Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent - March 14, 2012

Matthew 5:19

"Whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven."


The kingdom of heaven is not a kingdom of right belief. It is not a kingdom of orthodox thinking. It is an enacted kingdom, a kingdom of living, practicing, experiential belief.

Ultimately, what you believe in your head may seem important, but it matters little if it is not soaking into your life, if it doesn't get down to where your roots grow, if it doesn't inform your speaking and living, if it doesn't shape who you are in connection with God, self, others, and the world.

Belief, in and of itself, is very hollow and has almost no power to transform.

In the United States, current conversations nationally and politically are being shaped by those who adhere to particular beliefs and who project themselves as people of principle. By their public discourse, they imply that belief and principle are the most important things. Not surprisingly, they say little about the importance of people, the value of those who have little and are given no voice, and those who are underneath systems of power and manipulation.

When you stand on your beliefs and your principles, it's pretty easy to be unaware that you are also standing squarely on top of a large number of people . . . and to be oblivious to how you might be crushing them.


For today . . . what we believe is often seen in how we spend our money and our time.

Consider your own expenditure of time and money: If the way you spend time and money says something about your beliefs, what do you really believe? You may be surprised at what you find.


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