No Kings, Just the Prince of Peace

On June 14th, Donald Trump threw himself a multimillion dollar parade and the rest of the country took to the streets to protest it. Not just for wasteful spending while the threat loomed over our heads that Medicare was going to be gutted, but for the simple fact that we are losing our American Rights. Our rights as citizens of this land and as human beings whose lives are precious.

I remember pestering an old pastor about how she could tell the difference between her own thoughts and messages from God. She said, “there is a deep knowing within you.”

Boy was she right. I still explain it that way now. Sometimes it’s a deep knowing and sometimes I automatically do things. And I believe that is God getting messages to us. Over time I would learn to acknowledge and trust that feeling.

So this protest has been planned for months and a few weeks ago I get the urge to dress as Jesus to attend. Someone lent me a costume and a beard, and I kept saying to myself, “is this blasphemy? Am I desecrating or appropriating a whole religion right now?” I am a Christian. But I don’t speak for every Christian.

Well wait a minute. No. A whole religion has been desecrating the teachings of which they are named after. What about that?

I’m dressed as Jesus to catch people’s attention. As soon as I round the corner, it’s like a high school romcom. Everyone’s doing a double take. As they realize who I’m dressed as, immediately people smile. Their eyes go from my fake beard to the brightly colored sign on a stick in my hands.

It reads:

Whatever you do to the least of these,

You do to me. - Matthew 25:40

Below this Bible quote, I have drawn three flags. The Mexican flag, the progressive Pride flag and the Palestinian flag.

Their eyes come back down, their smiles soften and they nod solemnly. Many people thanked me. I mean genuinely thanked me, for being there with this message. A message, the man I’m cos playing as, was trying to teach 2,000 years ago and we still aren’t getting it right!

I think this political climate has been heartbreaking to progressive Christian’s who subscribe to Jesus’ love. Christs love. Christian’s.

So was it blasphemy for me to put heavy duty double sided tape on my face and stick fake beard to it? No. It wasn’t.

Because God will deliver messages in ways that will get your attention and keep it. It wasn’t about worshiping me or even about Jesus. It was pointing out the necessity to notice your neighbor in need as if were Jesus. Simply, that if you would or wouldn’t do it to Jesus, why would you do it to his people? His people are all people.

I believe the spirit led me to make this fashion choice to not only plant seeds in tough situations but also lead me to gardens, like this congregation, who can receive the message in peace. So you can marinate on it and find ways to apply it to your life. And so the ripples go.

The reading is Mark 25:34-45

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire-prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

-so ends the reading

Every soul is deserving of this life God gave them. There are no requirements for God’s love.  As people of God, we are called to treat everyone like we would treat Jesus. I know that’s a big ask sometimes, especially on I95 in the summer. Holy… Jesus take the wheel.

It’s not cool if you decide someone is not worthy of help. But people make mistakes and we have the ability to analyze our own behavior and decide to change that. Every day is a new chance to make choices that align with your values. For me, my values align with Jesus and he tells us to love. Love God, love your neighbor, love yourself. And love is an action word. Faith without action is dead, right?

There are so many people in your community and surrounding communities that need help right now. They are struggling and suffering and it doesn’t  have to be that way.

In times of darkness, like what we are experiencing now, we have to be the light. I encourage… no I implore you to find ways to spread hope and joy. Be the helpers that midget Rodger’s tells us to look for.  Our hope and joy is in Jesus and we need to emulate him to spread that to others.

If you are a church goer, I’m sure they have volunteer opportunities… if you were on the fence before, this is your sign. If you are not a church goer, find 50501 and ACLU chapters for your area. Sign up for some stuff.

Many hands make light work. We are the hands of God, use them in good faith.