MONDAY MEDITATION: In Such Times, It Begins With Us (July 15)

Be happy with those who are happy, and cry with those who are crying. Consider everyone as equal, and don’t think you’re better than anyone else…Don’t think that you’re so smart. — Romans 13:15-16

I’m writing this the day after the attempted assassination on former President Trump. That horrific event seemed to epitomize the reality we live with daily. From local to international, there is division that tries to be dealt with by violence which, of course, leads only to deeper division.

But this isn’t anything new. It was the setting into which Jesus was born. And the Apostle Paul was probably beheaded shortly after he wrote the above words from his letter to the Romans…

…which makes our mission as Christians clear. It’s not in spite of, but because of, the violence in the human heart that Jesus came to proclaim the kingdom of God. Paul summarized the lifestyle of people who trust that Christ knew what he was talking about.

What would it be like if we actually lived the empathetic love and sincere humility that Paul so beautifully summarized? We would be responding to the violence we see around us by living an example of peace. It’s not in spite of, but because of, the prevalence of violence that peace does begin with us. No matter what.