Christ Pantocrator at Saint Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna 6th century mosaic
As the election noise gets quieter in my head and in the news, the ancient round of the Christian tradition reminds me that no matter who holds the titles and the powers that human rulers take on, Jesus calls to live in the eternal reign of God. On this Sunday when many churches celebrate the Reign of Christ, Jesus says that he came into the world to bear witness to the truth, and that everyone who is of the truth listens to his voice.*
The problem is, of course, that sometimes it is really hard to discern what is true, especially when in the public sphere each side of almost every question is calling the other side a liar, or worse. And so I ask myself what is true, right here, right now? Here is what I know to be true as I sit today, writing in my comfortable chair:
- A haze of gold/green leaves are still clinging to the tree outside my window.
- The thirsty plants have perked up after last night’s rain.
- The flock of pigeons still whirls in the air around the plaza near my house.
- My neighbor smiles a hello as I pass her on my daily walk.
- My heart beats without my having to tell it to, and my breath flows in and out even when I am thinking about something else
- God is God, and I am not.
When I stop giving in to fear and simply listen, I can hear the voice of Jesus telling me to love God, to love my neighbors, and to love myself. And I know that God’s eternal reign of peace, justice, and love is the deeper truth, whatever else the newspaper may tell me.
For More
Lately, I have been exploring the website “Unfolding Light” which includes daily reflections, worship resources, and music by Steve Garnaas-Holmes. Holmes says that he writes from a contemplative, Creation-centered, justice-oriented spirituality. Here is his poem called “Truth”:
There are those for whom life
is little better than a frat party,
all pose and flirt and “hold my beer,”
a refined science of pretending and denying.
To stand for the truth, for that silent thing
that most kindly haunts us,
feels like leaving the party for a time out,
going into a cold, dark room alone.
How many times have we chosen
the lights over the loneliness?
Only when we put our hand on the doorknob,
only when we walk through that narrow door
do we find there
the friendship of the truth,
the real world, its warm company.
