March 23, 2022
‘What nation has such great laws and is so close to their God?’ is a paraphrase of the first reading from Deuteronomy. ‘They must be a wise and intelligent nation’ is what others will say of the Israelites, Moses promises them, if they follow the statutes given to them. Even Jesus in Matthew’s Gospel is unwilling to change the laws! Jesus challenged many things. Yet he kept the law, only encouraging us to live the law in our hearts and lives, not just in our heads. Now, lest you think I am some sort of right-wing nut because of what I am about to say, let me assure you I am not. However, I do wonder if we as a nation have lost our way. I’m not suggesting that we become a theocracy—far from that! I have no right to tell someone else how to find God. Yet, are we a wise and intelligent nation? Are we living the “golden rule” (a form of which is found in many other religions) anymore? How can a wise and intelligent nation ignore gun violence, the opioid crisis, climate change, the broken penal system, and the broken legislative system? We as a nation no longer speak to each other, we talk at each other, never listening. Compromise is a dirty word. I have no answers. I just pray, and hope that by the example of my life, others will see that I strive to live my beliefs.