by Bren Dubay
Clarence Jordan, in The Sermon on the Mount, calls Jesus the world’s greatest realistânot a naĂŻve dreamer. He knew his message of love, truth, and justice would challenge the powers that be. He knew it would unsettle, disrupt, and even provoke. And yet, he preached it anyway. Lived it anyway. Loved anyway.
These days, the world feels so distant from the Sermon on the Mount. Itâs easy to grow weary. We see greed rewarded, truth twisted, and power used to oppress rather than to serve. But Jesus never promised ease or comfort. He never told us that following him would align neatly with the worldâs ways. Instead, he warned that his kingdom and the kingdoms of this world would be at odds. And still, he called us to follow.
Koinonia has always tried to be a place where faith is not just believed but lived. The work we doâbuilding community, seeking justice, offering radical welcome to allâdoes not change the whole world overnight, but it plants seeds. And seeds grow. Small acts of love, truth, and resistance add up. A community committed to living the Gospel, however imperfectly, can bear witness to something greater than itself. So can you.
So letâs not lose heart. Letâs press on with eyes wide open, knowing that the way of Jesus is never the easy wayâbut it is always the way worth walking. Letâs live as if the Sermon on the Mount still mattersâbecause it does.
4 Responses
Lovely message for challenging times. Remember this: the only way out is through!
A timely word. Thank you sister
Dear Bren,
I have been awaiting the February âBrief Thoughtsââ and waiting for your wisdom and encouragement. Things seem so tough and dark in our world right now. I have never in my life felt so much upheaval and disbelief in what seems like the unraveling of the very fabric of our country. Yes, there have been wars and storms and fires and societal clashes and mind blowing injustice – yet right now it seems we are at the brink of something very dark that looms very large and threatens the core of our collective being. Some say we are at the brink of a constitutional crisis. Daily I hear that our very system of democracy is beginning to unravel. Now more than ever we need to hear from folks that are digging deep inside themselves to find hope and strength; to live from the values that have sustained them and to summon the courage to persevere in the grace and faith that is being given to them from the higher power that sustains us. For me, you are one of those people. And I give great thanks for your strength and your leadership at a time of great need. Thank you for your quiet wisdom and deep and steady perseverance. I am grateful that you are in my life. I offer my daily prayers for you and your loved ones – especially your beloved Koinonia Family. May God sustain you as you shepard your precious community.
Dear Bren,
I enjoy your writing. Thank you for helping me think.
God Bless You.