Pastor’s Pen: February
Recently, I participated in a community theatre production of William Shakespeare’s famous tragedy, Romeo and Juliet. The production was directed by my former high school theatre teacher, and the cast included individuals ranging from ages 12 to 70. On a personal note, it was a delight to be immersed in the processes of character building, blocking, and engaging as a cast to tell a story.
What was unique to our adapation of Bill’s most famous tragedy was the play’s setting: we set the play, not in Elizabethian time period, but in a post-apcolyptic society. We imagined the Montagues and the Capulets as two families who survived the collapse of a former society and yet, despite the collapse of the world as they knew it, still refused to relinquish old grudges.
The cost of their enmity and refusal to find pathways towards peace was the death of their children and kin. As I listened to my fellow players recite their lines, I couldn’t help but reflect on the cost of enmity. It falls on the guilty and the innocent, alike. No one is blameless.
Most tragic, to me, is the ones who have power to end the fued, do not, and the cost is laid upon those whose lives have barely begun. Romeo and Juliet didn’t stand a chance against such hate. Such anger. Such bitterness.
As you can imagine, it was easy for me, friends in Christ, to see the parallels of our current social moment throughout the rehearsal and performances of this story. The refusal to hear one another. The flippant use of dehumanizing language. The absolute belief that I am right and you are wrong. I was hearing our current moment through the beautiful, terrible words of this 16th century play.
And I found myself praying for Christ’s help. For Christ to lead us beyond grudges and hate and fear. In answer to my pleas, I heard Jesus’ words: “But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt.” (Luke 6:27-29)
Following Jesus in his instruction is costly. We might find it difficult to pray for those who are weaponizing their words and enacting policies that do harm in the world. We might find it difficult to bless others when they are hurling curses. It’s hard to follow Jesus. It costs us our self-righteousness. It costs us our certainty. And I wonder: are we willing to try? Are we willing to try Jesus’ way?
For the joy on my children’s faces and the children my friends and peers are raising, I pray for the strength to follow Jesus. For the families who have been welcomed into our communities as legal refugees, I pray for the courage to follow Jesus. For those who are fearful and whose pain drives them towards hurtful words and deeds, I pray for the compassion of Jesus.
Help me, Jesus. Help us, your church, put away old grudges and find a pathway towards understanding, mutality, and peace. Give us strength, courage, and compassion to repair a world that is already redeemed by your death and resurrection.
Keep the faith, beloved ones. Trusting that it is faith which keeps you.
With love,
Pastor Beth