Scripture: Psalm 16:11
You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Thought for the Day: On this day in 1535, the French government responded to the Affair of the Placards. French Protestants put posters attacking the Catholic belief that Christ was physically present in the eucharist. There had been a somewhat cordial relationship between the powerful Catholic church in France and the growing Protestant movement, but with this single attack, the King’s tolerance disappeared. On January 21, 1535, Protestants were burned at the stake outside Notre Dame in Paris.
From our 21st century perspective, we are horrified at the response of the French Catholics, yet Protestants have tortured and killed Catholics as well…and such violence even occurs today. I do not believe violence is ever the response to disagreements within specific faith traditions or between faith traditions, and for that reason, I would like to suggest that Christians accept the high calling of being committed to our faith without the use of attacks. Too often Christians have resorted to destructive vilification of other Christians or other religions as a way of distracting from the fact they lacked a good message to begin with. Or to say it another way – I may not have anything good to say about my own faith, but I sure have a bunch of horrible stuff to tell about my neighbor’s faith.
That is not the way of Jesus, and for that reason, it should not be the way of the church. Instead, let us be passionate about those things that are life-giving within our own faith experiences; let us be a people who radiate joy because we have walked the path of life; let us be a people who are not threatened by differences and challenges.
Prayer: Forgive us, O Lord God, for all the ways our insecurities and fears have undermined the witness of love. As those touched by your immeasurable grace, let our lives reverberate a song of joy that brings happiness and hope to others. Amen.
