Eastertide
May 6, 2022
Scripture Reading: Revelation 7:9-17
After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, saying,
‘Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!’
And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, singing,
‘Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom
and thanksgiving and honor
and power and might
be to our God forever and ever! Amen.’ –Revelation 7:9-12
With the state of the world today, I find it hard to imagine a world ruled by love where everyone has experienced salvation for hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth goodwill to men*. Government officials play games of divide and conquer jumping on the bandwagon of the latest divisive issue that has little or nothing to do with providing for the Common Good, the purpose of government. It may get them more votes and once elected they can continue to wheel and deal in greed and power, which often hurts their constituents. I was writing a report recently on poverty in Oklahoma. We rank very badly in most of the categories reported on the American Health Ranking**. Our Greatest Challenges were listed as a high premature death rate, a high prevalence of non-medical drug use, and a high percentage of households with food insecurity. The only one of those three I have heard any public official address recently is drug abuse.
Jesus’s birth, death, and resurrection had a purpose. We are called to help shepherd in a world where love rules not greed or power. We should never take that for granted and we should always live our lives in thanksgiving by fulfilling Christ’s vision.
Prayer: Open our hearts, spirits, and minds to serving you by doing our part to create a world ruled by love. Amen.
*From the hymn, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
**Data from https://www.americashealthrankings.org/explore/annual/measure/Overall_a/state/OK see also https://www.kff.org/statedata/?state=OK
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.