Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Walk Humbly

Love Mercy

This God is subsequently revealed as a God of mercy, steadfast love, and faithfulness who is committed to covenantal relationships of fidelity.”
Walter Brueggemann

I learned yesterday that my son follows Pope Francis' Instagram feed. Think about that for a minute—my 32 year old, Baptist son follows a 79 year old Pope who communicates by Instagram. He finds the Pope's messages of hope, love and kindness to be Godly in a world where that's hard to find. Pope Francis reveals on a daily basis what it means to follow a God of mercy, love and faithfulness. I'm not Catholic, but this Pope is a shining beacon of hope for me and billions of others. When the world gets too crazy, or too dark, just go to the Pope's Instagram feed and you will feel lifted up.

Walter Brueggemann is an American Old Testament scholar, who, even in retirement, keeps reminding us that God requires we “act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.” (Micah 6:8) I don't know whether you believe in God, or what you call God if you do believe that there is an overarching source and power in the universe. It doesn't really matter to me. But I do know that whatever that Source is, it has nothing to do with what Brueggemann refers to as “Pharaoh's Production-Consumption Society.” It has nothing to do with the way we humans divide ourselves into religious, ethnic, or class-conscious camps and throw stones at one another. “When we live according to our fears and our hates, our lives are small and defensive, lacking the deep, joyous generosity of God...” (Brueggemann)

Today, let us act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with the Source of life, and with one another.

                                                               In the Spirit,
                                                                    Jane




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