As followers of Jesus, we are asked to be God’s hands and feet to share the Great Peace/Shalom. In reading the Gospels, Jesus brings hope and healing to the poor and challenges the rich. He would say “To whom much is given much is expected.” In God’s creation all wealth comes from God’s blessings coupled with human effort. But this wealth is meant to be used as needed to care for the poor and disadvantaged.
We see this care coming in the form of food, clothing, education, transportation, health care (mental and physical) and counseling services to name just a few. The fact is we all need help from time to time and some people simply need more than others. Withholding of help can easily be viewed as sin. Sometimes people justify the withholding of help feeling that some people simply are not worthy. Jesus says “Do not judge others.”
Recently we have witnessed an effort in Washington to reduce or eliminate programs that help the poor. A strong whiff of judgmentalism is replacing compassion, mercy, grace, forgiveness and justice. Our nation’s heart is hardening. The spirit of public service which has its roots in God’s peace is under attack. I want to bring this to your attention so that you don’t put your head in the sand as it shifts all around us.
It might come to pass that the chaos mentioned will settle down and begin to make sense. In the meantime, as followers of Jesus I invite you to pay attention to how people are negatively impacted by recent events. This becomes an emerging mission field for the people of God. Our ministries related to Pathways in Compassion and The St. John House run the risk of harm if federal resources are pulled away.
I ask you to stay vigilant. Christ is always coming to the aid of the poor and he comes through you. Pay attention, become informed, pray for peace and prepare for a measure of sacrifice if needed. Remember always to pick up your cross and follow Jesus.
These are the days of our lives. We have the opportunity to experience God’s light in a new way. Let us rejoice and be glad that through Christ we can make a difference in this world!
May God’s Peace Be with You,
Pastor Mark