If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday.” vss. 9b-10
Isaiah 58:9b-12
It is so easy to “drink the lemonade” of the times and take delight in its tangy flavors. And the politicized moments of these last months have offered plenty of opportunities to at least take a sip or two. We’re in the primary season, getting ready to pick candidates for the fall elections and trying to make up our minds, and everyone is being offered lemonade! And it almost always involves the pointing of the finger and speaking of evil–lies and mistruths abound. And sometimes the posturing has an effect on relationships within the Body of Christ. Long-time friends are alienated from one another and it’s all so sad. In that atmosphere, it is crucial for brothers and sisters in Christ to follow the direction of the prophet and focus on loving connections and not political stances. When politicians point the finger and speak evil, we will not join in and instead focus on our mission to offer food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted. It’s not easy to separate politics from friendships, but for the sake of the Church, it has to be done. Friends should be our friends forever, especially when our political choices are different!
Thought for the Day: How does politics affect my friendships?
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