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Primitive religion is not believed, it is danced!

Arthur Darby Nock

Earth's crammed with heaven,
And every common bush afire with God;
And only he who sees takes off his shoes;
The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries.

Elizabeth Browning



Tuesday, November 6, 2018

Its not easy (to follow Jesus)


Here's what Jesus never said: "Feed the hungry only if they have papers." "Clothe the naked only if they're from your country." "Welcome the stranger only if there's zero risk." "Help the poor only if it's convenient." "Love your neighbor only if they look like you."
                                                                                    Father James Martin
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It is not easy to follow Jesus
It is very easy, in a country that pretends to be Christian

To pay lip service to Jesus
To name drop Jesus

While not knowing him at all

At least one would never know it by their words
Or their attitudes
Or their actions

It’s not easy to follow Jesus
Because if you do, you can’t play it safe
You can’t play favorites

And, most of all, you can’t close your eyes
To the pain
The hurt
The poverty

Instead you have to embrace it

All of it

And you have to embrace God’s children
All of them

Which is why you have to feed the hungry
All the hungry
Just because they are hungry
Not because they “deserve” it,
Not because they have attended chapel
Or promised to “be better”
Or anything at all

Just because
God asks it
Just because, that is what following Jesus looks like

Which is also why you have to clothe the naked
House the homeless
Provide healthcare for the ill (or the “going to be” ill)

Which is why you welcome the stranger
Even if they are brown
And seek justice for all
Even if they as black

Which is why you protest
And sometimes kneel
It’s why you volunteer
And why you vote

And it’s why you pray
For those who take Jesus’ name in vain
And white knuckle the Holy Spirit so that you don’t hate
those who bully, lie, and name call, exclude and horde
and use power for evil instead of good

Following Jesus is all about love without limits
Loving God so much you dare to love others (and even yourself)

And it’s not for the faint of heart


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