“Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God . . . But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.” Luke 6:20, 24

Listening to the words of Jesus, gives me pause. For certainly by the standards of much of the world, I am wealthy. Reading the words of Jesus, can be jarring, as I sit in my middle class home.

In the upside down world of Jesus, those who are blessed are people who are hungry, grieving or poor. The poor are inheritors of the kingdom of God.  On the other hand, the rich have had their joy now. Their happiness will end. Those who are fortunate to live in a world of plenty, we’ll find themselves hungry, hurting and poor.

Which is to say, the religion of Jesus has a very different perspective on greatness, than the world we are encountering today. Greatness is not in power over, but empowering those in need. Greatness is not pouncing on our enemies, but in our prayers and doing good. Greatness is love, compassion and care for the neediest among us.

As I’ve watched these weeks unfold in Washington, there has been little greatness being done, but a great deal of harm. Rather than feeding the hungry, we’ve cut off supplies to the neediest in the world. Instead of care for the sick,  USAID has been forced to cut medical clinics, with great harm for those that were getting help.

Instead of helping, we have been hurting … Those who are most in need of our commitment to care.

Watching the disintegration, of what did make us great, has been distressing. For greatness is found when we do good to our neighbors,  work for the healing of the nations and  lift up those in need.  It is not stomping people and nations under our feet.  

Jesus said, “ From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required, and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.” Luke 12:48

In the Religion of Jesus,  those who truly follow Jesus, know that being blessed with power and wealth must always be used to create good in the world.  This is true for both  individuals and nations alike.