It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be put to shame in any way, but that by my speaking with all boldness, Christ will be exalted now as always in my body, whether by life or by death.
Whether by life or by death. Those words are our north star. They get right to the radical, mysterious, counterintuitive promise that distinguishes our faith from the state religions of Pharaoh and of Caesar. While ancient empires gave elaborate praise and sacrifice to their fickle, heartless gods in hope of power, victory, wealth or a long life, we trust an eternally abiding, loving Mother who promises us all good things, a God who never abandons us, protecting and supporting us in our sickness, our losses, our poverty and our death. We don’t pray for victory or wealth, because we don’t depend upon those things for our wellbeing. Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who weep now. Blessed are you when people hate you.
What a tragedy it is, then, when the materialist, triumphalist propaganda of American culture drowns out the quiet wisdom of the Beatitudes. The “rugged frontier” mythology of our colonial history tells us we need to win, to conquer, to be Number One. Magazines and Instagram teach us to covet the lifestyles of the rich and famous. We mistake billionaires for prophets. We entrust our safety and security to the Sacred Gun. We pray for easy answers and shortcuts: a winning lottery ticket, a miracle cure, some deus ex machina.
Courage isn’t sure of victory; it steps quietly into the darkness.
Ever present, ever patient Mother God,
turn us back to You.
Open our hearts
to receive the true,
simple courage
of trust in You,
in all times, places
and circumstances.
Amen.
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