Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“So from that day on they planned to put him to death. Jesus therefore no longer walked about openly among the Jews, but went from there to a town called Ephraim in the region near the wilderness; and he remained there with the disciples.”
NL Daily Devotion for Monday, March 7, 2022
by Dr. Kimberly Leetch, Clergy Stuff
Jesus was a troublemaker. Everywhere he went, he stirred people up. Some were awakened to act against the injustices they had been conditioned to accept as normal. Others were terrified that Jesus would start a revolution, thereby relieving them of the status, wealth, and power.
Jesus was also wise. He knew that there was a time to walk and speak boldly among the crowds, and there was a time to move quietly through the world, letting the ripples of his words and actions settle. Jesus understood the nuances of strategic planning. He followed God’s lead, even when doing so was hard.
We move now toward a third week of war between Ukraine and Russia, and years of war in the Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Mexico, Yemen, Syria, Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Colombia, DR Congo, Iraq, Libya, Mali, Mozambique, Myanmar, Niger, Nigeria, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Tunisia. The war in Ukraine seems to be top of mind right now, probably because of a combination of factors.
First, it is still new, so it remains a shock to our system. Second, Ukrainians are white, and whether we want to admit it or not, primarily white countries have a harder time accepting these atrocities happening to other white people than we do when it is a country of color.
Third, the war in Ukraine has been widely broadcast using social media in real time in a way we have not seen before. While Ukrainians are out-soldiered and out-ammunitioned by Russia, they have flocked to one strong weapon they do possess—the power to sway global heartstrings to their cause. As Jesus chose when to speak and when to remain quiet, Ukraine has chosen this moment not to hide quietly, but to proclaim loudly, “We are here! We will not back down!”
If you are reading this, then you are likely among those privileged enough to hear their cries and to choose how you will respond. This is not our moment to speak. It is our time to awaken and act.
How is God calling me to act in this moment?