Cruel Intentions are not just the name of a movie, but it seems to me that cruel intentions have become a prominent mode of interaction with others. Mental health is a frequent topic of discussion and more people than ever are living in a medicated state just to cope. Others, it appears, do the best they can while harboring within a seemingly bottomless well of insecurity which lays in wait for the opportune moment and next target of attack. Explosion in anger and unleashing rounds of automatic fire – either verbal assault or literally with gunfire – has become a routine and normalized way of human interaction.
When did it become acceptable to disrespect people simply to make ourselves feel better? Why has stronger, louder, bigger force, and warring tendencies become a primary mode of operation? Where is the gift of self-control with rising egos and fear filled self-protection and self-interest within our world, nation, communities, and even families. And what happens when the most vulnerable of society are repeatedly the object of cruel intentions or are constant witnesses to this explosive and exploitive way of life? Abuse of human dignity raises its ugly head time and time again within human relationships.
With the explosive nature of human tendency toward justification and judgement of others, how are believers to respond when hatred and cruelty are directed toward them? Does turning the other check only encourage bad behavior? Does forgiving seventy times seven times lead to changed behavior?
Today’s Scripture
Jesus tells us through every age of cruel intention and everyday life that it is good for him to die so that we may have a new way of relating to the Creative Word and Presence of God. John 14 is one of my favorite Scriptures. Here are a few highlights from this passage:
- Jesus says 1“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.”
- 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, . . . 12 Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.
- 15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. 17 This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him because he abides with you, and he will be] in you.
What were and are Jesus’ works? How was and is Divine love incarnate through Jesus? The Scripture says, “the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do.” How do you manifest the works of Jesus’ love in personal encounters with others, with communities of injustice, and through the prophetic act of voting?
Every year the Easter celebration of resurrection and through the 50 days of Eastertide, those days following Easter, preachers around the globe prepare people for the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. This annual liturgical cycle is a marvelous reminder of how God is in control of the created universe and all that live upon this world. But the reality is that in just a few short weeks, when we wear red to church and celebrate Pentecost – it is not the first time in human history that the Holy Spirit of the risen Christ has been unleashed through the world and to all generations. The Advocate unleashed among us was sent to the Kosmos (Greek for humanity, the world, and all the created order) over two thousand years ago.
How does the power and presence of the Holy Spirit breathe in and through your engagement of others, even those with cruel intentions, culturally acceptable violence, and social injustice?
Today’s Prayer Practice
Today we are praying with John 14. You may desire to pray the entire chapter or just the selected printed in this blog. If you choose the entire chapter, please only pray with one short paragraph for each of the three sacred readings. Since these verses are familiar, we will begin with the Lectio process. Read the passage through slowly three times.
- During the silence after the first reading consider: “What word or phrase from this text leaps to life in your heart?”
- During the silence after the second reading consider: “How does this text intersect with your life in response to events, people, conversations, or situations that impact you and our global neighbors?”
- During the silence after the third reading consider: “What is God inviting you to be or do from these living Words of God?”
Close your time of Lectio Divina, that is praying the Scriptures, by creating a covenant with God to live the action or to become by God’s grace the invitation that you discerned in step three.
- How will you become an advocate of Holy Spirit love in relationships with others?
- As an advocate of God’s love, how will you be empowered by the Holy Spirt with your words, your forgiveness, your stance of legal and voting issues?
May it be so by the ever-present Advocate from the risen Christ.
Enjoy praying.
