Sign On With The One That God Has Sent

As many of you are probably aware, our president and vice president got into a very public debate with the pope last week, and religion/morality came into the public discourse in a new way. In my humble opinion, the pope offered such amazing and sharp critique of what we see our administration doing in terms of inflicting violence in other parts of the world (and domestically as well). And while I can’t say I always find myself aligned with papal statements, I could really get behind Pope Leo’s responses to the current wars and conflicts (and especially the United States’ role in them).

Pope Leo said things like, “Jesus told us, blessed are the peacemakers…Woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic or political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth.” Leo also said, “The masters of war pretend not to know that it takes only a moment to destroy, yet often, a lifetime is often not enough to rebuild. They turn a blind eye to the fact that billions of dollars are spent on killing, on devastation, yet the resources needed for healing, education, and restoration are nowhere to be found.”

Just re-read that last passage slowly about the masters of war. We know that some of the damage we have already inflicted will not be rebuilt in this lifetime.

For me these are very compelling statements.

In Acts 6 today, Stephen is engaging some of his adversaries in dialogue and critique and offers them some of his own compelling statements. We’re told that his opponents “could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke…” And so they needed to stir up the crowd with lies, claims of blasphemy and threats against Stephen.

Sound familiar? Stephen’s opponents – knowing that they did not hold a solid moral position – are reduced to trying to “rally the base” with personal attacks and threats. We have seen the same from our administration – noting that days after the verbal exchanges our administration abruptly cancelled an $11 million contract with Catholic Charities in Miami (money used to shelter and care for migrant children). 

I saw a meme the other day that said, “These days I get most of my exercise from shaking my head in disbelief.” I can totally relate.

In the gospel today, the crowds interestingly “lose track” of Jesus and the disciples. John 6 tells us that, “When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were [where they expected], they themselves got into boats,” and went looking for Jesus. When they find him “across the sea,” they say, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”

Two things I love from this part of the passage.

First, when the crowds can’t locate him, they go looking. I hope the same is true for you and me, and yet if your life is like mine this is not always the case. I kind of expect Jesus to come back and find me – in my same old routines, in my same old patterns. Yet our God is always on the move, and it’s incumbent on us in the spiritual journey to keep moving as well.

Secondly, Jesus arrives ahead of the crowd. Similarly, God always seems to be arriving ahead of us – especially in unexpected places or unexpected ways. I often think about the story told by Edwina Gateley when she set out as a young lay missionary to go from England to Africa to “bring God to the people there.” But she says she quickly discovered that “God got there before me,” and was already amazingly alive and well in the generosity, hospitality and love of the people there.

God’s already present wherever we’re going or whatever situation we’re in. The question thus becomes, “Are we able to recognize God as being there ahead of us?”

The gospel concludes with Jesus telling the people that they seek him because he fed them but that they should really be striving for “food that does not perish.” They ask, “Well how can we do this?” And he beautifully responds, “Sign on with the One that God has sent. That kind of a commitment gets you in on God’s works.” (The Message, John 6:29)

Sign on with the One that God has sent. What a beautiful invitation.

Which brings me back to where I started this reflection.

In so many ways, our current administration has not “signed on with the One God has sent.” This administration glorifies and justifies war. This administration is obsessed with greed and making money. This administration works to protect the privilege and wealth of the elite at the expense of so many. This administration seeks to build monuments to honor themselves versus lifting up people.

What I also have to say is that is not uncommon for popes to speak dirctly to world leaders and politicians about their actions. This is not about being partisan. We’ve had popes who were more conservative than our liberal presidents critiquing polcies that harmed people, conflicts that hurt non-combatants, economic decisions that degraded the earth. What is uncommon, however, is to have an administration that chastises the pope for speaking on these things and even arrogantly lectures him on things like the “just war theory.”

And the Pope reminded everyone in his address last week in Cameroon of what the One that God has sent wants us to do: pursue the common good, hunger and thirst for justice, respect the dignity of every person, promote religious freedom, lead with a spirit of servanthood, embody peace, reject the logic of war and violence and make life on this earth a blessing for all.

Pope Leo noted that these are important times in Cameroon and everywhere around the world. He invited his listeners to ask, “Where are we now? How has the Word that was proclaimed to us borne fruit? And what remains to be done?”

These are great post-resurrection questions: How has the Word that was proclaimed to us borne fruit? And what remains to be done?

I look forward to our individual and collective responses this week!