the lessons of a shared meal, humble service to others, praying together in a garden, and relationships of support (whether fearfully locked in a room together or walking in grief to the tomb with others). Ultimately, our faith proclaims violence and death do not have the last word.
While we cannot always stop the manufactured chaos around us, we can refuse to let it define us. Cameron Trimble writes that our faith is about becoming steady in the storm. Resilience isn't just a buzzword. It's spiritual practice.
"It is the work of breathing deeply when fear grips us. It is the choice to care for our bodies and our relationships. It is the quiet courage of refusing to mirror the madness of those in power. Chaos is contagious, but so is calm. In these turbulent times, you are not powerless. You are not alone. We have ancestors and teachers who walked through storms, and they remind us to breathe, strengthen our hearts, and care for our neighbors."
While chaos shouts, love whispers — and endures. We're in this together,
RevKelly
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