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Monday, Week Seven

If I had to choose between betraying my country and betraying my friend , I hope I should have the guts to betray my country.

E. M. Forster

That is quite a statement, especially considering the hyper-nationalism we have been caught up in since 9/11. You may disagree with the English writer, but what if that friend was Jesus? All too often we see politicians trying to baptize things like tax cuts, or capitalism, or overblown military spending. It is as though they believe that if they end every speech with “God bless America” then what they have said is Judeo-Christian orthodoxy.

Even a casual reading of the Gospels should convince us that, as a nation, we have betrayed, and are betraying, our friend Jesus. It is one thing to do it, but it is a terrible violation to pretend—even to ourselves—that our nationalism, warmongering, overconsumption, environmental racism, or sense of self-entitlement is somehow rooted in our faith. Make no mistake. We have betrayed our friend Jesus, and we can hang ourselves like Judas, or repent like Peter.

Blessings,

Michael Piazza
President, Hope for Peace & Justice

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