“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Heb. 11:1)

Each month in our Pathways gatherings we trudge through a long list of “Remembrances;” lest we forget the needs of those amongst us in what I’ve dubbed this “tattered and weary world.” From a liturgical tradition I practiced for many, many years, the list was called “Intercessions.” But better now to re-place the response-ability with ourselves; in order that we might remember to do what we can to change things for the better, instead of relying on such a facile notion as ‘divine’ intervention. But after years of reciting the same things, over and over again, there is always the risk of unconsciously regurgitating the same words; since little seems to ever change for the better.

At the heart of the Christian tradition, we say there is “faith (πίστις, ‘pistis’ Gr. – trust), hope (ἐλπίς, Gr. elpis = meaning expectation, in a positive sense), and love ( ἀγάπη Gr. ‘agapé’ ‘love’ or φιλανθρωπία Gr. ‘caritas’ = charity).

Nowadays, our greatest hope might be for peace in the so-called ‘holy’ land. However — with the endless bombardment of the daily news cycle — it can be difficult to do anything but hope in vain for a different vision and outcome. So, we might well ask, where — or how — might any true hope be found?

The Confounding Compendium of “Holy” Scripture

“Now I’ve been crying lately
Thinkin’ about the world as it is
Why must we go on hating?
Why can’t we live in bliss?”

“Peace Train” – Yusef Islam (aka, Cat Stevens), 1971

When seeking the answers to life’s most confounding questions, the answers for religious folks are frequently sought in what is deemed to be the authority of ‘holy’ scripture.  Quoting a select verse or two to conveniently confirm or justify a predisposed opinion or position is more commonly known as cherry-picking. When it comes to preachers, it’s called proof-texting. Example:

Watching the news the other day, there was a report regarding one of our country’s religious community’s purported position on Israel’s bombardment of Gaza; resulting in the consequential killing of thousands of civilians, which the perpetrators have deemed both unfortunate, but unavoidable in its determination to rout out evildoers. Those who condemn Israel’s retaliatory actions have labeled them as war crimes. “War crimes” is a ludicrous term — in and of itself — when it comes to what is purported to be universally-acceptable standards as to how human beings are allowed to kill each other.

But, in this particular news story, there was an evangelical Christian preacher named John Hagee, standing in a pulpit with his arms raised, as if holding a rifle, while proclaiming, “Then God sent a hunter. A hunter is someone who comes with a gun, and he forces you. Hitler was a hunter. And the Bible said — Jeremiah writing, — they shall hunt them.” What???

Well, in Jeremiah’s prophecies there is indeed the passage: “I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain and every hill, and out of the clefts of the rocks. For my eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from my presence, nor are their sins concealed from my sight.” (Jer. 16:17)

But the preacher was only criticized publicly for what was interpreted as an anti-Semitic statement. The greater sacrilege was his use of scripture, likening a 7^th century BCE Hebrew prophet to a modern-day card-carrying member of the NRA. But why stop there? In another biblical tale, Joshua fought the battle of Jericho. According to his lord’s commandment, he was instructed to indiscriminately reduce that city to rubble; along with everything and everyone in it. Sound familiar?

But then there are those other meddlesome passages, like, “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.” (Lev. 19:18).

And, “But to you who’ll listen I say, love your enemies, do favors for those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for your abusers.” (attributed to Jesus – Lk. 6:27-28)

And, “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also.” (attributed to Jesus – Mt. 5:38-39).

And, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (attributed to Jesus – Mt. 5:43-44).

The compendium of shared scripture in these two religious traditions clearly seems to reflect the inherent contradiction that comprises our human condition. We say one thing, and do another. We are ultimately left to choose which passages reflect our unrelenting hope against hope for something else, something more, than what we’ve able to muster and achieve. Why hope?

Hope Springs: All Aboard

“Cause out on the edge of darkness
There rides a peace train
Oh, peace train take this country
Come take me home again.”

“Peace Train” – Yusef Islam (aka, Cat Stevens), 1971

Cat Stevens and I were born in the same year, so he’s been around awhile. Originally born Steven Demetre Georgiou to a Swedish mother and a Greek-Cypriot father. He grew up in London, listening to the same early Beatles music; while learning the guitar, as I did. He converted to Islam in 1977, abandoned his stage name (Cat Stevens) for Yusuf Islam. But in 1971 he wrote a song of hope, protesting the American war in Southeast Asian. At this same time, I was a peacenik, ready to burn my draft card and claim conscientious-objector status if the Vietnam war was still raging when my student deferment expired. Meanwhile, I’d learned to play and sing Cat Steven’s song, “Peace Train.”

Everyone knows the phrase, hope springs eternal. But when it comes to such a notion, my train of thought goes a little like this: Our human story seems to forever be one of derailing any way of ever going anywhere but the dead-end destination of cyclical violence.  

The Galilean peasant sage historically known simply as Jesus from Nazareth was part of a long line of successive prophets and martyrs who essentially delivered the same central message, over and over again. A message that got mixed into the fray of that larger compendium of scripture.

But for those who want to hear that one, hope-full message, it is the conductor’s call, “All Aboard.” 

More than a wish and or a prayer, my one, lasting hope remains, “Everyone, aboard.”  jb

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© 2023 by John William Bennison, Rel.D.  All rights reserved.

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