Our reading from Isaiah reminds us that the end of the exile was not necessarily a fun time to be a Jew. Those who had been exiled to Iraq for sixty years believed they were God's Chosen People, as he had loved them enough to chasten them for the unfaithfulness but was now bringing them home. Actually, about twenty percent returned, for most had flourished in the new homeland. Those never exiled -- basically northern kingdom folk and Samaritans -- believed that
they were God's Chosen People and true believers, therefore spared loss of their homeland. They did not like the religious liberalism that had been embraced by the Jewish exiles whilst in Babylon (Iraq) where the prime Talmud was written. At this time of great division, Second Isaiah reminds them that God remains supreme, is still at work in history, and has a vision worth waiting for and trusting God to bring to reality. [As a footnote, Jewish authorities just recently have reversed course and acknowledged the Samaritans as a manifestation of Judaism!]
The past week has been painful for Americans. Once again American voters picked one candidate and the Electoral College chose the other, Donald Trump. The run-up to the election was the very nastiest, disrespectful and hateful election season I have ever experienced. Now, with the decision made, the disaffected are protesting and causing damage because things didn't go their way. I find their frustration understandable, but their behaviour disappointing. Like those post-exile Jews, the American People remain deeply divided.
Contributing to the hostilities has been a Christian Establishment much of which long ago gave up Jesus' teachings to follow their own politically correct script. Renewed faithfulness to the Lord's message can make us part of the solution instead of the problem. I won't even go into pacifism, our Lord's radical commitment to peace and the Religious Right's love affair with weaponry and wars. Let us begin now by first considering selfishness. Jesus taught us to love God and our neighbour as much as ourselves, to see the image of God in all God's children and to put them first, which we accomplish not only on a personal level but in political policy. Conventional wisdom suggests, as President-Elect Trump has said, that "selfishness is good," the foundation of our economic system. And many false prophets teach "prosperity theology," Jesus wants you to be filthy rich as a sign of his blessing, and those in want are not esteemed of God or don't have enough faith. What hogwash! This easily translates into the voter deciding he wants more personal tax cuts, regardless of the effect on the poor and needy, and even if roads and bridges collapse along with public education. It's all about 'looking out for number one.' Jesus, by contrast, has told us to be servant people for others. Doing that will help heal the nation.
A second gap between our "Christian" culture and the values promoted by the Saviour involves fear. We see ignorance leading to fear, and fear to violence. People are afraid of change, which occurs at an ever-increasing rate and is inevitable. People are afraid of uncertainty, especially terror which is typically unpredictable. People are afraid of those they don't understand -- different races, different religions, different cultural heritages -- and so judge, exclude, and demonize them. Jesus embraced the outsider and the outcast. He loved and served the lowly and the lonely. And Jesus has shared with us the antidote for fear: "Do not live in fear, little flock, it has pleased my Father to give you the Kingdom." We've also biblical assurance that "Perfect love casts out fear." To be in love with God and God's children is how we live into the kind of trust in God that overcomes fears and anxieties and empowers us to accomplish the divine will on earth as it is in heaven.
Let us actually begin to practise the way of life taught by our Lord, trusting that in doing so we will be able to overcome the original sin of selfishness and defeat our fears. Let us be part of the solution to the terrible divisions in our country -- people who build bridges instead of burning them, people who choose to lift up and serve others instead of demeaning them, people who take their Christianity seriously and refuse to water down or redefine it to serve selfish ends. And, as we find ways to live into genuine Christianity, let us remember that God has a Vision for the faithful. Wait for it, it will surely come!
