This Sunday’s Lectionary has some classics. Like Micah 6:8, coming at the end of God’s complaint – because the people thought wrongly that worship is an adequate substitute for living right. (Or as it’s said in the sitcom, The Big Bang Theory, “I don’t object to the concept of a deity, but I’m baffled by the notion of one that takes attendance.”) “6:8 He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”. This verse was Jimmy Carter’s motto. Also like the Beatitudes. Maybe it’s not about analysing passages like this, but about hearing them and doing them.
Sometimes my train of thought takes the form of a replacement bus. One such train in the night brought me to the idea I had 40-odd years ago that the most violent football hooligans were fans of teams that had recently been good, but weren’t any more. ISTR at the time, this was Spurs, no longer in the Blanchflower days. And then I woke up to this. It also reminded me of local anti-United graffiti, ranging from downright offensive (“Manchester City celebrate Munich 1958”) to amusing (after the new Manchester City inflicted a crushing, epoch-changing defeat on United, “Do you have problems with football? If so, call the Manchester football helpline, 0161 616 1616”). And then the bus came to a halt with the thought that maybe this applies to other allegiances, not just football… that extremism and violence grow more easily when your allegiance is to something once-great, but now a bit rubbish, be it a nation or a denomination.
Anyway, hate is not the Jesus way. A couple of notes about this – (i) Don’t underestimate how hard it is to live like this. (ii) This is not about becoming entirely passive – you’ve still got to be ‘salty’ – think of how Jesus himself challenged people…. non-violence can still have great power and integrity. The Beatitudes give us some insight into God’s priorities here.
Another walk in the canal series last Saturday, this time taking us into the edge of Yorkshire, at Wilsden. A big thank you to the heritage centre at Littleborough, for their information and hospitality.
God of love,
in what universe is your kingdom going to happen?
When I see big men, not blessed with meekness,
they seem to be the ones to inherit the earth.
It feels all wrong…
Your kingdom come, God,
one earth as in heaven.
Amen.