Rev. Jill Duffield
Senior Pastor
I don’t know about you, but lately I find myself overwhelmed with the state of the world. I know headlines filled with war and pain resound through the ages, nonetheless we occupy this time and space, called to be faithful in the face of current calamities. What, then, shall we do?
Frankly, often, I don’t know. Furthermore, anything we undertake pales in comparison to the scale of suffering we witness on the 24/7 news cycle. Denial, despair, obliviousness, or hard-heartedness threaten to shape our attitude and guide our actions. But we look to Jesus and Jesus never capitulated to cynicism, blame, meanness, or indifference. Jesus set his face toward Jerusalem. Stopping all along the way to tend to the sick and excluded. Wept with Mary and Martha. Never turning away from the repercussions of calling out the oppressors and hypocrites. He did the will of his Father, even though he asked for that bitter cup to be removed.
We, of course, aren’t Jesus. Not even close. But we are clothed in Christ, given the Advocate, and told to be known by our love. Surely, these truths shape our response to current events, personal circumstances and problems perpetual and novel. What, then, shall we do?
While I can’t claim to know, in detail and with utter certainly, I believe we can emulate the one we follow. We can take time away from the crowds and the relentless needs of the world and pray. We can pray to God, “Not my will, but thine be done.” We can worship with other disciples, as was Jesus’ custom, listening to Scripture in hopes the living Word will live in and through us. We can love those most in need of knowing they matter. Like our Lord, recognizing that interruptions represent opportunities to witness to the character and power of God.
As we prepare for the Incarnation and the Second Coming, and the world’s problems and our own challenges overwhelm us, look to the Savior for whom we wait: Pray, worship, and love. If you don’t have the energy to do one, let alone all three, rely on the Body of Christ, the church to pray for you, worship with you and love you as you are. Trust the promised Holy Spirit to comfort, advocate, move and speak. Then, together, may God’s will be done, for such a time as this.
