Messengers

As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” - Romans 10:15

Everyone knows that there is no shortage of bad news these days.  We hear frightening things about the climate, disturbing things about other nations and upsetting things about our own leaders every time we turn on the radio.  All this fearful news has the ability to sow chaos and discord among us as a society.  In this environment, we could easily become a people completely divided into factions, circling the wagons, fearing (or hating) anyone who is different than we are.

Jesus tells us over and over again: Do not fear!  It is when you're afraid that you're much more likely to be suspicious, judgemental or hateful.  It's when you're afraid that you become a bearer of bad news, contributing to the chaos as you jump into the fray of criticizing and demonizing those whom you fear.

We'll be celebrating the feast day of Jonathan Daniels on August 20.  People like him - and like Mother Theresa, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Dietrich Bonhoeffer - people who are the bearers of good news - it is clear that they've put fear aside and chosen to love instead.  They love people who are different than they are.  They love those who are poor or outcast.  They love despite all odds in the face of hatred.  They are bearers of good news even in situations that are in themselves really bad news.  They may not feel lovey dovey toward their enemies, but they nonetheless choose to love them - love as an active verb.  Love as a spiritual discipline.

Who are the messengers of good news today?  We all can be.  We all have the ability to choose not to buy into the "us vs. them" environment we live in.  We all have been given the invitation to be bridges instead of a rocky shore.  Doing so does not mean you cast aside your opinions and overlook injustice.  It does mean, though, that one of the top opinions you choose to hold onto is that every human being is a child of God, no matter how much you disagree with them.

It is hard to swim against the tide of negativity, especially when the tide feels so huge and overwhelming. But as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

Our Sunday Readings are HERE

Note that we are using the "Track 2" readings during the Season after Pentecost.