The Salt of the earth is what followers of Jesus are called to be in Matthew's Gospel.
Salt preserves, purifies and seasons. In the context of Matthew's Gospel, under the occupation, oppression and exploitation of Rome, the Temple Cult leaders and Herod, Jesus claims that it is NOT the elites of empire who flavor in the Kingdom, but the common people who do. What the people under these abuses of power cannot do is be the bulk of substance in their society, nor perhaps should they. Instead, it is enough to flavor the rest and change the nature of it from within as those who follow Jesus occupy in their own right. To compromise in the face of power renders the salt flavorless and useless. When that happens, salt that is thrown on the ground renders the soil unable to yield fruit. That is NOT what followers of Jesus are to do. Sticking our heads in the spiritual sand only to "pray about" the abuses of power that hurt others in the world renders us tasteless salt to God, and it prevents us from being fertile soil out of which grows the Agape Love and Justice that bring about Shalom (well-being, completeness and wholeness) for all.
The Light of the world is what followers of Jesus are called to be in Matthew's Gospel.
This is the furtherance of the promise to Abraham in being the light to the nations. It is about being the city on the hill (not a reference to the "exceptionalism" statements regarding American Civil Religion). It is about living God's Way of Light in Agape Love, instead of the ways of darkness associated with imperialism. It is about being a beacon of love for the whole world, letting our light shine so that the impact of our actions in Agape Love will be seen. If we hide that light with bigotry, intolerance and self-serving Greed, we are of no good to others, which is the Will of God and a Kingdom value. Our mission is not, as followers of Jesus, to participate in the darkness or create our own darkness with our intolerance of people of other faiths, ethnicities, sexual orientations or any other differences. It is not, as followers of Jesus, a mission to subjugate others, coerce them or force them to submit to our beliefs. We dare not let our light be darkness to others (Matthew 6:22, 23). It is rather about putting light out there so that it positively affects their lives and they will thus see God's hand in the good things that we do out of Agape Love.
Jesus came to fulfill the Law and Prophets. Jesus is the fulfillment of them.
Jesus introduces HIS fulfillment in Matthew 5:21 - 7:29 by getting the readers' attention regarding how important what He is to share is to be for them. Jesus then shares in the following verses on how we are to live the will of God. The Scribes and Pharisees in His time ignored the spirit of the law and literalized small portions of the Law so they could twist it to reflect their own ideologies, bigotries and self-serving agendas. Jesus wants those who follow Him to not get lost in the "letter of the law" fundamentalist ways that lead to a path of corruption through collusion with worldly empire, but rather to live the Law as God intended, and as Jesus fulfills in His command to live Agape Love (self-sacrificing, unconditional active commitment on behalf of the other, even "the least", stranger and enemy), which fulfills all the Law and Prophets (Matthew 7:12; 22:34-40). Not living what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us on how to live as His followers in the world has serious consequences. "Pay attention to what follows" is what this introduction to His fulfillment of the Law screams. This is what God wants for us to live.
It is increasingly clear that this Gospel speaks directly and loudly to our current situation in America. Will we as people who claim Jesus, follow Him and live Kingdom of Heaven values, or walk away from Him because we want to live worldly empire values? Will we be the Salt of the earth that flavors how the world around us lives out of Agape Love, or as people who claim to be "Christian" adopt the intolerance, false sense of superiority, desire to serve self above all and forceful coercion of others to conform to our ways and beliefs that worldly empire values would dictate, and therefore render this unfertile ground for growth? Will we be Light to the world that eliminates darkness and is a beacon for a better Agape Love way, or will we contribute to the darkness through intolerance, bigotry, greed and even violent hurtfulness toward others? We cannot serve two masters. What values will we live under the oppressive occupation of empire? If we adopt worldly empire values, we are not followers of Jesus, for we are not then living His Law of Agape Love in the world around us. If we live God's Kingdom values, we are following Jesus, perhaps even to the Cross, and we are seasoning and preserving those around us and being light in their darkness.
If you believe in Jesus, do you believe in His Good News as a better way for the world?
Do you believe in that Good News of Jesus, the Law of Agape Love enough to live it in the world around you?
Pastor Jamie
Sunday, January 29, 2017
Sunday, January 22, 2017
Blessed in the Kingdom: Matthew 5:1-12
Jesus went up on the mountain, like Moses. He sat down like a teacher and gathered His matheteis - student followers. (This is the first time they are called that in Matthew).
Jesus used the word makarioi - happy, to be envied, blessed. It was not about being blissful, but rather having God's favor, and not MORE blessed or HIGHLY favored above others. It was not about some sign of God's favor either, but about trust in God's love for justice and God's movement to reconcile and restore. These human actions and situations render them blessed in the Kingdom of God because they are living God's Kingdom values. The worldly empire values within which they must live render many people anything but blessed. Their situation is all about being oppressed because of the actions of oppressors of the empire (i.e. Rome, the corrupt Temple Cult leaders and King Herod). Emmanuel - God with us - the Messiah - is saying that these folk who exhibit personal qualities in alignment with God's Kingdom values have a promise of future transformation - the reversal of their current situation due to empire - God's Kingdom come and God's Will done. These human actions are inspired by Kingdom values and honor God, and they will be honored by God as part of God's reign on earth.
First, we lift up those with certain characteristics due to their situation...
The "poor in spirit" does not refer, like we have learned so many times in our embedded, personalized theologies, the depressed or those in personal despair. It refers to the poor, the destitute, rendered so by being oppressed and exploited by the powerful elites of empire. These are those of Deuteronomy 24:19 and Leviticus 19:10, 15. They are crushed in spirit because they lack what they need. They have no Shalom- completeness, wholeness, well-being. They also have no hope if the values of empire continue to pervade life in the society. They are the victims of economic injustice.
But in God's Kingdom come, there is a reversal. If Jesus' way is lived in the world there are no more poor (see Acts 4:32-37). There is a redistribution of the finite resources of the world, so that all have ENOUGH. Then, people understand their dependence upon God and in humility live with enough in thankfulness, rather than some hoarding more than they need for themselves out of hubris, while others are humiliated and barely survive because they lack enough. The Kingdom of God belongs to the poor.
"Those who mourn" are those who react in grief to the losses they know because of the impact of imperial power and injustice. (see Matthew 2:16-18; Jeremiah 31:15) Oppression comes from "above", from the elites. Mourning comes from below, among the lowly. Oppression itself should be mourned, because it does not unite or lift up community, but divides and separates one from another, and some from God. In God's Kingdom come there is no weeping due to murders, unjust incarcerations, deportations, discrimination, violence or being kept from having well-being in any way. These will be comforted when God's Kingdom values are lived, rather than worldly empire values.
"The meek" are not just the shy by nature. They are the powerless who have been humiliated due to the abuses of power by those who live empire values. They have had their voice taken away. They have had their land stolen by the very religious leaders who claimed to represent God, who gave out loans and when the inevitable inability to pay off the loans came because of high taxes and because their crops were swallowed up by the occupying Romans, those religious leaders took the lands for themselves, rendering the people with less status than once they may have had, leaving them powerless and voiceless in society. They will inherit the earth, because it belongs to God and God values them in the Kingdom. It is jubilee for them when God's Kingdom comes, because of the redistribution of resources and land in justice.
"Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (justice)" literally hunger and thirst. They cannot be satisfied by the current situation of injustice because it renders them among the denied, compared to the "entitled" (to the most and best) among the elites. God punishes those who deprive others to the point of hunger and thirst. Justice is restored when all people have enough. They will be satisfied, being no longer denied what they need, because those are God's Kingdom values and they have "come near".
Now, we lift up those whose human actions have value in God's Kingdom...
"The merciful" are those who "get" Grace. They are not oppressive or punitive - minded. The love Jesus commands for enemy and for "the least" is equally valued among them. They bring healing from un-wholeness and incompleteness. They work toward well-being among those not considered to deserve such treatment by society. The Greco-Roman worldly values did not include these in their empire. The corrupt Temple Cult leaders adopted and reflected those values now and were merciless along with the Romans and the King. But God values mercy. Jesus demanded it. (see 9:10-13). They will receive mercy (Grace) from God. But the merciless, well, in the juxtaposition of the blessed with regard to the sheep and goats in 25:31-46, we will see what they get. (also see 18:23-35)
"The pure in heart" are those not committed to the false. They are not double-minded. They worship God, but not within empire values, like so many elites do. The view of people at that time was that thought, will, decisions and action come from the heart. Being pure in heart means that one is guileless in motive and lives no hypocrisy. If one's heart is pure, one knows the one to whom one's love belongs. (see 6:19-24) No duplicity in devotion, no giving lip service to God while serving mammon, no claiming Jesus' name while serving only self and no doing what Jesus says in order that one might gain personal reward. Karma means "doing the right thing for the right reason." These will see God, and not only at the end of the age. They see God who is the reason for their doing what is good, just and loving here and now.
"The peacemakers" are not those who live with a serene detachment from what is going on around them, those who see peace as only a lack of violent conflict or those who value the Pax Romano kind of peace of Rome, that is built on force, imposition, coercion and the taking of liberties away for the sake of "security". Elites use that kind of peace to gain prosperity and keep it by force. It is an abuse of power and therefore, no real peace. The real peacemakers work toward the things that make for Shalom - justice, equality, equitability, respect for all. These bring completeness, wholeness and well-being. God's Kingdom represents REAL peace in a time of false peace. Being in right relationship with one another brings us in right relationship with God, and in that is peace. These are the children of God, in the end, who live the Agape that Jesus commands toward the Shalom of all.
"You who are persecuted for righteousness'/justice' sake" (Plural "You") are those who together speak for, work for and suffer for justice to be done, by working to bring about different societal relationships and equitable distribution, access to resources for all people. Empire crucifies such people. Those who value God's Kingdom values will be hated by those who hold to empire values. The response is not to give up, not give in and not retaliate like those who value empire, but by rejoicing that we are in right relationship with God and one another and continue to speak, write and demonstrate God's Kingdom values in the face of those who value empire. We need to rejoice that we are in the good company of the prophets of old, John the Baptist and Jesus, as well as those disciples listening to Jesus teach this. God values those who suffer for saying and doing the right thing for the right reasons - those who value Shalom for all.
The sides being drawn in the Beatitudes are the sides that we see at the judgment in 25:31-46. Those who live God's Kingdom Values and suffer for it because of those who live worldly empire values are those blessed by God, children of God, heirs of the Kingdom. When we are only minded toward heaven, however and toward a personal salvation based on purity or holiness, our worship and praise and giving tithes, we are not living God's Kingdom Values in THIS PART of God's Kingdom, here and now. (see Matthew 15:1-9 - Isaiah 29:13, 14 - Amos 5:21-24) Personal salvation is not the goal for disciples of Jesus. Living God's Kingdom values here and now, in THIS PART of God's Kingdom is the goal. It gives for me new meaning to the words "seek first the Kingdom of God, and God's righteousness/justice, and all 'these things' shall be given to you." God's Kingdom comes and God's Will is done as we live God's Kingdom Values in THIS PART of God's Kingdom, here and now.
In which "empire" do we most live? Which values do we most reflect in our living?
Have we suffered because of our words and actions that express a value for God's Kingdom values?
How do we live Agape Love so that those who are downtrodden, marginalized and held down, back and out by empire are truly among the blessed, since we are to live within God's Kingdom here and now?
Are we, who claim to be disciples of Jesus, learning what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us on how to live God's Kingdom Values? Are we living them as "salt" and "light"? (5:13-16)
I don't know about you, but I am thankful for Grace, everyday. And I am striving...
Pastor Jamie
Jesus used the word makarioi - happy, to be envied, blessed. It was not about being blissful, but rather having God's favor, and not MORE blessed or HIGHLY favored above others. It was not about some sign of God's favor either, but about trust in God's love for justice and God's movement to reconcile and restore. These human actions and situations render them blessed in the Kingdom of God because they are living God's Kingdom values. The worldly empire values within which they must live render many people anything but blessed. Their situation is all about being oppressed because of the actions of oppressors of the empire (i.e. Rome, the corrupt Temple Cult leaders and King Herod). Emmanuel - God with us - the Messiah - is saying that these folk who exhibit personal qualities in alignment with God's Kingdom values have a promise of future transformation - the reversal of their current situation due to empire - God's Kingdom come and God's Will done. These human actions are inspired by Kingdom values and honor God, and they will be honored by God as part of God's reign on earth.
First, we lift up those with certain characteristics due to their situation...
The "poor in spirit" does not refer, like we have learned so many times in our embedded, personalized theologies, the depressed or those in personal despair. It refers to the poor, the destitute, rendered so by being oppressed and exploited by the powerful elites of empire. These are those of Deuteronomy 24:19 and Leviticus 19:10, 15. They are crushed in spirit because they lack what they need. They have no Shalom- completeness, wholeness, well-being. They also have no hope if the values of empire continue to pervade life in the society. They are the victims of economic injustice.
But in God's Kingdom come, there is a reversal. If Jesus' way is lived in the world there are no more poor (see Acts 4:32-37). There is a redistribution of the finite resources of the world, so that all have ENOUGH. Then, people understand their dependence upon God and in humility live with enough in thankfulness, rather than some hoarding more than they need for themselves out of hubris, while others are humiliated and barely survive because they lack enough. The Kingdom of God belongs to the poor.
"Those who mourn" are those who react in grief to the losses they know because of the impact of imperial power and injustice. (see Matthew 2:16-18; Jeremiah 31:15) Oppression comes from "above", from the elites. Mourning comes from below, among the lowly. Oppression itself should be mourned, because it does not unite or lift up community, but divides and separates one from another, and some from God. In God's Kingdom come there is no weeping due to murders, unjust incarcerations, deportations, discrimination, violence or being kept from having well-being in any way. These will be comforted when God's Kingdom values are lived, rather than worldly empire values.
"The meek" are not just the shy by nature. They are the powerless who have been humiliated due to the abuses of power by those who live empire values. They have had their voice taken away. They have had their land stolen by the very religious leaders who claimed to represent God, who gave out loans and when the inevitable inability to pay off the loans came because of high taxes and because their crops were swallowed up by the occupying Romans, those religious leaders took the lands for themselves, rendering the people with less status than once they may have had, leaving them powerless and voiceless in society. They will inherit the earth, because it belongs to God and God values them in the Kingdom. It is jubilee for them when God's Kingdom comes, because of the redistribution of resources and land in justice.
"Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (justice)" literally hunger and thirst. They cannot be satisfied by the current situation of injustice because it renders them among the denied, compared to the "entitled" (to the most and best) among the elites. God punishes those who deprive others to the point of hunger and thirst. Justice is restored when all people have enough. They will be satisfied, being no longer denied what they need, because those are God's Kingdom values and they have "come near".
Now, we lift up those whose human actions have value in God's Kingdom...
"The merciful" are those who "get" Grace. They are not oppressive or punitive - minded. The love Jesus commands for enemy and for "the least" is equally valued among them. They bring healing from un-wholeness and incompleteness. They work toward well-being among those not considered to deserve such treatment by society. The Greco-Roman worldly values did not include these in their empire. The corrupt Temple Cult leaders adopted and reflected those values now and were merciless along with the Romans and the King. But God values mercy. Jesus demanded it. (see 9:10-13). They will receive mercy (Grace) from God. But the merciless, well, in the juxtaposition of the blessed with regard to the sheep and goats in 25:31-46, we will see what they get. (also see 18:23-35)
"The pure in heart" are those not committed to the false. They are not double-minded. They worship God, but not within empire values, like so many elites do. The view of people at that time was that thought, will, decisions and action come from the heart. Being pure in heart means that one is guileless in motive and lives no hypocrisy. If one's heart is pure, one knows the one to whom one's love belongs. (see 6:19-24) No duplicity in devotion, no giving lip service to God while serving mammon, no claiming Jesus' name while serving only self and no doing what Jesus says in order that one might gain personal reward. Karma means "doing the right thing for the right reason." These will see God, and not only at the end of the age. They see God who is the reason for their doing what is good, just and loving here and now.
"The peacemakers" are not those who live with a serene detachment from what is going on around them, those who see peace as only a lack of violent conflict or those who value the Pax Romano kind of peace of Rome, that is built on force, imposition, coercion and the taking of liberties away for the sake of "security". Elites use that kind of peace to gain prosperity and keep it by force. It is an abuse of power and therefore, no real peace. The real peacemakers work toward the things that make for Shalom - justice, equality, equitability, respect for all. These bring completeness, wholeness and well-being. God's Kingdom represents REAL peace in a time of false peace. Being in right relationship with one another brings us in right relationship with God, and in that is peace. These are the children of God, in the end, who live the Agape that Jesus commands toward the Shalom of all.
"You who are persecuted for righteousness'/justice' sake" (Plural "You") are those who together speak for, work for and suffer for justice to be done, by working to bring about different societal relationships and equitable distribution, access to resources for all people. Empire crucifies such people. Those who value God's Kingdom values will be hated by those who hold to empire values. The response is not to give up, not give in and not retaliate like those who value empire, but by rejoicing that we are in right relationship with God and one another and continue to speak, write and demonstrate God's Kingdom values in the face of those who value empire. We need to rejoice that we are in the good company of the prophets of old, John the Baptist and Jesus, as well as those disciples listening to Jesus teach this. God values those who suffer for saying and doing the right thing for the right reasons - those who value Shalom for all.
The sides being drawn in the Beatitudes are the sides that we see at the judgment in 25:31-46. Those who live God's Kingdom Values and suffer for it because of those who live worldly empire values are those blessed by God, children of God, heirs of the Kingdom. When we are only minded toward heaven, however and toward a personal salvation based on purity or holiness, our worship and praise and giving tithes, we are not living God's Kingdom Values in THIS PART of God's Kingdom, here and now. (see Matthew 15:1-9 - Isaiah 29:13, 14 - Amos 5:21-24) Personal salvation is not the goal for disciples of Jesus. Living God's Kingdom values here and now, in THIS PART of God's Kingdom is the goal. It gives for me new meaning to the words "seek first the Kingdom of God, and God's righteousness/justice, and all 'these things' shall be given to you." God's Kingdom comes and God's Will is done as we live God's Kingdom Values in THIS PART of God's Kingdom, here and now.
In which "empire" do we most live? Which values do we most reflect in our living?
Have we suffered because of our words and actions that express a value for God's Kingdom values?
How do we live Agape Love so that those who are downtrodden, marginalized and held down, back and out by empire are truly among the blessed, since we are to live within God's Kingdom here and now?
Are we, who claim to be disciples of Jesus, learning what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us on how to live God's Kingdom Values? Are we living them as "salt" and "light"? (5:13-16)
I don't know about you, but I am thankful for Grace, everyday. And I am striving...
Pastor Jamie
Saturday, January 21, 2017
Matthew 4:12-23 Jesus and Empire
John was arrested. Elijah, come to prepare the way of the Messiah, was removed from the mission.
The mantle had been passed at Jesus' Baptism by John, and now the mission was in Jesus' hands.
Jesus withdrew to Capernaum, the territory of the old tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali, where during the reign of King Ahaz of Judah the people were under the threat of invasion by the Northern Kingdom and Syria (Isaiah 7). Assyria did invade, exiled and occupied the land (Isaiah 8). Now, it was Rome that occupied this land. Capernaum was not a place of Rome's elites, and it was not the place of the Temple, or the place of Herod's palace, or where the Temple Cult practiced their collusion with Rome. It was a place where common people lived, who had a history and identification with being occupied and oppressed. They had, not walked in darkness as Isaiah's folk in the exile, but SAT in darkness for a long time - a people oppressed in their own land.
Jesus started His ministry among common folk who were occupied by Rome and oppressed by them, their own Temple cult and king. Jesus, the Messiah, comes as light in their darkness (Isaiah 9:2-7). The Gospel writer draws a well-known history of oppression with a very well known writing on hope in the face of it, and points out that that hope is Emmanuel - God with us (1:23). This flies in the face of Rome - of Caesar who is called "savior" and "god's son". This flies in the face of Herod, who is not a legitimate king, and who has used his position for personal gain at the expense of God's people. This flies in the face of the Temple Cult, who have used their position (as intermediaries to God) to make loans to farmers and gain in wealth by defaulting on those loans and taking their land, and who have used their power to subjugate the people of God. Now, there will be LIGHT in darkness, hope in hopelessness, justice in oppression. But will the people trust God and find salvation or continue in this system of oppression and find judgment?
Jesus' proclamation in this rich soil? "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." God has reached into your lives. It is time to repent - metanoia - turn around in your thinking, so that your life direction will change. It is time for you, King Herod and you, Temple Cult to change your corrupt and faithless practices. It is time for you, people of God, to stop sitting in this darkness and live God's Kingdom Values, instead of the acceptance of and practicing of worldly empire values. Messiah is here. God's Kingdom is reaching into your life, here and now. No more powerlessness. No more siding with the power in order to exploit and oppress others. It is time to embrace God's Kingdom Values and act on them in the world, shedding the light of Good News in a world of darkness.
And the response?
Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilea, saw some fisherman who were under this oppression for a long time, people who had once done their trade knowing it would support their families for generations, but who now mostly supported the very military industrial complex that occupied and oppressed them. They were part of the middle class that had been eliminated in the empire system, a natural consequence of empire - the very few have all the wealth and the rest are their serfs, fodder to feed the machine and keep them in power and wealth. They were folk who had nothing to lose and everything to gain. Jesus had authority and spoke with it, uttered a command (Imperative Mood - "Follow me.") Immediately they went, leaving everything behind, a leap of faith, to pursue a life of living God's Kingdom Values, as they had had a snoot-full of worldly empire values.
Then, Jesus went out proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom of God in the face of the bad news of the empire and corruptions of the King and Temple Cult, even in their synagogues. He healed people - a sign of the Day of the Lord when all is restored to Shalom - completeness, wholeness, well-being. It was a sign that God was reconciling Heaven and Earth, even from the time of the fall, bringing all creation back into healthy relationship with God. It was a sign that not only would bodies be healed, but also the system that now was sick because it held many down, back and out for the sake of a very few. It was a sign of God's Kingdom Come and God's Will Being Done.
We have sat in relative darkness for a long time. If you have not felt it much, it is because the worldly empire values designed to make you powerless and poor have not completed that work yet - they have been somewhat thwarted from doing so completely, even though their efforts have been very intentional and focused since 1981 (Reagan/Falwell - see my blog "Greed's Blueprint for our Future - on the Desolating Sacrilege - March, 2013). Now, the worldly empire values, embraced and more fully developed prior to the last eight years, will be coming into full fruition - producing the bad fruit of empire in a more complete way. Politicians, even the ones you have thought represent common folk, are in collusion for their personal gain. Many of the religious leaders are in collusion for their own gain, or silent out of the fear of losing their own power or wealth. If they speak, people who claim Jesus while giving their devotion to worldly empire values may not like them or keep coming to their churches or denominations. Individualized salvation perspectives, prosperity theology and church growth perspectives are reflective of self-serving industries and elites. This kills the Body of Christ - community. It hurts God's people. Do you see it getting darker now?
Does the coming of Jesus mean anything to you in light of this?
Are your values in collusion with worldly empire values, so that you support this system that oppresses others, hoping that you will somehow benefit along the way? That is not following Jesus. Do you sit in the darkness, develop a perspective of futility, just waiting for someone else, perhaps the Lord to (supernaturally) take it away for you? Do you live God's Kingdom Values, following Jesus - what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us, as we have it in the Gospels? Do you live those values in the face of those who represent empire, and courageously refuse to play along, refuse to stay silent, refuse to participate in them? We have a history of folk who have refused to be compliant. They have not taken up arms or used tactics of empire, but have embraced God's Kingdom values as Jesus has taught us, even helping the most vulnerable who are most oppressed by the living of worldly empire values of power and wealth for the very few. What does this mean for YOU, here and now?
What does it mean for COMMUNITY - the Body of Christ - here and now?
Matthew 4:12-23 is meant to be light in the darkness. Will it be for you, here and now?
Pretty timely passage, right?
Pastor Jamie
The mantle had been passed at Jesus' Baptism by John, and now the mission was in Jesus' hands.
Jesus withdrew to Capernaum, the territory of the old tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali, where during the reign of King Ahaz of Judah the people were under the threat of invasion by the Northern Kingdom and Syria (Isaiah 7). Assyria did invade, exiled and occupied the land (Isaiah 8). Now, it was Rome that occupied this land. Capernaum was not a place of Rome's elites, and it was not the place of the Temple, or the place of Herod's palace, or where the Temple Cult practiced their collusion with Rome. It was a place where common people lived, who had a history and identification with being occupied and oppressed. They had, not walked in darkness as Isaiah's folk in the exile, but SAT in darkness for a long time - a people oppressed in their own land.
Jesus started His ministry among common folk who were occupied by Rome and oppressed by them, their own Temple cult and king. Jesus, the Messiah, comes as light in their darkness (Isaiah 9:2-7). The Gospel writer draws a well-known history of oppression with a very well known writing on hope in the face of it, and points out that that hope is Emmanuel - God with us (1:23). This flies in the face of Rome - of Caesar who is called "savior" and "god's son". This flies in the face of Herod, who is not a legitimate king, and who has used his position for personal gain at the expense of God's people. This flies in the face of the Temple Cult, who have used their position (as intermediaries to God) to make loans to farmers and gain in wealth by defaulting on those loans and taking their land, and who have used their power to subjugate the people of God. Now, there will be LIGHT in darkness, hope in hopelessness, justice in oppression. But will the people trust God and find salvation or continue in this system of oppression and find judgment?
Jesus' proclamation in this rich soil? "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." God has reached into your lives. It is time to repent - metanoia - turn around in your thinking, so that your life direction will change. It is time for you, King Herod and you, Temple Cult to change your corrupt and faithless practices. It is time for you, people of God, to stop sitting in this darkness and live God's Kingdom Values, instead of the acceptance of and practicing of worldly empire values. Messiah is here. God's Kingdom is reaching into your life, here and now. No more powerlessness. No more siding with the power in order to exploit and oppress others. It is time to embrace God's Kingdom Values and act on them in the world, shedding the light of Good News in a world of darkness.
And the response?
Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilea, saw some fisherman who were under this oppression for a long time, people who had once done their trade knowing it would support their families for generations, but who now mostly supported the very military industrial complex that occupied and oppressed them. They were part of the middle class that had been eliminated in the empire system, a natural consequence of empire - the very few have all the wealth and the rest are their serfs, fodder to feed the machine and keep them in power and wealth. They were folk who had nothing to lose and everything to gain. Jesus had authority and spoke with it, uttered a command (Imperative Mood - "Follow me.") Immediately they went, leaving everything behind, a leap of faith, to pursue a life of living God's Kingdom Values, as they had had a snoot-full of worldly empire values.
Then, Jesus went out proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom of God in the face of the bad news of the empire and corruptions of the King and Temple Cult, even in their synagogues. He healed people - a sign of the Day of the Lord when all is restored to Shalom - completeness, wholeness, well-being. It was a sign that God was reconciling Heaven and Earth, even from the time of the fall, bringing all creation back into healthy relationship with God. It was a sign that not only would bodies be healed, but also the system that now was sick because it held many down, back and out for the sake of a very few. It was a sign of God's Kingdom Come and God's Will Being Done.
We have sat in relative darkness for a long time. If you have not felt it much, it is because the worldly empire values designed to make you powerless and poor have not completed that work yet - they have been somewhat thwarted from doing so completely, even though their efforts have been very intentional and focused since 1981 (Reagan/Falwell - see my blog "Greed's Blueprint for our Future - on the Desolating Sacrilege - March, 2013). Now, the worldly empire values, embraced and more fully developed prior to the last eight years, will be coming into full fruition - producing the bad fruit of empire in a more complete way. Politicians, even the ones you have thought represent common folk, are in collusion for their personal gain. Many of the religious leaders are in collusion for their own gain, or silent out of the fear of losing their own power or wealth. If they speak, people who claim Jesus while giving their devotion to worldly empire values may not like them or keep coming to their churches or denominations. Individualized salvation perspectives, prosperity theology and church growth perspectives are reflective of self-serving industries and elites. This kills the Body of Christ - community. It hurts God's people. Do you see it getting darker now?
Does the coming of Jesus mean anything to you in light of this?
Are your values in collusion with worldly empire values, so that you support this system that oppresses others, hoping that you will somehow benefit along the way? That is not following Jesus. Do you sit in the darkness, develop a perspective of futility, just waiting for someone else, perhaps the Lord to (supernaturally) take it away for you? Do you live God's Kingdom Values, following Jesus - what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us, as we have it in the Gospels? Do you live those values in the face of those who represent empire, and courageously refuse to play along, refuse to stay silent, refuse to participate in them? We have a history of folk who have refused to be compliant. They have not taken up arms or used tactics of empire, but have embraced God's Kingdom values as Jesus has taught us, even helping the most vulnerable who are most oppressed by the living of worldly empire values of power and wealth for the very few. What does this mean for YOU, here and now?
What does it mean for COMMUNITY - the Body of Christ - here and now?
Matthew 4:12-23 is meant to be light in the darkness. Will it be for you, here and now?
Pretty timely passage, right?
Pastor Jamie
Friday, January 20, 2017
My New Mission...
On December 4, I wrote a blog on "My Conversion" which got more views than any other blog in over six years.
Tonight I want to share with you my newfound mission.
I just completed a course on The Gospel of Matthew at Columbia Theological Seminary, as part of my Doctor of Ministry program in "Gospel, Culture and the Transformation of the Church".
It rekindled my love for biblical exegesis and the use of the historical-critical method, among others for understanding the contexts of language, culture, history and socio-political realities in the First Century (and Old Testament age). I believe that this is vital for anyone who wants to take on the mantle of being a pastor or church leader. Fundamentalist understandings of scripture are a disservice to our Lord and our Lord's people. We must be responsible with this most awesome and life-changing gift.
I am re-dedicating my ministry (and my blog) to the task of helping disciples of Jesus understand what it means to follow Jesus faithfully. Understanding that faithfulness means reaching across boundaries in Agape Love, and righteousness means working toward the restoration of community by living the forgiveness, mercy and Grace that are necessary for reconciliation with one another and all of the body with God.
We have a responsibility to "make space for one another" by facilitating interaction. We, the body of Christ are called to not leave behind those who are most vulnerable, but work toward the completeness, wholeness and well-being (Shalom) of all the members of the body, while reaching out to those who do not live God's Kingdom values, but rather worldly empire values that divide, marginalize, oppress and exploit many in our world.
I am more of a "Gospel of Luke/Acts kinda guy", believe me. But in this class with a profound and insightful professor, my eyes have truly been opened to so much more in Matthew than I have ever gleaned in 30 years of ministry and 9 years of school. Perhaps some of it is because I am much more receptive to learning this now, or because of the desperation of facing the socio-political picture we now face, but I am very much enthused about this Gospel and what it has to say about our current context.
The worldly empire personified in Rome, including Herod and supported by the Temple Cult (Pharisees, Elders, Chief Priests and Scribes) in Jesus' time was about oppressing and exploiting the world and Israel for the sake of the few. Ceasar was called "son of god", and the temple cult believed they were brokers for God in the world. The level of corruption around greed and lust for power left the masses very vulnerable and abused. Some in our population as a nation have felt that their whole lives. Others more recently have had their belief of entitlement and superiority challenged, and they have reacted by supporting the empire for personal gain. Politicians and Religious leaders in our own nation have participated in the corruptions of empire, and the results have been devastating for many in our country, supported by many and challenged by a few. The middle class shrinkage since 1981, the Great Recession in fraud and "too big to fail" practices by the very few at the top have been undergirded by Prosperity Theology (see my blog from 4/7/14), American Civil Religion (see my blog from 11/27/16) and other un-Christ-like ideologies that the religious leaders have used to exploit the people of God for their own gain. It was into this kind of world situation that Jesus, Messiah, son of God and son of humanity, Savior, Lord, fulfiller of the Law and Prophets and King came. The Gospel of Matthew shares the tension between God's Kingdom Values and worldly empire values at nearly every turn, which grows to a very powerful crescendo in the judgment of 25:31-46 and eschatological hope in the end.
This year, I will blog from the Revised Common Lectionary - the Year of Matthew (A).
I will blog the week before the text is assigned, in case it might be of some help for some in preparing sermons or bible studies, and for those who will be hearing it on Sundays.
While the Gospel of Matthew is arguably best read aloud in one sitting, like those in the First Century received it, the Lectionary chops it up into pieces, so we must take it that way over the year.
My prayer is that this may in some small way enlighten and inspire you to come to understand the relevance of the Good News of Jesus, and value more completely what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us how to live within God's Will as we walk in THIS PART of God's Kingdom, here and now.
Pastor Jamie
Tonight I want to share with you my newfound mission.
I just completed a course on The Gospel of Matthew at Columbia Theological Seminary, as part of my Doctor of Ministry program in "Gospel, Culture and the Transformation of the Church".
It rekindled my love for biblical exegesis and the use of the historical-critical method, among others for understanding the contexts of language, culture, history and socio-political realities in the First Century (and Old Testament age). I believe that this is vital for anyone who wants to take on the mantle of being a pastor or church leader. Fundamentalist understandings of scripture are a disservice to our Lord and our Lord's people. We must be responsible with this most awesome and life-changing gift.
I am re-dedicating my ministry (and my blog) to the task of helping disciples of Jesus understand what it means to follow Jesus faithfully. Understanding that faithfulness means reaching across boundaries in Agape Love, and righteousness means working toward the restoration of community by living the forgiveness, mercy and Grace that are necessary for reconciliation with one another and all of the body with God.
We have a responsibility to "make space for one another" by facilitating interaction. We, the body of Christ are called to not leave behind those who are most vulnerable, but work toward the completeness, wholeness and well-being (Shalom) of all the members of the body, while reaching out to those who do not live God's Kingdom values, but rather worldly empire values that divide, marginalize, oppress and exploit many in our world.
I am more of a "Gospel of Luke/Acts kinda guy", believe me. But in this class with a profound and insightful professor, my eyes have truly been opened to so much more in Matthew than I have ever gleaned in 30 years of ministry and 9 years of school. Perhaps some of it is because I am much more receptive to learning this now, or because of the desperation of facing the socio-political picture we now face, but I am very much enthused about this Gospel and what it has to say about our current context.
The worldly empire personified in Rome, including Herod and supported by the Temple Cult (Pharisees, Elders, Chief Priests and Scribes) in Jesus' time was about oppressing and exploiting the world and Israel for the sake of the few. Ceasar was called "son of god", and the temple cult believed they were brokers for God in the world. The level of corruption around greed and lust for power left the masses very vulnerable and abused. Some in our population as a nation have felt that their whole lives. Others more recently have had their belief of entitlement and superiority challenged, and they have reacted by supporting the empire for personal gain. Politicians and Religious leaders in our own nation have participated in the corruptions of empire, and the results have been devastating for many in our country, supported by many and challenged by a few. The middle class shrinkage since 1981, the Great Recession in fraud and "too big to fail" practices by the very few at the top have been undergirded by Prosperity Theology (see my blog from 4/7/14), American Civil Religion (see my blog from 11/27/16) and other un-Christ-like ideologies that the religious leaders have used to exploit the people of God for their own gain. It was into this kind of world situation that Jesus, Messiah, son of God and son of humanity, Savior, Lord, fulfiller of the Law and Prophets and King came. The Gospel of Matthew shares the tension between God's Kingdom Values and worldly empire values at nearly every turn, which grows to a very powerful crescendo in the judgment of 25:31-46 and eschatological hope in the end.
This year, I will blog from the Revised Common Lectionary - the Year of Matthew (A).
I will blog the week before the text is assigned, in case it might be of some help for some in preparing sermons or bible studies, and for those who will be hearing it on Sundays.
While the Gospel of Matthew is arguably best read aloud in one sitting, like those in the First Century received it, the Lectionary chops it up into pieces, so we must take it that way over the year.
My prayer is that this may in some small way enlighten and inspire you to come to understand the relevance of the Good News of Jesus, and value more completely what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us how to live within God's Will as we walk in THIS PART of God's Kingdom, here and now.
Pastor Jamie
Sunday, January 15, 2017
Sheep and Goats and Dr. King
Matthew 25:31-46 is Jesus' vision of the judgment. We do not like to think about uneasy things like people being sorted out in the end, but it is promised. When we read the Gospels, and especially the parables of the Kingdom, we tend to put ourselves in the story, and usually in the most flattering roles in the parables, but this vision of a promised judgment throws some of our assumptions into question.
It is not those who worship, praise and tithe who are lifted up.
It is not those who were most pure and holy who are considered sheep.
It is not those who are identified by their zealous insistence on keeping the holiness code who are saved.
It is, as Jesus said it is, those who have shared AGAPE (active commitment on behalf of the other, especially here "the least" among us).
The sheep are those who have not created, exploited, ignored or actively sought to hurt "the least" - those of lowest standing or power in our society, but have helped them.
Jesus is very serious about this, and not just here in Matthew. Here, however, Jesus claims that He identifies with THE LEAST, and not the rich or powerful who have created, exploited, ignored and hurt them. "As you have done it to one of the least of these, my sisters and brothers, you have done it to ME."
If we hate, ignore or refuse to help them, we are in fact refusing Jesus. If we are creating, exploiting or doing actions that hurt them or make them vulnerable, we are doing that to Jesus, Himself. I get the sense here that Jesus does not like that.
So, the call and mission of the followers of Jesus is to live this Agape Love. It is not a "feeling" love, but one of commitment, self-sacrifice and unconditional connection with our focus on "the other", especially "the least" here.
If you want to please Jesus, follow Jesus, serve Jesus you must go where Jesus leads you. If we want to please Jesus, follow Jesus and serve Jesus, we must...
FEED THE HUNGRY (and perhaps work toward everyone having enough so no one is hungry)
SATISFY THE THIRSTY (making sure there is drinkable water for everyone would be good)
WELCOME THE STRANGER (yes, the resident immigrants in our land about to be deported)
CLOTHE THE NAKED (those who have had everything stripped from them by our economy)
CARE FOR THE SICK (offering healthcare to everyone who is sick makes sense here)
VISIT THE IMPRISONED (work toward a justice system that is just for all, imprisons few)
It is in how we treat the MOST VULNERABLE among us that we live the Agape commanded by Jesus, or we do not.
You can claim the name, give thanks and praise, worship, tithe and be as pure and holy as you want and STILL be a goat, according to Jesus.
I find it fascinating how things have not changed over the centuries.
Not even mentioning the prophets of old who were ridiculed, ignored, silenced or killed...
Jesus declared that the political and economic empire of Rome and the corrupt power and wealth of the Temple Cult was against God's Kingdom values here, and He was soon arrested, tried and executed.
Dr. King spoke, wrote, demonstrated and fought for equal rights in our society for a number of years, and it was when he launched the POOR PEOPLE'S CAMPAIGN, calling for an end to a system that kept the powerful wealthy and the poor out, that he was assassinated.
(As an aside - Dr. Cornell West has been largely ignored since going after the systems that hold people down, out and back politically and economically, and Bernie Sanders was held out as the nominee for the Presidency by the very party within which he ran, in their primary, for doing the same thing.)
Yes, things have not changed much over the centuries.
Power and Wealth are still the objects of devotion for many, and God's Kingdom values are still very different from the ruthless acquisition of power and wealth. A whole lotta good, "Christian" folk think they are among the sheep now in our society, but as someone once said (Matthew 22:14), "Many are called, but few are chosen."
So, sheep or goat?
Pastor Jamie
It is not those who worship, praise and tithe who are lifted up.
It is not those who were most pure and holy who are considered sheep.
It is not those who are identified by their zealous insistence on keeping the holiness code who are saved.
It is, as Jesus said it is, those who have shared AGAPE (active commitment on behalf of the other, especially here "the least" among us).
The sheep are those who have not created, exploited, ignored or actively sought to hurt "the least" - those of lowest standing or power in our society, but have helped them.
Jesus is very serious about this, and not just here in Matthew. Here, however, Jesus claims that He identifies with THE LEAST, and not the rich or powerful who have created, exploited, ignored and hurt them. "As you have done it to one of the least of these, my sisters and brothers, you have done it to ME."
If we hate, ignore or refuse to help them, we are in fact refusing Jesus. If we are creating, exploiting or doing actions that hurt them or make them vulnerable, we are doing that to Jesus, Himself. I get the sense here that Jesus does not like that.
So, the call and mission of the followers of Jesus is to live this Agape Love. It is not a "feeling" love, but one of commitment, self-sacrifice and unconditional connection with our focus on "the other", especially "the least" here.
If you want to please Jesus, follow Jesus, serve Jesus you must go where Jesus leads you. If we want to please Jesus, follow Jesus and serve Jesus, we must...
FEED THE HUNGRY (and perhaps work toward everyone having enough so no one is hungry)
SATISFY THE THIRSTY (making sure there is drinkable water for everyone would be good)
WELCOME THE STRANGER (yes, the resident immigrants in our land about to be deported)
CLOTHE THE NAKED (those who have had everything stripped from them by our economy)
CARE FOR THE SICK (offering healthcare to everyone who is sick makes sense here)
VISIT THE IMPRISONED (work toward a justice system that is just for all, imprisons few)
It is in how we treat the MOST VULNERABLE among us that we live the Agape commanded by Jesus, or we do not.
You can claim the name, give thanks and praise, worship, tithe and be as pure and holy as you want and STILL be a goat, according to Jesus.
I find it fascinating how things have not changed over the centuries.
Not even mentioning the prophets of old who were ridiculed, ignored, silenced or killed...
Jesus declared that the political and economic empire of Rome and the corrupt power and wealth of the Temple Cult was against God's Kingdom values here, and He was soon arrested, tried and executed.
Dr. King spoke, wrote, demonstrated and fought for equal rights in our society for a number of years, and it was when he launched the POOR PEOPLE'S CAMPAIGN, calling for an end to a system that kept the powerful wealthy and the poor out, that he was assassinated.
(As an aside - Dr. Cornell West has been largely ignored since going after the systems that hold people down, out and back politically and economically, and Bernie Sanders was held out as the nominee for the Presidency by the very party within which he ran, in their primary, for doing the same thing.)
Yes, things have not changed much over the centuries.
Power and Wealth are still the objects of devotion for many, and God's Kingdom values are still very different from the ruthless acquisition of power and wealth. A whole lotta good, "Christian" folk think they are among the sheep now in our society, but as someone once said (Matthew 22:14), "Many are called, but few are chosen."
So, sheep or goat?
Pastor Jamie
Monday, January 9, 2017
Being Fed, Being Empowered to Empower : Community Devotion I
This was my message of Empowerment for those who gathered for Community Devotion on January 8, 2017.
The teacher had quite a following. The Powers that Be noticed that and it made them nervous.
People followed Him because great things were happening in their lives and they wanted to see what was coming next. The people had been occupied by the military police for years and they were oppressed, harassed and controlled and had injustices done to them. They felt beaten down.
Any isolated protests and demonstrations were quelled. This hope… any hope would be a welcome thing.
It came to the end of the day and the crowd was hungry from following the teacher and learning from Him. The teacher felt compassion for them because they were like “sheep without a shepherd”. Their leaders were in collusion with the powers that be… they had nowhere to turn.
The teacher told his students to feed the people in the crowd, though they objected that they had no money or food enough for them all. In fact, they did not have enough food for the Teacher and His students!
He told them to have everyone sit in groups of 100’s and 50’s. Then the teacher took the little bit of food they had collected, and looked into heaven and blessed and broke it and gave it to the students to hand out. Everyone ate their fill and they had 12 baskets of leftovers, which was much more than what they had when they started!
The crowd was 5,000 men alone, not even counting women and children.
In a scene like the Pesach, the Passover… when people gathered together awaiting deliverance from their Bondage in Egypt… they shared their hasty meal in hospitality… deliverance from oppression…
The taking of the food, blessing it, breaking it, giving it is straight from the yearly celebration of Pesach…
Here, again, they were fed together as community – an intimate act of sharing not done with just anyone…
It was reserved for loved ones…
And in the sharing of the small amount of food was the miracle… ENOUGH… even MORE THAN ENOUGH
A Roman Army Cohort of 500 was broken into groups of 100 and 50 for strategy in occupation and battle –
The teacher knew their tactics and strategies and more than matched them!
What the Teacher did, in the face of Rome, was to raise an Army in a day, in front of them, and let Rome know what they were up against by an organized, unified people.
They did not arm themselves, and they did not do violence. They just put their numbers in their face.
And the King noticed. The Military Leaders certainly noticed. And the people heard about it.
It brought hope. Finally. Hope. They stood with one another and stood up to the occupiers.
Like in Ferguson (and Philadelphia before it), like in Baltimore (and Birmingham), Standing Rock (and Selma), like in Atlanta and other cities… people noticed!
Now, imagine what happened when everyone got on their Smart Phones and posted this on Facebook and Twitter… word spread… this guy is DIFFERENT… this guy raised an army in a day… this guy fed the crowd… and taught and healed… how empowering would THAT BE?
They were empowered to empower others… to have hope… to know that in the face of what seemed like overwhelming odds, they had more power together than they ever imagined… knowing what they COULD DO was empowering and hopeful… and enough…
What can WE accomplish when we are gathered as community – organized in unity?
What can WE do when we are fed, empowered and go out to empower others?
The teacher had quite a following. The Powers that Be noticed that and it made them nervous.
People followed Him because great things were happening in their lives and they wanted to see what was coming next. The people had been occupied by the military police for years and they were oppressed, harassed and controlled and had injustices done to them. They felt beaten down.
Any isolated protests and demonstrations were quelled. This hope… any hope would be a welcome thing.
It came to the end of the day and the crowd was hungry from following the teacher and learning from Him. The teacher felt compassion for them because they were like “sheep without a shepherd”. Their leaders were in collusion with the powers that be… they had nowhere to turn.
The teacher told his students to feed the people in the crowd, though they objected that they had no money or food enough for them all. In fact, they did not have enough food for the Teacher and His students!
He told them to have everyone sit in groups of 100’s and 50’s. Then the teacher took the little bit of food they had collected, and looked into heaven and blessed and broke it and gave it to the students to hand out. Everyone ate their fill and they had 12 baskets of leftovers, which was much more than what they had when they started!
The crowd was 5,000 men alone, not even counting women and children.
This took place outside the city, in
little towns and villages. Not in the
city, where the larger population was.
They were all fed.In a scene like the Pesach, the Passover… when people gathered together awaiting deliverance from their Bondage in Egypt… they shared their hasty meal in hospitality… deliverance from oppression…
The taking of the food, blessing it, breaking it, giving it is straight from the yearly celebration of Pesach…
Here, again, they were fed together as community – an intimate act of sharing not done with just anyone…
It was reserved for loved ones…
And in the sharing of the small amount of food was the miracle… ENOUGH… even MORE THAN ENOUGH
And they were empowered. You see, there were maybe 3500 soldiers
occupying the whole land at that time.
A full Legion would be 5500 professional soldiers, but
these were local Conscripts led by Military Leaders of the occupying
army. The Teacher raised 5000 – almost
twice that many in a single day.A Roman Army Cohort of 500 was broken into groups of 100 and 50 for strategy in occupation and battle –
The teacher knew their tactics and strategies and more than matched them!
What the Teacher did, in the face of Rome, was to raise an Army in a day, in front of them, and let Rome know what they were up against by an organized, unified people.
They did not arm themselves, and they did not do violence. They just put their numbers in their face.
And the King noticed. The Military Leaders certainly noticed. And the people heard about it.
It brought hope. Finally. Hope. They stood with one another and stood up to the occupiers.
Mark 6:30-44
This was written in 67 A.D., when
the tension between the people of Israel and their King and the Romans was
growing… the City of Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed in 70 A.D.
during an Uprising of Armed Citizens… and a Legion of Rome was then stationed
in Israel for 150 years… the armed uprising failed…
But the Hope of the people
continued… as many of them lived what Jesus taught and modeled… a new way… and
that remains and changes lives, gives hope still today…
This Teacher unified them, organized
them and taught them a better way… COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENTLike in Ferguson (and Philadelphia before it), like in Baltimore (and Birmingham), Standing Rock (and Selma), like in Atlanta and other cities… people noticed!
Now, imagine what happened when everyone got on their Smart Phones and posted this on Facebook and Twitter… word spread… this guy is DIFFERENT… this guy raised an army in a day… this guy fed the crowd… and taught and healed… how empowering would THAT BE?
They were empowered to empower others… to have hope… to know that in the face of what seemed like overwhelming odds, they had more power together than they ever imagined… knowing what they COULD DO was empowering and hopeful… and enough…
What could such a gathering of people
coming together accomplish?
What could such a gathering of people
coming together keep the occupiers from doing to them?
·
Film Clip… You Tube… Gandhi (1982 movie) “It is time for you to leave”
No mention of weapons or violence. In fact, in 1940’s India and 1960’s America,
the most profound progress was made by specifically NOT becoming like the
Occupiers, the Oppressors, but being THE OPPOSITE and finding power in NOT
stooping to their tactics… and much was gained by it…
·
Film Clip… You Tube… Dr. King on non-violent resistance…
What can WE accomplish by coming
together in the West End? At APS
Board Meetings, at City Council, at the State House?
When we get in the face of Washington and Wall Street?What can WE accomplish when we are gathered as community – organized in unity?
What can WE do when we are fed, empowered and go out to empower others?
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