The stunning painting above by jaclyn reminds us that Jesus was born into violent times. The horrific antisemitic attacks against people peacefully enjoying the sunshine on an Austalian beach would suggest that little has changed. Violence once again unleashed. It is almost as if we find it impossible to learn this simple lesson – violence always results in more violence. Unless we can break the circle, it will break us.
The unreasonable, impracticable teachings of Jesus concern themselves at heart with the breaking of this circle through the subversive application of love. In the face of violence, even to death, his call was to resist by the application of a different set of rules, characterised by non-violence. We defend ourselves from violence not through arming ourselves or seeking revenge, but rather by something much braver and much more counter-cultural. We seek to love our enemies, and to lay down our lives as agents of peace.
But let us never pretend this is easy. To those who are fearful, hurting and broken we offer this beautiful big-hearted poem by our friend Steve Page, from his book ‘Not too big to weep‘.
Thanks for including Louder in this blog. I revisit this collection Not Too Big To Weep more often than I thought I would. I’m grateful for many reasons to laugh and smile – especially with family and friends. But you’d need to be blind not to weep when considering the fear and anger being stoked into flame around us.
I worship a God who is not too big to weep.