Dear friends and members of University UMC:
This month our worship services have been centered on the theme of compassion. The scriptures are filled with lessons instructing us to love God, neighbor, and self. With schedules that are packed to overflowing, our need to practice self-care is crucial. And as the world spins madly on with breaking news-type headlines every hour, our need to care for one another has never been greater. The call to compassion is the call of our time. These days, however, I confess that I wonder more and more about the limits of compassion and love.
This Sunday’s worship service will include the scripture lesson from Luke 6 when Jesus says, “Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you; bless those who curse you; pray for those who mistreat you.” I imagine I am not the only person who struggles with this teaching. In researching this passage I came across a writing in “Liturgies from Below” by Cláudio Carvalhaes. The writing is entitled “Love?”–the question mark is intentional–and it explores the limits and possibilities of love with honesty and hope for a new world. This love Jesus calls us to is not passive. It is not dismissive of suffering and injustice. In fact, love is quite the opposite because it demands our engagement and action. Love liberates us as it gives us the strength and passion to work for the end of oppression. Above all, Jesus is teaching us how to confront and resist evil without becoming evil ourselves. You can hear me read “Love?” in the short video below.
There are a host of modern-day prophets joining Jesus in the way of compassion and love. Years ago I heard Valerie Kaur speak as her book, “See No Stranger,” was released. In this book, she explores the question: “How do we love in a time of rage?” It is haunting and sobering how very relevant this question is today. The question of loving enemies and love in a time of rage are not easy questions. Instead of finding simple answers to these questions, we discover glimpses and insights in the living of our days. Moreover, the love Jesus calls us to sometimes produces more questions than answers. I hold the words of Rainer Maria Rilke in my mind: “Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves….live the questions.”
What a joy to be your pastor!
Teresa
