Yesterday’ preaching text was Luke’s version of the Lord’ Prayer. I am always taken by the communal nature of the prayer – i.e. “our bread, our trespasses/sins/debts‘ deliver us, lead us not . . .”
I became more aware, sometime in the last 2 decades, while co-leading a Bible study of this text/prayer just how communal it was. I was teaching about “ give us this day our daily bread” in a community where hunger and need for clean drinking water were daily issues. Who was I to have such regular abundance when these new friends, these children of God, these people who also prayed for “our daily bread,” would go hungry more often than not?
There are definitely orchestrated political and economic policies and events which exacerbate (if not institute) these situations. In the US it is frowned upon to mention such things from the pulpit, lest the preacher be deemed “too political.”
I mentioned them from the pulpit yesterday. I spoke of starving children in Gaza and the forces that were letting food ROT rather than let it feed the hungry. That’s about as far as I went with it when I started to note a few people giving each other that look that says “she’s gone about as close to the line as she can without crossing it.” I will respect that look until God calls me to do otherwise. I have been with this beloved congregation nearly 13 years and I love what we are able to do within the constraints of communal decision-making.
So, I started this blog – for those things about which I feel compelled to explore further. It reflects my opinions in the midst of my own calling and discernment to see Jesus “in the least of these.” (Mt 25) and to “do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with my God.” (Micah 6:8)
I stumbled across this hymn today by a very talented contemporary hymn writer. Musicians, artists, and poets have the ability to take us into places that preachers often cannot. You may recognize the tune from “Oh sacred head now wounded.”
What we have done/not done for the “least of these” is our message on how we have treated Jesus.
RDP WRITES 