Division

04Nov
'I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! From now on, five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided:
father against son
  and son against father,
mother against daughter
  and daughter against mother,
mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law
  and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’
-Luke 12:49-53


When I saw the scripture assigned for today, the day before a highly contested national election, I immediately wrote Maria back with a big question mark. What in the world is the Holy Spirit up to? This reading? On this day?! So I prayed on it. A lot. 


Being on the Vestry for several years and reading through hundreds of comments from Parish surveys, I have often heard the sentiment that “Trinity should stay out of politics.” That politics are too divisive. Too uncomfortable. But let’s review the definition of politics:  


Politics is the set of activities that are associated with making decisions in groups, or other forms of power relations among individuals, such as the distribution of status or resources.


Under this definition, we really can’t read the Gospels, nay, the Bible, without engaging in politics. The entire Biblical story is essentially about how the People of God make decisions, as a group, to live within or outside of God’s teachings. The church, the body of Christ with many members, has to collectively make decisions regarding the distribution of power and resources. Ideally, we do this informed by our faith. Also, as affirmed by today’s reading, we can’t expect this process to be easy or comfortable. As Jesus says, he came to “bring fire to earth,” to bring “division.” 


Granted, I don’t think Jesus was speaking of the partisan division we are experiencing this election cycle. I personally think he is referring to the painful shifting of relational tectonic plates that occurs when one side chooses to live into God’s calling and the other continues to cling to worldly ways. 


This is how it has played out in my own life: There is a disagreement. There is an argument. I assess my position against my faith. I read the scriptures. I pray. I pray more. And when I feel the Spirit alight and confirm my position, I am given the strength to persevere, even if the relationship cracks and division is the result. Alternatively, sometimes the Spirit alights, whispers, “Sweet Girl, you are on the wrong path” and I am granted the strength to pursue forgiveness and reconciliation is the result. 


Either path requires me to humbly “walk with God”, as Trinity’s mission statement demands. I have to take the diagnostic. Am I “loving God with all my heart, soul, and mind” and “loving my neighbor as myself?” Or am I trying to shove the camel through the eye of the needle? Or hacking away at the speck in my friend’s eye, blinded by the log in my own? 


I’ve found that the same process works when choosing a candidate or policy decision. Will the policy or candidate work with “humility, and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace” (Ephesians 4 1:4). If the answer is no, I know which side I’m called to be on, even if it is at odds with the position of my friends and family. 


This is hard, humbling work. It is not comfortable. It may very well drive us into conflict or separate us for a time from our loved ones, our friends, and our institutions. But, if we choose to follow Jesus, it’s what we are called to do. And we don’t do it alone. We are surrounded by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit each step of the way. 


As we face the election tomorrow, let us pray together. Let’s remember that the church is the body of Christ and while the right hand may not like what the left hand is doing (or how it votes), they cannot exist separated from each other. Consider attending the Election Day Chapel at Trinity, and take comfort, as I will, knowing that Jesus said “where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there among them” (Matthew 18:20). 


Musical Reflection - America the Beautiful - Ray Charles


Almighty God, to whom we must account for all our powers and privileges: Guide the people of the United States (or of this community) in the election of officials and representatives; that, by faithful administration and wise laws, the rights of all may be protected and our nation be enabled to fulfill your purposes; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

BCP 822

FaithLove Your NeighborCommunity

Previous Page

Date
Category
Author
Latest Posts
Tags
#absalomjones, #abundance, #advent, #advent #preparation #waiting, #anger, #antiracist, #archive #crisis #strength, #archive #treasure #heaven, #art, #ashwednesday, #ashwednesday #preservation #labor, #awe #reverence #fear, #bannedbooks, #baptism #discernment #support #covenant, #bathroomfloor #damascus #women, #beatitudes #allsaints, #belonging #america, #beloved, #bible #authority #religious #thinplace, #bible #forgiveness #prodigalson, #blessing #loveyourneighbor, #breathe #silence #love, #brothers #jesus #father #faith, #burden #rest #peace, #camp #loss #death #humble #humility, #change, #change #renewal #growth, #children #education #faith #formation, #children #parenthood #graduation #bittersweet, #christmas #stnicholas, #commandments, #communication #words #voice, #community #welcome #unity, #confession #paul #imperfection #failings, #courage #parable, #creation, #creation #love #space, #crucifix #cross, #david #goliath, #death #allsaints #winter, #death #loss #grief #memory, #discernment #presence, #disciples #evangelism, #division, #divorce, #enemy, #enneagram #grace, #faith #jesus, #fear, #forever, #formation, #friendship, #good, #good #evil, #gratitude #mercy, #gratitude #sing #nature, #halloween, #halloween #allsouls, #healing #leper #miracles, #help, #help #thanks #wow, #history #love #women #justice #friendship, #humanity, #humility, #hymn, #inclusivity #diversity #allarewelcome, #individualism #wealth #camel #excess #humility, #injustice #racism #unconditionallove, #jesus #joy #suffering, #johnthebaptist, #joseph #jesus #prison #forgiveness #family, #journey #pilgrims #companions, #joy #example #light, #joy #faith #perserverance #psalm, #joy #fun #mission #medicalmission, #joy #trials #overcome #faith #endurance, #justinmartyr #civildiscourse #jesus, #keepcalm, #king #judgement #government, #kingdom, #kingdom #disciples, #kingdom #god #life #story, #light, #light #darkness #holyspirit, #light #gratitude #joy #awe #miracles, #listening, #love, #love #gratitude #peace, #love #imperfection #mother #flowers, #love #light #loveyourneighbor, #loveyourneighbor, #lyric #music #harmony #emotions #paul, #mardigras, #martinluther, #mary #joseph #jesus, #mary #martha #jesus, #marymagdalene #resurrection, #matthew #jesus #compassion #labor #suffering, #medicalmission #joy #prayer #healing, #medicalmission #youth #joy #laughter #connection, #memorialday #sacrifice #gratitude, #methodist #episcopal #eucharist, #ministry #work #labor, #miracle #friendship, #mission #medicalmission #healing #pentecost, #mission #medicalmission #serve #perserverance #loveyourneighbor, #missionstatement #inspired #strives #loveyourneighbor #dojustice #walkhumbly #archives, #money #fishing, #muppets #sabbath, #nativeamerican #land #blackfriday, #nature #retreat #moses, #neighbor #love #selflove #greatestcommandment, #painter #sailing, #parent #father #wisdom #family, #paul, #paul #jesus #authenticity #genuine, #paul #voice, #payphone #love, #peace #worry #martha #mary #vietnam #college, #perseverance, #peter #jesus #light #dark, #poetry #thanksgiving, #prayer, #prayer #grief #loss #pets, #prayer #peace, #prepare #crisis #faith #storm #jesus #archives, #psalms #mother #grandmother #gratitude, #psalms #rejoice #blessing, #quiet #retreat, #rage #unfairness #forgiveness #prayer, #rebirth #redemption #reconciliation #psalm #valley, #refuge, #remember #open #cryout #keep, #remembrance #september11, #rest, #retirement, #reward #loss #service #alcoholicsanonymous, #rock #support #foundation, #roshhashanah #judaism, #salvation #trust, #school #love #parents, #seeingjesus #hearinggod #vessel #handsandfeet, #selfrighteous #reconciliation, #serenityprayer #mary #martha, #serve #churchfamily, #solomon #failure, #standrew, #stars, #storms #peace #stainedglass, #story, #taize #prayer #listen, #teep #david #goliath #tlf, #tencommandments #sundayschool, #time #value #patience, #time #value #space, #todo #christmas, #tolerance, #transfiguration #mountaintop, #trees, #truth, #turntheothercheek, #waiting, #walkinlove, #weather #hurricane, #weddings #love #corinthians #patience, #williamtemple #singing, #witness #patience #presence #waiting, #women #mothers, #worry #trust, #worship #manygods #onegod, #wrangling #language, 12 steps, conviction, death, depression, doubt, easter, enemies, envy, eternal, eucharist, faith, female, grace, grief, holy spirit, hope, hypocrisy, jesus, judgement, love, make a difference, martyrs, medical mission, meditation, mental health, mission, mother, path, paul, pause, peace, peter, plan, power, powerless, presence, psalms, radiant, refuge, service, wisdom, youth

Stay Connected

Sign up to receive news and announcements from Trinity Church.

Sign Up