Brian’s Reflection: Monday, May 24, 2010

The Queen is most anxious to enlist everyone
in checking this mad, wicked folly of 'Women's
Rights'. It is a subject which makes the Queen
so furious that she cannot contain herself.

Queen Victoria, Queen of Great Britain, Empress of India,
born on this date, 1819. Longest reigning British monarch.
[ and, in my opinion, she did it poorly.]


This is always the way, is it not? Those who have all the “rights” and privileges are most often opposed to extending rights to others who don’t have them. And Queen Victoria had every right and privilege! The rich and privileged are usually unable to understand, unable to be sympathetic or empathetic with the deprived. This is a theological issue.

Do you occasionally wonder why we elect people to our government whom we hope will meet the legitimate needs of the people, and who then proceed to prove they lied about what they said while campaigning (Say anything to get elected) and then to ignore the basic needs of people in our society? It is because they have the Victoria Syndrome. Almost everyone on our government is rich and/or privileged. Our system of election has been designed to ensure this outcome. The stupidity is, We the People continue to permit this. Our elected officials get great pensions, great and cheap health care, etc. and all the perks of power. They are instantly corrupted by them. And we continue to support this, while enormous numbers of us suffer.

Jesus would, I know, be interested in this. He was interested in the rich and powerful, and in the poor and deprived. He challenged the rich and powerful, and He bonded in solidarity with the poor and deprived. Those who challenge the rich and powerful rarely survive – and Jesus didn’t. In the context of the Christian “Mythos”, I don’t think He expected to. But HIs non-survival has a message for us.

Wealth and Privilege are in general antithetical to Compassion or Change – and even more so to “Rights”. Oh, “Charity” is possible. But Equality? – rarely.

Our preacher today, on this Feast of Pentecost, posed the question “How can we Christians contribute to the building of the Kingdom of God, and to Reconciliation, in our World?”

In America, there is separation of church and state in theory if not in practice. I am profoundly in favor of the theory! Especially in these days when the American Christianity that most affects government seems to have parted company with the Gospel.

If Jesus were here today on the Earth, I am sure that He would be prowling the halls on Congress, “speaking truth to power”. And yes, headed yet again to the Cross.

My prayer these days? That somehow the poor and deprived may become Senators and Congresspersons – even if I worry more than a bit that ALL are corrupted by power.

Brian+