Oscar Romero once wrote that the Kingdom is not only beyond our efforts, it is even beyond our vision. We really just might be, as the old euphemism goes, the blind leading the blind. That is humbling.
Interestingly, in Deuteronomy Moses is described as the humblest man that ever lived. Later, Jesus would be born in a manger and live out a life of humility. Moses humility not only came from the amount of times he messed up or lost his temper, but was also forced to lead people beyond what he could see, trying hard to trust that God was leading them to a new kingdom while tripping over his own tongue time and again.
On the other hand, Jesus knew what he was working towards. His vision of the Kingdom was crystal clear. You can see it in how he treated people marginalized by society. The poor, the blind, the hungry and those condemned by prejudice like the Samaritan woman at the well.
I have begun discussions with my pastor about ideas for race relations on the South Side of Chicago. It is my prayer that those involved can stay humble enough to know that the vision really is beyond us and we must always put others before ourselves as we listen to the painful stories of racism and oppression. I also pray that I stay humble, pushing without thinking I know exactly how this is suppose to go and begin the conversation rather than dominate it.
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