Making Tough Decisions - December 10

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 37:1-18; PM Psalm 37:19-42; Isa. 7:1-9; 2 Thess. 2:1-12; Luke 22:1-13

Today’s scripture is bold, and its message is very convicting to me.  As the Gospel of Luke says, “the chief priests and the scribes are looking to put Jesus to death, for they were afraid of the people.”  In other words, they are allowing fear of the community to guide their leadership practice and force them into participating in the very destruction of sacred human life, what we have come to know as God’s very self. 

This story pushes me to consider all of the times I have acted and refused to act for the fear of what people might say or do.  As a parish priest, specifically as Rector, with the responsibility of caring for a staff of twenty full and part-time employees, I often worry considerably about what would happen if too many people became upset with a decision I have made or something I have said or done.  Don’t worry too much, I work hard not to make decisions in a vacuum. 

So, as I read Luke, there is part of me that is sympathizing with the scribes and priests.  Maybe their sect of Judaism is thriving, they feel they are finally living into their mission as a faith community, and they are too scared to push against the opinions of their people.  The church doesn’t want to ruffle any feathers. The result of that decision is the crucifixion, and on Good Friday, we are invited to consider our role in that very narrative.  Maybe we are the people who want Jesus gone so that our lives can return to normal, or maybe we are the religious leaders who are too scared to push against popular opinion. The parallels to the challenges of today are striking as leaders in every sect of our life work to make difficult decisions that will certainly upset a lot of people. 

But today is not Good Friday, but one of the many days of Advent.  And this story is a story of hope. Because we know that God’s grace conquers even the worst of it all, the death of precious human life, God’s very own self.   It is even through this that we find hope and resurrection.  And yet, if we are to wait for this hope to be born new in our lives on Christmas, we must consider what our role in God’s great story should be.  In this time of pandemic and especially poignant political strife and conflict, maybe God is inviting us to be faithful to the radical way of love even at the cost of disrupting the status quo.

John+

Questions for Self-Reflection:  When have you acted or refused to act for the fear of what people might say or do?

Daily Challenge: In this especially polarizing time, pay attention to when you feel passionately that you are compromising your value system to keep the peace.  Be emboldened to speak up or act.