light – Pastor Oby Ballinger

Preached at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church (Minneapolis, Minnesota). Texts: Isaiah 9:1-4 and Matthew 4:12-23.

Yesterday morning’s news of another murder by federal agents in our city hit like a ton of bricks. Friday’s statewide, nationwide Day of Truth and Freedom had been such an uplifting experience of solidarity and shared commitment. Fifty-thousand people participated in nonviolent marches, sit-ins, and civil disobedience just here in the Twin Cities, recalling the nation to our values of justice and compassion. But then yesterday, a few violent ICE and Border Patrol officers revisited chaos when they shot and killed Alex Pretti after he was already restrained on the ground. It was a Star Wars reminder that after A New Hope, we see The Empire Strikes Back. These times feel hard and deadly, between the weather and our cruel government bullying and punching down on this embattled state. Our Twin Cities, bearing up under six weeks of a federal onslaught, now has to deal with another senseless murder by ICE. Yesterday was an exhausting scramble to find ways of channeling pain and anguish so our neighbors don’t succumb to violent intentions that cause more harm. How long must we put up with this bleakness? How long, O God?

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I learned this text for the first time this fall, as its been set to luscious music by Marques L. A. Garrett that we’re singing this weekend at the Saturday and Sunday concerts of Singers in Accord. What strikes me is the deeply humane and yet secular nature of these encouraging words. One needn’t be a person of faith to yearn for and hold tight to the promise that good can prevail over evil, and right over wrong. Consider these words, and how they sound as music for the soul (performed here by the Los Angeles Master Chorale).

My heart be brave, and do not falter so,
Nor utter more that deep, despairing wail.
Thy way is very dark and drear I know,
But do not let thy strength and courage fail;
For certain as the raven-winged night
Is followed by the bright and blushing morn,
Thy coming morrow will be clear and bright;
’Tis darkest when the night is furthest worn.
Look up, and out, beyond, surrounding clouds,
And do not in thine own gross darkness grope,
Rise up, and casting off thy hind’ring shrouds,
Cling thou to this, and ever inspiring hope:
   Tho’ thick the battle and tho’ fierce the fight,
   There is a power making for the right.

Pastor Oby Ballinger

Tag: light

Shine a Light!

“Sonnet” (James Weldon Johnson)