embracing an inconvenient truth

“Few men are willing to brave the disapproval of their peers, the censure of their colleagues, the wrath of their society. Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence. Yet it is the one essential, vital quality for those who seek to change a world that yields most painfully to change.”

 Robert F. Kennedy

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Once upon a time there was a man

who rode into a city, knowing he would die

knowing, that even as the crowds gathered

and Hosannas were shouted

knowing that even though people celebrated his arrival

his presence would be intolerable

For he came

this odd man of peace and love

bearing with him a way revolutionary

and deviant

a way so alien to the patterns of belief

and attitude and behavior

that they would not be able to endure it

He knew he was the pointed stick

poking the hornets nest

and that with his coming all hell would break loose

he came that hot afternoon

as the dust swirled up from beneath the hooves

of that plodding donkey

as the cheers echoes

and the branches waved

bringing peace into a world that depended on violence

bringing meekness into a world that worships power

bringing love to world that delights in enmity

bringing servanthood to world that seeks dominance

he was a walking, talking breathing indictment

of those who sat in the halls of power

and controlled the access to Yahweh

he walked into ground zero

and looking the way of power and greed

the way of hate and violence said

“this stops here”

And those who would not, could not

Let go of their hate,

And their lust for power

Those who could not release their death grip on their wealth

found him frightening, and painful

inconvenient

unbearable

and they removed him

and he?

he let them

for his very message had to be lived out to the end

he had called them to love

to compassion and generosity

to forgiveness, acceptance and inclusion

and they only way for him not to die

was to contradict, through his actions

everything he had taught

so he gently, like a lamb

allowed them to do their worst

which was as bad as it gets

they thought it was all over then

but it wasn’t

for you can’t kill Love

and this power, that was Jesus

this way he taught

is eternal

humanity can do its worst

it has done its worst

the cross, the crusades, the inquisition

Hitler’s Germany

Stalin’s Russia

Pol Pot and the killing fields

Lynched black people in America

children in cages

the 1% dominating, hoarding and oppressing

but still the Sacred

still Love will ultimately win

even if the world explodes

even if we destroy the planet on which we live

Love will win

Jesus knew that

And so he rode into Jerusalem

Knowing he would die

Knowing too, I believe (although there may have been moments

When the human part of him had its doubts)

That death would become life

And ending a beginning,

And that love would win

Jesus still comes

he comes into our midst

bringing with him a way that is difficult

he is an inconvenient truth

telling us that if we want Love to rule

we have to engage in a different way of doing life

the question is

what do we do with Jesus when he comes?

do we embrace the pain of the world?

do we life others up?

do we forgive?

do we feed the poor, clothe the naked?

do we provide housing

and healthcare?

Do we welcome the stranger?

Do we fight for justice?

or do we double down

using and abusing power

grasping and hording wealth

shaming the poor

excluding the stranger?

do we shout hosanna

and claim the name

but functionally kill the one who comes?

remaining trapped in the ooze and slime and old decay (CS Lewis)

Once upon a time, the true light that gives light to everyone came into the world.

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.

He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name,

he gave the right to become children of God—  (John 1)

the light still comes

do we recognize him

more importantly, do we receive him

this inconvenient truth

and do we live that awkward beautiful difficult way

that marks

the children of God?