Good vs Bad

For years I had the naive philosophy that deep down most people are basically good. Once I woke up to reality, my intuitive understanding of all began fitting perfectly. Moreover, predictions of outcomes have also flowed naturally, realistically, and closer to initial expectations. Of course, the scenario of people  that think are good when, in fact, they are the opposite exists...many fool themselves all the way to the grave.

Politicization of All

If one looks up the definition of the word politics, one soon realizes that several definitions exist for the word. Basically, our personal opinions of how society should run collective affairs relate to politics. Moreover, we elect officials as leaders to conduct social affairs for society in a way we feel is correct. Most people feel that their personal views, which they have acquired due to many factors involving things such as upbringing or religious views, are correct based on their understanding of all. This idea of understanding of all can be described as a worldview. Merriam-Webster defines worldview as a comprehensive conception or apprehension of the world especially from a specific standpoint. The foregoing basically involves one’s understanding which can have limitations based on many factors depending on our personal experiences, for instance. Our place of birth along with the different culture or language to which one was initially exposed contributes greatly to our worldviews. Consequently, worldviews are as diverse as our world, which consists of many races, nations, and languages. Inhabitants of planet Earth think and have opinions which often evolve and transition depending on our age, or perhaps phases in life which we go through. Based on some of these factors, our ideas about anything can very often be completely different. Regardless of all mentioned thus far, the one thing we all share is our humanity. We are a species that inhabits this planet in our physical universe, and as our lives interact, we make decisions based on how to best share this collective experience. Politics ultimately is involved in this process on a national and global level, but how much we allow politics to be involved in our daily lives is important. A question I ask is at what point do we stop making personal decisions and allow others to decide for us. Moreover, what percentage of our personal decisions will we allow to conceivably be made for us? Will we ultimately allow a politicization of all? The foregoing question is basically the title to this post, and perhaps it is where humanity is standing now. Ultimately, this question is possibly the one we may be asking ourselves without asking out loud. This question is obviously also ecumenical, and the one thing I do know is that many people do not like anyone else making decisions for them, especially those with which they disagree. I recently took an idea from the Stephen Stills’ song, For what it’s worth. A line in the song says: nobody's right if everybody's wrong. I took this idea a step further by adding: nobody is wrong if everybody is right. Well, the idea is indeed correct, if everyone is right than no one is wrong; however, the bigger question this idea raises is how can everyone be right? Can everyone be right? Personally, I don’t think it is possible, but there are certain times where we just must agree to disagree to get along.

Merry Christmas to All!

Merry Christmas to All!

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry Christmas Message 2018

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry

Christmas Message 2018

In the Third Chapter of John’s Gospel, Jesus says at one point, “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that all who believe in him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

For years, I’ve often thought that that passage only referred to Jesus giving his life as a sacrifice on the cross. And to be sure, that is part of what it means. But some years ago I was reading a commentary by Raymond Brown, on the Gospel of John, and Professor Brown said that that passage not only speaks of Jesus willingly giving his life on the cross, but it actually speaks of Christmas, of God giving his very self, his very son to the world, not for anything God could get out of it, but for the good and the welfare and the well-being of the world. Of us.

Someone once said, in a Christmas poem, “Love came down at Christmas.” That’s what love is. To give, and not to count the cost. To give, not for what one can get, but for what the other can receive. That’s what love is. God so loved the world, that he gave.

I realized recently how powerful that passage really is, when I saw an old poster from 1938. A poster produced by the Episcopal Church at that time, to encourage Episcopalians and other Christians, and other people of faith and good will, to do whatever they could to help Jewish refugees fleeing tyranny in Europe. To help people from all over Europe seeking refuge in America, this land of freedom. The poster depicts Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus. They’re fleeing persecution in Palestine, as Matthew’s Gospel says. And the poster depicting Mary, Joseph, and Jesus says in the tag line, “In the name of these refugees, help all refugees.”

God so loved the world, that he gave, even to the point of risking his own son. And in the name of those refugees, in the name of that Jesus, help all refugees, all people who suffer, anyone who’s alone, everyone who is in need. That’s what love does.

Love came down at Christmas, because God so loved the world, that he gave.

In those days, a decree went out from the Emperor Augustus, that all the world should be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem because he was a descendent from the House of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged, and who was expecting a child. While they were there, she gave birth to her first-born son, and wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Meanwhile, in that region, there were shepherds, living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then the angel of the Lord stood above them. And the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were terrified. The angel said unto them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all people. To you is born this day, in the City of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign. You will find the child wrapped in bands of cloth, lying in a manger.”

And suddenly, there was with the angels a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and peace to all people on earth.”

Have a blessed Christmas. Have a merry Christmas. Have a joyful Christmas.

God love you, God bless you, and may God hold us all in those almighty hands of love.

The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry

Presiding Bishop and Primate

The Episcopal Church

Sources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZa07Cmqrm0

https://cnyepiscopal.org/2018/12/god-so-loved-the-world-that-he-gave-presiding-bishop-christmas-message-2018/.