Dear friends,
“Love is more powerful than hate or fear.” I say these words all the time. I say them whenever I find myself trying to explain why I am a Christian. Especially at Easter, I preach them from the pulpit because, for me, they express the meaning of the resurrection. In Jesus’ crucifixion, it seemed that hate and fear had won out over his message of the power of God’s love. In his resurrection–whether we understand it literally or metaphorically–, we proclaim that, in the end, God’s love has triumphed.
“Love is more powerful than hate or fear.” The news these past few weeks challenges that proclamation at a deep level. Three horrifying, brutal beheadings. A terrorist group that revels in posting video of mass executions. The struggle amongst our own national leaders to find a way to respond that doesn’t lead to more rage, more terror, more death. All this on top of senseless loss of life in Israel and Gaza, the death of a young black man in Ferguson, Missouri. Hate is an overwhelmingly powerful force in our world. Fear is a close second.
What does it mean, in the face of all this horrifying news, to proclaim the power of love? At first glance, it seems naive. But our conviction of the ultimate power of God’s love doesn’t come out of naivete about human nature. Jesus proclaimed his message in a world filled with brutality, abuse of power, hate and fear. He understood exactly what he was facing, and he refused to be silenced. Even death could not stop his message.
As I watch the news in horror, as I struggle to make sense of the reality of hate and fear, I recognize my need to reaffirm the heart of my faith. Whether or not the TV news reflects it, I choose to trust that God’s love is more powerful than hate or fear. I choose to keep trying, in whatever way I can, to proclaim that faith by living it.
This coming Sunday we celebrate our annual outdoor service, with a chaotic, joyful Blessing of the Animals. The format doesn’t give us a good opportunity to reflect soberly and deeply on the many questions the evening news raises. It does give us an opportunity to renew and proclaim our central conviction: God is love. We will celebrate how that love is reflected in the beauty of creation and the wonder of all God’s creatures.
On September 21 and 28, I will preach a two-session sermon series on “Faith and our Troubled World.” On those Sundays, we will wrestle more fully with the complex questions these world events raise.
In the meantime, let us pray for comfort and healing for all who have lost loved ones, for wisdom for all who are faced with difficult decisions that will shape our world, and for God’s love to transform hearts and lives everywhere.
Peace, Debbie