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The first two verses of Hymn 665 in the Episcopal Church’s Hymnal 1982 have been singing in my head this morning:
All my hope on God is founded;
he doth still my trust renew.
Me through change and chance he guideth,
only good and only true.
God unknown,
he alone
calls my heart to be his own.
Human pride and earthly glory,
sword and crown betray his trust;
what with care and toil we build them,
tower and temple, fall to dust.
But God's power,
hour by hour,
is my temple and my tower.
The results of the election yesterday will be for many a disappointment. For others, it will bring a sense of joy.
As Christians, we know our allegiance is not to a political party or an elected official. We know the one who is the Christ: Jesus of Nazareth. Human leaders and political institutions are faltering and transitory. Nations, political factions and leaders come and go. There will be times of defeat and of triumph. These are always fleeting realities.
We will need to judge ourselves, our churches, others, our local communities, our leaders and our nation by the criteria presented in the active promises of the Baptismal Covenant to:
- continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers.
- persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord.
- proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ.
- seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself.
- strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being.
With these promises in mind, I hold fast to the words of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew (especially 5:1-12, 5:43-48, 7:1-6, 22:37-40, and 25:31-46).
We must continue to seek justice, to welcome the stranger, to be humble, and to love – God, others, and – especially – those we perceive to be our enemies and to hate us.
We must keep praying:
O God, you have bound us together in a common life. Help us, in the midst of our struggles for justice, truth and peace, to confront one another without hatred or bitterness, and to work together with mutual forbearance and respect; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayers abound!
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