Lent Meditation February 28: Be Strong… Take Courage
Genesis 15: 1-12, 17-18
Psalm 27
Philippians 3:17-4:1
Luke 13: 31-45
Tonight, after more than two weeks of competition, the XXI Winter Olympic Games will come to a close. During this time, thousands of athletes from all over the world will have descended upon Vancouver and will have competed in individual and team events with the hopes of receiving a gold, silver, or bronze medal. While representing their respective countries, these athletes will also have stood for something greater … for the idea that we are all part of one humanity, one world. Friendships will have been made that transcend national boundaries, social mores, and political ideologies. And we as American spectators, while certainly cheering on Team USA, will probably also have fallen in love with athletes from all over the world that have overcome adversity, found perseverance, or won under the most unlikelihood of odds.
Sometimes, just sometimes, it is particular moments during these games that seem to eclipse the games themselves. Remember the “Miracle on Ice” at the 1980 Winter Games in Lake Placid? What about the 200 meter race awards ceremony at the 1968 Summer Games in Mexico City? Perhaps you recall it. Tommie Smith, the gold medalist, and John Carlos, the bronze awardee, took to the podium shoeless – wearing black socks to represent black poverty and black gloves to denote black pride. They saluted with clenched fists in solidarity of the Black Power movement and bowed their heads during the national anthem. While representing the United States, they symbolically highlighted that their country still had a far way to go in terms of how it treated all of its citizens. Indeed, in performing their own form of civil disobedience, these two athletes made a statement … a statement that got them expelled from the games and admonished by American politicians and the general public. Convention says you act a certain way or you might be persecuted.
Just like in the Luke passage. Friendly Pharisees tell Jesus to skip town because Herod is out to get him. It’s better to be safe than sorry; to do the socially accepted “right” thing, instead of what is actually right. But, in this pericope, Jesus is not quite done with his important healing and teaching ministry and will not cease or leave until he is. Convention says you act a certain way or you might be persecuted.
The psalmist today compels us to trust in God. Yet, how often do we not do so? How often do our fears and prides get the best of us? How often do we put ourselves before others and before God? How often do we do the socially accepted “right” thing, instead of what is actually right?
The psalmist also compels us to be strong and take courage. We should be strong and take courage in following the words of the prophet Micah; that is, to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God. We should be strong and take courage in following the words of Jesus; that is, to love God with all our hearts, our souls, our strength, and our mind, and to love our neighbors as ourselves.
Tommie Smith and John Carlos were strong and took courage on that warm day in October 1968. Rather than doing that which was socially acceptable, they did that which was prophetically just. Rather than thinking of themselves, they thought about the collectively marginalized other. And they did this, even when they knew they might be criticized, punished, persecuted, and, dare I say, crucified.
During this time of Lent, let us be ever mindful of Jesus on his journey to the cross; let us be ever mindful of the strength and the courage that is needed to follow in the way; and let us be ever mindful about doing so – with hope and vigor – while in relationship with God, our neighbors, and ourselves.
Lord, on this day, grant me strength and courage. Grant me strength and courage that I might do what is right. Grant me strength and courage that I might follow your will with faith, and with hope, and with love … faith, hope, and love directed not only towards myself, but towards you and towards those who grace me each and every day in known and unknown ways. Amen.
– Mark A. Zaineddin
