Sean Major-Campbell | God comes as a consuming fire

One week after Leader of the Opposition Mark Golding addressed a mass rally of the PNP in Cross Roads, St Andrew, the gospel reading previously set in the Revised Common Lectionary shows Jesus, in Luke 13, healing the woman who was crippled for 18 years. The number of years resonates with a party whose 18 years of stewardship was bedevilled by various challenges and criticisms.

The good news of Jesus Christ, according to Luke, presents a timely reminder that individuals, organisations, and anyone seeking and open to healing may be healed. The woman was crippled and bent over. She had suffered for a long time. It is a wonderful thing to aspire to help others. It is even more wonderful to do the actual helping, caring, and in this case, healing.

Have you ever noticed, though, that someone is always ready to condemn those with good intentions, and even good actions? But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the Sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, “ There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the sabbath day.” You can just picture the fanatic repeating loudly, “There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the Sabbath day.” He was so righteous, so holy, so perfect, that he was unable to see the good in what Jesus had done.

Jesus’ response was radically empowering. “ But the Lord answered him and said,’“You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the Sabbath day?’” We often hear that Father Abraham had many sons. In Jesus’ gender-affirming way, he acknowledged that she was a daughter of Abraham.

DUTY-BOUND

We, too, may take pause and remember that our politicians are our Jamaican sons and daughters. And these political parties are our Jamaican institutions. They come with their challenges, strengths, and weaknesses, but they are ours.

In a country with a long history and culture of church and Christian faith, many of those offering themselves for political servanthood may be open to adopting the posture of Prophet Jeremiah, who humbly acknowledged his shortcomings and limitations before God. While service on the political stage is not a prophetic calling in the Judeo-Chrisitan sense, the call of the prophet reminds us that God empowers and sends those who humbly present themselves for service to the glory of God.

On this day when the Epistle to the Hebrews presents God as a consuming fire, voters and those voted for may engage the timely reminder that in the Holy Scripture fire depicts the transforming, purifying presence of God. Not to be forgotten is also the image of judgment.

How do you engage that still, small voice of conscience? Do you understand your role as politician to be a vocation? The notion of vocation may carry the idea of a divine call. While one does not have to be religious to be an effective political servant, those who claim to be disciples of Christ are duty-bound to interpret any call to service within the context of humble Christian service.

EVERYONE IS SPECIAL

Beware of just doing church appearances for political gain! Avail yourselves to be cleansed, empowered, and sent by God to serve the people of Jamaica. Remember the consuming fire of God has different sides. On which side do we stand as we prepare for general election 2025? Do we choose to realise the awesomeness of God’s majestic presence and glory, inspiring worship and life and service? Do we recognise the sure judgment of idolatry, wickedness, corruption, and selfishness?

During this season of political campaigning, both sides have had various levels of being judged in the court of public opinion. Strengths and weaknesses have been identified. On this day, the healing of a crippled woman reminds us that everyone is special in the eyes of God. Those beset by pains, challenges and various weaknesses may know again that the consuming fire of God inspires hope, healing, and healthy ways of being.

Let us pray: Grant O God, that we may live personal lives of peace, love, and respect so that our communal lives may radiate same as we breathe, and play and work and have our being, and all for love’s sake. Amen.

Stay in touch here to find out next Sunday how Christians should vote in the 2025 general election.

Fr Sean Major-Campbell is an Anglican priest and advocate for human rights and dignity. Please send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and seanmajorcampbell@yahoo.com.