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“For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God . . . For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.” I Corinthians 1:18, 25

From the outside, it looks like sheer folly, to stage a protest on one of the coldest Minnesota days, when temperatures never got above zero, and wind chills hovered between 30-35 degrees below zero. Yet, they came. Thousands came, thousands of clergy from across the country, including thousands more living here, along with so many other outraged citizens.

An estimated 50,000 people came to march on a bitterly cold day, to walk in solidarity against the actions of ICE. They came to protest the injustice they were seeing. They came to say this is wrong. They came to proclaim, with peace songs as they marched, there is a better way. There is the way of doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God. The day was a beautiful example of people coming together, making their voices heard, demanding an end to the mistreatment of both citizens and immigrants.

Before we had a chance to soak that in with gratitude, there was another death. A citizen observer, recording ICE’s brutal tactics. Alex Pretti, known for his kindness, his compassion and the care he gave people as a nurse, in the ICU unit at our local Veterans’ hospital, was dead.

Alex Pretti, was doing what he believed in, documenting ICE’s activity in the area where he lived. He was continuing his life of service, and protesting what he knew to be unjust. His death, was yet another marker, of the Trump administration’s, acts of retribution aimed at states, that didn’t vote for him and governors he does not like.

In the midst of this new heartbreak, the wickedness continues. Protesters are pepper sprayed directly into their eyes, children are separated from their parents, immigrants here legally are roughed up and denied their rights.

The fight for Justice continues, and prayers for an end rise up. We share a common grief, at the loss of a good man, going to the aid of a woman who had just been shoved around and pepper sprayed. Videos abound of his death. Homeland Security’s talking points, claiming he’d come to harm them, were quickly proved false, as more videos were shown.

Paul, writing to the people in Corinth, reflects on God’s wisdom, saying, “God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.” I Corinthians 1:28

So protests continue.  Observers video actions, they know are unjust. Demands for justice grow. Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith calls it, “The Coalition of the horrified.” A leading GOP candidate for governor, drops his bid for office, saying, “I cannot support the national GOP’s stated retribution on the citizens of our state, nor can I count myself a member of a party that would do so.”

Today, we think of a good man, whose life was cut short. We protest non-violently  in varied ways, lighting a candle, visiting a memorial, sharing, caring, donating as we’re able, reaching out to love and care for our neighbors. We pray for justice and for hardened hearts to break open with compassion. We pray that God will use us as God’s instruments of love and peace.  Remembering, “God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.”