Contemplating Today’s Culture through the Eyes of St. Francis
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
Put not your trust in rulers, nor in any child of earth,
for there is no help in them.
When they breathe their last, they return to earth,
And in that day their thoughts perish. Psalm 146:1-3
Hats are a world-wide phenomenon. There are felt hats, straw hats, baseball hats, beanie hats, cowboy hats, beach hats, and even fez hats (you can look that one up). Wearing a hat usually has a purpose such as keeping one’s head warm, hiding a bald spot, making one feel stylish, or suggesting a person is a dunce. Conversely, it can make one look intelligent and powerful. This type of hat may be worn as a crown by an authoritarian ruler.
During this recent election season, we were reminded by the Psalmist that any candidate who might long to wear the hat of a ruler is certainly in for a surprise. The Psalm instructs us to NOT put our trust in rulers, nor ANY child of the earth for there is NO HELP in them. No human being, no matter what their beliefs, party affiliation, or gender can be of any assistance. We do not know how a person’s life may be shortened, how their health will hold out, or how they will fair after an accident that jeopardizes their life. The Psalmist continues to say that when they die, they return to the ground. Their thoughts and promises disappear with them. In addition, no one in the future will remember their thoughts or plans.
As our election season comes to a close, there is more work for us to do. The life of a Christian goes on regardless of the direction or misdirection of a political party. We are all part of the ongoing restoration project that God seeks. The kingdom of God is not yet complete. As God creates a “new heaven and a new earth” (Revelation 21:1), we are emboldened and commanded in this post-election season to act like Christ, especially in the following ways:
1. Seek those who are on the outside, marginalized, and without status. Show them how they are loved by Christ (Luke 4:18-19).
2. Eagerly welcome strangers in your midst. Throughout scripture, hospitality to the stranger is embraced, especially in the Old Testament where the command to welcome strangers (Leviticus 19:33) is repeated multiple times.
3. Seek equity and justice for those who have been silenced, oppressed, or harmed. In the words of the prophet Isaiah, “Learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, and plead for the widow.” (Isaiah 1:17)
4. Become responsible truth-tellers. The eighth commandment (Exodus 20:16) declares that we are not to bear false witness against our neighbor. This means that we do not lie about another person, but fervently seek out the truth. In so doing, we refuse to name-call or make false accusations. And, the commandment goes further than this. As the reformer Martin Luther teaches us, we should fear and love God so intensely that we are not willing to tell lies about our neighbor, betray them, slander them, or hurt their reputation. Instead, we are to defend them, speak well of them, and explain everything in the kindest way.
5. Boldly affirm that God joins us in the healing and wholeness of creation. We are not only part of our creation, but are also called to be stewards of it. Such an affirmation calls for vision, hope, and justice.
Let us work together as Christians on the restoration of God’s kingdom in the days to come. In doing so, we may find ourselves wearing a new hat. Reject the hat of one who lords over others. Instead, eagerly wear the hat of a person who is willing to become a servant of all (Mark 9:35). And, if need be, willingly wear a “crown of thorns.”
Prayers and Blessings,
Fr. John
A word of acknowledgment and gratitude to ELCA Bishop Shelly Bryan Wee for contributions to this Fractal.
