Holy Week and Hope

It’s not getting any easier. Life is hard enough without manufactured chaos. It’s difficult enough to be optimistic and calm without being inundated with divisive, hateful, self-serving information from so many directions at once.

But it’s nothing new. Jesus resisted the rich and powerful and the blind followers of the empire of fear and scarcity and greed. Still teaching with his actions even as his words faded. We would all do well to read the last six chapters of Luke this week. It will always be relevant to our lives.

Throughout the history of humanity, the powerful have come and gone, from all parts of the world. Periods of widespread peace and equality and stability are rare.

And yet. Over the long term it is love, gentleness, curiosity, cooperation and working for the common good that have advanced civilization. And those are the qualities we can nurture.

Being satisfied in the present moment.

Being kind.

Loosening attachments to prestige, covetousness and false separation between people are what bring us internal peace. Heaven on earth.

Peace in ourselves can spread peace to others.

And we can use our talents and interests and energy to make life easier and better for others.

99.9% of my genes are shared in common with every other human alive today. Many people are kinder to their cats, who share 90% or their dogs, who share only 82%. We are truly all brothers and sisters. Separations by gender, skin color, language, religion, socioeconomic status and nationality are false and harmful.

A new commandment was given - to love one another. As God has loved us, we must love each other. And Love each other as we love ourselves.

It’s the theme of Holy Week and is the theme of all of creation.

It’s not capitalism that will bring us heaven on earth- it’s love.

It’s not competition- it’s love.

It’s not systemic racism and misogyny and xenophobia - it’s only love.

Holy One, you are our hope. Be with us this coming week. Help us to see the big picture. One of eternity and love. Amen

Brandon is a member of Peace Church. And after more than 30 years of being a physician, he still loves meeting new brothers and sisters every day.