Lent
March 8, 2019
Scripture Reading: Romans 10:8b-13
The scripture says, ‘No one who believes in him will be put to shame.’ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ –Romans 10:11-13
We live in a world where some, even in the name of God, are trying to enhance their own powers by divide and conquer methods. Thus, we need to hold fast to the teaching the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. It is hard to play my god is better than your god when we finally agree there is only one God. Abraham is identified as the father of monotheism and is claimed as the father of Jews, Christians, and Muslims.
Jesus addresses this issue in Matthew 3:12: His winnowing-fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing-floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.’ And Matthew 25:32: All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
Only God can in the final analysis discern who is calling on God and who is using God to their own ends. Our job assignment does not include judgement. We were selected to love. Christ earned the judge assignment by already fulfilling the task of loving when he gave his life for all. That does not mean that we do not have to deal with the forces of evil that set us against each other while they thwart the very heart of Jesus’ teachings.
We had another incident of a young adult child killing his parents in Oklahoma City this week. This time reportedly because he sensed them telepathically telling him that they were Satanist. He has a history of mental illness as did the last such incident where a young man killed his father. Addressing the mental health needs of people was one of the examples Jesus set for us as he went about healing the sick. The least people of faith could do is call upon our government to provide quality mental health services to all who need it. Surely, the loving, healing care of people with both mental and physical illness is a life legacy left to us from Jesus. Health care is a right not a privilege and therefore must be a major component of the Common Good.
Prayer: Lord, guide us in seeking justice for those who cannot seek justice for themselves. Amen.