Finally, a religious leader with a conscience, a backbone, and a moist heart actually paying attention to and taking seriously the biblical call to care for the anawim—those bowed down from the weight of op-press-ion—and announcing it for the nation’s citizens and the calloused abusers of power to abide by. Thank you Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde for stepping up to the ambo, keeping faith with your vocation as spiritual guide of a Christian household of faith to preach the gospel of Jesus, speak truth to power, and emphasize the mercy, compassion, and justice at the core of the Christ-life. It would have been so easy, so popular with so many, to debase a religious service and reduce it to a polite game of patty-cake, patty-cake. Good for you, and for us that you didn’t cave to opposing pressure. And to your message, Donald Trump asked for an apology for stepping on the toes of the king (in his mind). AN APOLOGY?!!!

Those of us apprenticing ourselves to Jesus of Nazareth must encourage and support one another in staying the course of kindness, compassion, and justice and never apologize for nor dodge the vision of the reign of God Jesus announced and embodied so that God’s dream might come true “on earth as it is in heaven.” The realization of the reign of God, in which all Christians are summoned to participate—whether they know that or not—trumps all political party allegiances and is the measure by which we are to take inventory of our lives.

America first, the path of American isolationism, bullying bloviating bravado, chest-beating, venomous vindictiveness upon waking and before going to bed and all the minutes in between, a platform of personal vengeance is mine (NO! It’s not. Read your bible DT. Yes, the one you didn’t lay your hand on), congenital arrogance—we will now call it the Gulf of America, we will now call it Mount McKinley (say what? The native people were here first? Pay no nevermind).

Let’s take back the Panama Canal by force, let’s twist Greenland’s arm like my ol’ man and I twisted the arms of our tenants for decades, let’s drill, drill, drill because we’re America and no one can stop us and climate change is a hoax so while we’re at it on Day One let’s drop out of the Paris Accord, and while we’re at it let’s become a gated community and keep out all the undesirables, all those “criminals” dressed in their Halloween costumes looking ever so much like fathers and mothers and children fleeing violence, the cartels, injustice, systemic poverty [please forgive my use of the word “systemic.” NOT!], hunger, and premature death. Instead, let’s release violent criminals and insurrectionists bent on preventing the transfer of power, let’s reserve the front row for the billionaires soon-to-be trillionaires, say there’s a new-old sheriff in town, use the office of the Presidency to immorally, if not illegally, amass obscene wealth, betray and disassemble two-hundred and fifty years of the American experience on its best days aimed at democracy.

It is our responsibility as Christ-folk to do all we can to hold the mirror (did I say Bible—especially the sayings and actions of the Hebrew prophets and Jesus) up to Donald Trump, his posse of so-called Christian advisors, his inner circle of shameless sycophants, his minion band of armed marauders, and the cowering, pathetic senators and congresspersons—many who profess to be Christians or people of faith—who speak out both sides of their mouths without so much as a blushed cheek, kiss the emperor’s ring, and stand by (lest they lose their “job” which is far more unacceptable to them than losing their dignity and integrity) rather than standing with the most vulnerable.

Let us remember that the greatness of a nation, no less than the greatness of a community, no less than the greatness of a faith community, a family, or a person is determined by how it treats the least of these. Put that on a ball cap and wear it. Or maybe put the words of Isaiah on a hat and make sure to italicize and sew in boldly that hinge word—Then:

If you break the chains of oppression
if you set the prisoner free*
If you share your bread with the hungry
Give protection to the lost
Give a shelter to the homeless
Clothe the naked in your midst
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn
(Isaiah 58:6)

* Mind you, Isaiah is not talking about the Proud Boys or the Oath Keepers or those who chanted “Hang Mike Pence!” or played any part in the injuries to 140 some U.S. Capital and Metropolitan Police officers involved in the January 6th insurrection intending to block the transfer of power to the elected President.

♦     ♦     ♦     ♦     ♦

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