“A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice.” Isaiah 42:3

Palm Sunday afternoon, we sang songs of resistance. “We shall Overcome,” “Hold On,” “Swing Low Sweet Chariot,” “Blowing in the Wind,” “I’m Not Afraid.” Some were new and others very old, but each spoke to the moment, and to the need to resist evil.

We were reminded in Palm Sunday worship services, Jesus entered Jerusalem in humility, not riding a warrior’s horse, but a donkey, a sign of peace and not of war.

It’s quite the contrast, to recent events in the United States, and the newly named “Department of War.” I should have known when Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth, renamed it to war instead of defense, that its focus would now be on war . . . rather than defending the country. Wars of choice . . .  Wars demonstrating power instead of wisdom . . .  Unnecessary and foolish wars . . . Wars without conscience, choosing bombs instead of diplomacy.

For years I have resisted using the term, Christian nationalism. But the danger is too acute at this point in history to ignore. In Pete Hegseth’s “Department of War,” a corrupted version of Christianity has taken hold. The Prince of Peace has been replaced, by a God, not only of vengeance, but one without mercy. Hegseth’s recent prayer was for “overwhelming violence “ to reign down on “those who deserve no mercy.” A prayer said in the name of Jesus.

In Hegseth’s Christian Nationalism, the Jesus of the gospels cannot be found. Love and compassion disappear, replaced by a warrior God.  Hegseth prays a perilous prayer. For who knows the mind of God, and who God believes deserves mercy and who does not?

What I know for a certainty though,  are children whom Jesus loves,  deserve mercy. Little girls and little boys deserve to be safe from bombs falling on their schools and on their homes.

Bob Dylan’s justice song asks:

How many times must the cannonballs fly
Before they’re forever banned?

How many times can a man turn his head
And pretend that he just doesn’t see?

How many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?

How many deaths will it take ’til he knows
That too many people have died?

The answers my friend are blowin’ in the wind
The answer is blowin’ in the wind.

Bob Dylan expressed a belief the answers were all around us, blown’ in the wind if, we were just to look, see and act on them.

Jesus said it this way: “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.” Matthew 5:7