Slideshow image

First, if you have not watched the sermon preached by The Right Reverend Mariann Budde at the inaugural prayer service, I highly suggest you do. It is worth your time. And if you don't have time to watch the entire sermon, I urge you to listen to the last few minutes beginning at 12:22 (click the link below). She is the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington. Watch the video below or HERE.

Second, I have noticed a lot of attention has been given to this sermon in both conservative and progressive press outlets. Many headlines contain the notion that Bishop Budde "confronts" or "stands up" to President Trump. But I think these statements are misleading.

I feel as though these headlines suggest Bishop Budde had sinister intentions motivated by partisan politics to embarrass or criticize the President-elect on a national platform. I don't think that is the case at all.

When did preaching about Jesus' command to love our neighbor as ourselves become so angering? When did showing compassion and mercy for the most vulnerable and marginalized become worthy of vitriol?

Perhaps these are silly questions to ask, for this is exactly why Jesus was crucified in the first place. Proclaiming the radicalness of God's own love and calling on others to act likewise with compassion and humility, practicing forgiveness, mercy, and healing spiritual, emotional, social, and physical wounds challenges the status quo and power of those in authority (Luke 6:6-11).

I think our nation was reminded that there is an alternative to the toxic version of Christianity we have seen plastered on TV, social media, and campaign rallies over the last several years. I think our nation was reminded that there are many Christians outside radical conservative Evangelicalism who take Jesus' words seriously and at face value: that we are to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matt. 22:34-40), we are to care for the poor, orphans, widows, sick, and marginalized of our time and place (Luke 10:25-37; Matt. 25:31-45) and practice mercy (Luke 6:36).

As Thomas Merton once wrote "our job is to love others without stopping to inquire whether or not they are worthy".

I think Bishop Budde's sermon and her appeal to the President were simply the words of Jesus - unmitigated by political ideology or culture. She displayed extraordinary courage because instead of giving into empty words that gratify our nation's various political egos, she simply preached Jesus - I imagine as she has in every sermon she has given in her ministry. She preached Jesus.

If you felt uncomfortable by her sermon, perhaps it's because Jesus' words will sometimes - well, often - disrupt us and call us out. And it's here where perhaps we need the truth to penetrate our hearts the most so that we, ourselves, can be healed, liberated, and made new. Perhaps it's here where Jesus longs to meet us so that we can truly pick-up our crosses and follow Jesus more closely with renewed hearts (John 15:1-17).

So while some headlines are misleading, my headline would read "Bishop Preaches Jesus".

I am reminded of the text from this past Sunday in the Narrative Lectionary - Luke 4:14-30.

In his hometown synagogue, amongst his friends and neighbors, he stands up to read from the prophet Isaiah:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me

to bring good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives

and recovery of sight to the blind,

to set free those who are oppressed,

19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

He then tells them: "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing" (v. 21).

And then it's after explaining how this Good News of God's grace is extended to the Gentiles also that the crowd is enraged and seek to throw him out.

 

Bishop Budde preached Jesus.

She preached as Jesus preached.

Thanks be to God for that.

May we have the courage and humility to listen and do likewise (Luke 10:37).