Jesus, in his parables
often suggests that each of us has an impact
an impact, often, far beyond what we understand
we are salt
we are light
we are yeast
we are seeds,
that blossom into a bountiful harvest,
or perhaps into weeds
sometimes Jesus seems to be talking about us as
individuals
sometimes he is clearly talking about us as a “movement”
always he is talking about us
as those permeated with the Sacred (the Spirit)
but the implication is there that who we are
how we are
makes a difference
it matters, how we act
it matters, what we say
it matters, what kind of energy we put into the world,
into the space around us
truth begets peace and peace begets more peace
truth begets love and love begets more love
generosity begets help and help begets more help
compassion begets healing and healing begets more healing
and don’t forget joy
on the other hand
lies beget violence and violence begets more violence.
hate begets division and division begets more division
greed begets inequity, and inequity begets more inequity
(poverty)
our world is in chaos
chaos born out of lies, hate, and greed
chaos marked by violence, division, injustice, and
poverty
chaos fed by people who are choosing to lie
spread hate and fear
enable injustice and inequity
Because they want power
those who lead must truly understand
how powerful they are
how dangerous their silence or embracing of lies and
violence truly are,
how helpful their efforts to promote truth, and justice,
and generosity really are
Jesus was aware of the power of leaders for good or ill
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in
sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you
will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from
thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad
fruit…. by their fruit you will
recognize them.” (Matthew 7)
Jesus demanded accountability from the leaders of this
world
Religious or otherwise
and he asked for those who follow to be alert
to truly be aware of what kind of leader a person happens
to be
we should see, by what they produce, whether a leader is
worth following
what are they producing, love or hate?
what are they drawing out of us, violence or peace?
what do their policies engender, equity or inequity?
is their leadership good for the poor, or for the rich?
is their leadership based on truth, or lies?
are they servant leaders, or people who love to dominate,
control, and use?
each of us has an impact
what kind of impact do our words (or our silence)
our actions
our votes have?
what kind of fruit are we, is our party, our nation
producing?
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