Living in the Spirit
June 1, 2018
Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:5-12
But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you. –2 Corinthians 4:5-12
I probably watch too much news. Inherited the trait from my father, I think. He was a farmer and was primarily interested in the weather but morning, noon, evening, and night we tuned in to news reports. The weather reports often defined my dad’s workday. If rain was projected for the next day, he would most likely have worked as late as possible bailing hay and hauling it to dry storage. Now I get pings on my cell phone telling me of a car crash near my home. I wonder what my dad would think about that. I am not particularly interested in car crashes; I do want to know if there is a tornado headed my way.
Hearing the news often leaves me afflicted in every way. At times I admit to being crushed; perplexed and even driven to despair as I hear of divisiveness, politicians who seem clueless to reality and unwilling to address desperate situations, and random killings in schools and restaurants. I just completed reading Ken Follett’s book The Pillars of the Earth and noticed that people in the 12th century CE were not too different from people today. I had already discovered that we very much resemble the people described by the prophet Amos from around 800 BCE.
Perhaps rather than being numbed by the news resulting in a state of chronic depression we should take my father’s example and use the threatening news as a springboard to positive work toward a better world. This is not a time to be timid. It is a time to share Christ’s message in word and in deed. It is the time to advocate for positive change in providing for the Common God. It is a time to counter divisiveness with dialogue. It is a time to love like Jesus loved. It is a time to rely on that extraordinary power belonging to God.
Prayer: Lord, grant us the courage to answer your call to creating a world that is one ruled by love. Amen.