Tag Archives: bible

April 20, 2026 · 3:46 am

It does not matter who started it, the Pope’s trying to finish it

Image from Philosophyball, Just War Theory

When I was a child, my little brother and I would sometimes fight. It often went something like this: I’d be playing. My brother would want attention or whatever I was playing with. He’d do something obnoxious maybe pushing or hitting me. I’d push or hit him back. My dad would come into the room angry because of our fighting. We’d both be threatened with consequences. I’d shout my lament, “But he started it!” And my dad would say, “Well, I’m finishing it. You are both wrong.”

Amidst the war game themed memes from the US and LEGO themed propaganda from Iran, a serious conversation has begun…again. When does a nation have the right to attack another nation? Historically, Western Christians have wrestled with this issue using theological, often scholarly, arguments and rebuttals over many centuries. A major component of our understanding for Roman Catholics and many Protestants is Just War Theory. Certainly, it’s not perfect, but it is helpful. And priests, pastors, full time theologians and ethicists of many stripes continue to consider it as part of further, later discernment.

Saint Augustine (13 November 354 – 28 August 430) is often recognized as its first proponent. In modern form, it applies within three specific areas:

  1. jus ad bellum (“right to go to war”);
  2. jus in bello (“right conduct in war”);
  3. and some recently speak for jus post bellum (dealing with the morality and ethics related to post-war settlement and reconstruction).

Pope Leo’s recent comments criticizing the US-Iran undeclared war (or “short-term excursion” in the words of President Trump) are rooted in this theory as well as other moral and ethical teachings – ultimately scripture. Pope Leo has a doctorate in Cannon Law, and as a member of the Augustinian Order, he certainly has expertise in all things St. Augustine. You can’t do much better (even if as a Lutheran we wouldn’t see eye to eye on all things).

The National Catholic Register is a traditionalist Roman Catholic news source in the United States. In a recent article, they argue, “Pope Leo’s insistence that war offends God should be understood as a prohibition against all but legitimate defensive actions, a view that is consistent with the pleas for peace issued by recent popes such as Francis, Benedict XVI and St. John Paul II.” They discuss how and why theologians are “pushing back” at all those in the United States criticizing him. They are focused on Roman Catholic theologians, but many Protestant ones would agree.

When I shared the article with comments, a friend suggested he took issue with Pope Leo not casting blame on the Iranians. After all, the Iranians have done many evil things including attacks on US forces since the 1970s. The US seemed to be responding to a threat. It did not start this in his mind, so why the apparent focus on President Trump? That’s a fair and common critique and question that I’ve been hearing, so let’s discuss it.

Certainly, one is absolutely correct that Iran has been an illicit source of carnage and war since the 1970s. One should trust that the Pope realizes this as well. The Iranians might not be Christian, but they have some culpability morally and ethically for their actions as anyone would be under Catholic, most Protestant or Orthodox teaching. These moral and ethical arguments thought true regardless of one’s personal belief, because they are thought to reflect God’s heart and will for us.

So, Pope Leo didn’t have to name anyone and didn’t – a somewhat political move perhaps at some level but also the correct one. He’s speaking to the world, not just the combatants. (In his later comments in Africa, he clearly denied allegations that his call for peace there was aimed at the President.) Again, Just War Theory, as a reflection of God’s own Law and Gospel, applies to everyone. To US ears, his comments likely appeared more about the President partly because of the full context of the US and Israel’s recent attacks. Many in the Church hold this heating up of the conflict does not meet the standard. Many outside the Church also express deep concerns,

It is helpful to recall that the Catholic Church tends to assert their arguments about conflict using a somewhat academic methodology. Theology is called the Queen of the Sciences after all. And as you hopefully know, solid academics, particularly theology, remains imbedded in who the Catholic Church is. (Meanwhile, the Lutheran World Federation has been less academic in its argument thus far, more diplomatic-speak perhaps, but also based on scriptural understanding and calling all parties to back away from hostilities.)

After all the headlines, I’ve not heard a single Roman Catholic bishop or Cardinal disagree with the Pope as of yet, but some might be out there. The National Catholic Register, again a traditionalist or conservative paper, is supporting him as is the pro-Vatican II National Catholic Reporter. (If the Pope was being wrongheaded, trust that the National Catholic Register would find a way to say it.) I expect this is because Pope Leo’s teaching was deemed correct under the theory and other teachings of the Church. It might sound like an attack to some, but note know names were included.

So, why in more detail might people hear the Pope’s comments the wrong way? First, Iran is an overwhelmingly Muslim nation. (Would they even listen?) Meanwhile, the US is thought by many to be an overtly “Christian nation.” Over 50% of Roman Catholics voted for this President and his administration’s policies. On top of that, some voices in the administration and supporters have been overtly framing this as conflict supported by God and some even an overtly Christian verses Muslim conflict. Thus, Pope Leo’s comments obviously resonate with Christians and Catholics in the US more – positively and negatively- as a result. They challenge assumptions and one’s conscience more easily in the US and West than in a Muslim country.

Yet, the Pope’s explicit statements in no way excuse Iran for their wrongs. They are indicted too. Wrong is wrong. The reaction from the government and many on air or social media supporters tended to frame his comments incorrectly saying he said what he did not say. He does not misunderstand the teachings of the majority of the Church as some suggest. He’s not misapplying them as accused. He has not argued that he wants Iran to have nuclear weapons. And what he did say should not reasonably be understood to indicate that he does. The Pope never questioned self defense and was not critiquing forces in World War 2. That’s all a deflective rhetorical brouhaha. (Is that theological term?)

With all the above, one should consider if what the US and Israel did in escalation meets the standard of Just War and other teachings about peace including scripture. According to Just War Theory’s “right to go to war” standard:

Were the US and Israeli attacks reasonably a last resort? People disagree on the immediate threat posed by Iran or any other options to migrate them, and there’s been few clear, detailed insights as to why we attacked now. Was it declared by proper authority for a just cause (e.g., self-defense)? Congress still hasn’t voted, and any attempt to vote has been blocked. Has it been conducted proportionally, minimizing civilian harm? For one high profile example, the Minab school strike in Iran, which killed over 100 children, is considered one of the worst mass civilian casualty incidents involving U.S. That attack also raises other moral questions about the use of AI for war.

Hence, again, in this fuller context, the US Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB) and others have been trying to point people not toward politics or just one person’s fault but ultimately toward peace using the standards long established within the Catholic (and most Christian denominations’ or catholic meaning universal) world. Also, Trump made things worse when he threatened to wipe out a “whole civilization,” and Hegseth doesn’t help with his explicitly “Christian” imprecatory prayers. Of course, Hegseth’s denomination is self-described as Christian nationalist arguing for a literal theocracy under Old Testament Law (hence their leader’s recent suggestion that Catholic public processions should be illegal), so all those prayers and statements echo his worldview.

Recall, Hegseth expects a literal thousand year Christian reign before Jesus returns (dominionism) where Catholics, Anglicans, Lutherans, Orthodox and most Christians in the world (numerically) believe in amillennialism. Jesus can come at any time, and we pray for that. The majority of Trump’s spiritual advisors are New Apostolic Reformation (also dominionist). They lean toward seeing spiritual warfare everywhere and tend to be cult-like. Dominionism is not the norm for the vast majority of Christians, and it is morally and ethically problematic as people in power concretely hope to see it play out. We should expect that it helps shape both worldview and actions.

Agree with him fully or not, it is good that the Pope is speaking clearly. It is good Christians in the West are being forced to wrestle with the use of violence. If you haven’t read the information coming from the Vatican and USCCB or the majority of Catholic scholars about this, seek it out. Read what your denomination and other Christians are saying, and not just US Christians. Talk to priests and pastors you know and trust who know something on this part of Christian history.

I understand that you might never fully agree with what the Pope says, but when it comes to war and peace, his words are worth considering. They will and should challenge us all. And in the end, most of worldwide Christendom teaches all war is steeped in sin, a reflection of humanity’s fallen condition even when necessary for defense. It’s not God’s will for us.

The US might not have ultimately started this conflict with Iran, but Pope Leo and many in the universal Church are trying to stop it. We should consider what is being said, and meanwhile as we do, you and I can (and should) pray together for a quick, just peace, any victims of war, and our enemies. Certainly, we Children of God have a lot left to learn about our call to peace.

© 2026 The Rev. Louis Florio. All content not held under another’s copyright may not be used without permission of the author unless under terms of fair use and properly attributed. Scripture passages when used are from the NRSVue translation unless otherwise indicated.

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , ,

April 18, 2026 · 6:04 pm

Reading the Bible is not the same as understanding it: Approaching “America Reads the Bible” with discernment

Photo by ajay_suresh – Museum of the Bible, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=150180477

I admit that I have enjoyed going to the Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC. I understand peoples’ concerns about its backers’ politics. I’ve read the criticisms over the provenance of certain artifacts, alleged scholarship issues, and an overt Evangelical Christian tone. Some Jewish people applaud it for an emphasis on the Tanakh while others are concerned that the museum is “a problematic mediator” of Jewish religion and traditions. Yet, if one is a discerning visitor, a person aware of these issues who keeps an eye out for interpretive problems and is willing to investigate further, one could still learn a lot of basics about how the Bible, our culture and nation intersect. It can be an enjoyable, informative stop on your tour of the capital.

At the same time, the museum offers plays, programs and speakers. They can host activities of other organizations. There, you might wish to use more caution in your discernment. This museum is private, and therefore, it has the right to push forward certain messaging or facilitate it. Consume that with care. One current example is America Reads the Bible. The foundation behind it is often linked to the troubling if not heretical New Apostolic Reformation which I have written and spoken about recently.

Now, I want to note that reading the Bible can be a very good thing, and reading it publicly can serve as a testimony of one’s beliefs, become an unifying and educational experience, and prove also an invitation for others to come to believe as well. I’ve had friends tell me that participating in public readings of scripture helped increase their own faith. So with the coming of this new event at the museum supposedly marking the 250th anniversary of our nation, I find myself thinking of an historic site near my first congregation. The Historic Polegreen Church in Mechanicsville, Virginia, is dedicated to supporting religious liberty for all.

True, I’ve been gone for awhile, so I cannot speak for today’s practices, but at the time, the Historic Polegreen Church Foundation sought to share scripture and faith through a lens of religious liberty. They memorialized and educated people about historic events and those connected to this historic congregation like Patrick Henry (who worshipped there as a boy) or an influential religious revival called the Great Awakening. Along with historical markers, the pathway to the historic building’s location (no longer standing) is made of bricks with important dates from religious history. (And yes, of course, Martin Luther is included.) As historic Polegreen Church is often called “ground zero” for the fight for religious freedom, it proves a great space to learn about and discuss the subject.

Thus, the foundation hosts events such as the National Day of Prayer where efforts were made to make sure no one faith took precedence. As we prayed for all spheres of our nation and our government together, no matter what political party, we celebrated the benefits that come with our Constitutional right to exercise religion freely (or not). In the early days of my participation, the local Church of the Nazarene hosted an overnight vigil reading of scripture at the time of the prayer event, but any citizen could participate. Everything connected to the National Day of Prayer at this location was truly a communal, inclusive vent.

Yet noting who reads what passages at such events can also prove instructive. Choices made in presentation and inclusion can profess ulterior motive. And so, be aware that America Reads the Bible, being closely aligned with NAR, likely has a hidden agenda attached – Christian Nationalism and dominionism. These harmful beliefs won’t likely be overtly proclaimed, but that’s what NAR hopes for. Articles about the event might note that it is conservative Evangelical, but many won’t clearly say or understand what is part of the event’s spiritual DNA – bad fruit.

America Reads the Bible is hosted by Christians Engaged, a nonprofit, whose head attended Christ For The Nations Institute (CFNI) which has strong ties to the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR). Christians Engaged often interacts with NAR-related personalities, and the founder according to a Google search, participates in a NAR-friendly world. We should put the dots together, and beware, even as they, too, have the right to gather as long as no laws are broken. (Of course, we as citizens have the right to say why we have concerns and where we disagree.)

Fox news proclaimed, “More than 495 Christian leaders, from Washington to Hollywood, will gather for a live event this week to read the Bible aloud from cover to cover.” Fox also reports, “More than 100 faith-based ministries have partnered with Christians Engaged to support the event.” Some of these include leaders and organizations appearing to be closely aligned with or outright supporters of NAR dominionist theology. Still other participants won’t likely even understand the group they said yes to while others won’t care. Yet understand that the leaders will be a small unhealthy slice of overall American Christianity represented including NAR pastors.

The list of readers will be a list that leans unabashedly conservative. This is when the Church is never meant to cozy up to a singular political identity, left or right (thus losing its identity as one people of God) but instead love one another and strive for reconciliation. I’ve read that Democrats were invited, but I really can’t blame them for not responding. With discernment, I think one will see that this event is meant to have a particular message engrained in all that happens. It will be highly orchestrated and slick. The virtues and benefits that come with our freedom of religion will not likely be the primary focus of the messaging surrounding the primary activity. A specific view of a Christian nation will be, and that won’t be necessarily a healthy, biblical view.

Of particular but unsurprising note, President Trump will be a reader for the event, although a pre-recorded one. Many of his spiritual advisors are aligned with or explicitly stated as being part of the loose NAR movement. (NAR is not a denomination.) The passage chosen for or by him is unlikely a coincidence or providence. Within it, there exists a subtle message previously used by Christian nationalists and those favoring theocracy. As a New York Time’s article explains:

The central verse in II Chronicles 7 reads: “If My people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

“It’s been a hallmark of the religious right to cite this particular passage,” said Matthew D. Taylor, a visiting scholar at the Center on Faith and Justice at Georgetown University.

Biblical scholars emphasize that the passage concerns the writer’s understanding of a particular covenant between God and the ancient Israelites. The books of Chronicles cover centuries of Jewish history, including the reigns of Kings David and Solomon.

Dr. Taylor knows his stuff. His research, lectures and writings focus on American Islam, Christian nationalism, and Christian extremism. Yet what he shares here is basic to proper biblical scholarship and practice. Another scholar I respect is Dr. Brian Kaylor. He agreed on social media, posting, “As I noted in ‘The Bible According to Christian Nationalists,’ that’s a popular passage to misuse.” Even amidst my earliest seminary days, I was clearly instructed to beware applying the Israelites’ unique covenantal relationship and requirements to modern life and politics. It’s not that such passages cannot teach us something, but they primarily address a specific context (the Israelites under their covenant with God).

When we suggest modern applications, we can err. We might forget that Jesus fulfilled the Jewish law and the prophets, and he expanded God’s love through the creation of the Church. It is to be a Church made of all peoples, not just descendants of Twelve Tribes. It is not to force belief but invite. Unfortunately, people have used the passage the President will read to try to shape society into their vision – and not always kindly. We should never assume that requirements necessary for Israel’s growth, mission, and survival (including survival of their faith) are applicable to modern people or times.

The above passage can indeed encourage one to repent (to turn back to God), but in the wrong hands, the passage has been used to promote political agendas or marginalize those a person deems inferior, sinful, or not simply not redeemable. This is not the Gospel. Jesus explicitly forbids it to the Pharisees and all of us. The passage can also be used to boost the Christian Nation myth when our inherited apostolic faith calls us to understand the Church as catholic (meaning universal). Just as Isaiah and other prophets indicate that Israel will be used by God to bless other nations, the Christian scriptures remind us that Jesus came to draw all people to himself.

Certainly, God will use us individually to fulfill some holy purpose, and similarly I think a nation might be used at times. My goodness, Paul writes that God will ensure all things work for the good of those that God loves…even the bad things. For example, Cyrus and the Persians were lifted up as instruments of God’s justice and care by the prophet Isaiah. Cyrus was actually names as a messiah in the original Hebrew (see Isaiah 45:1). And a thorough review of scripture reminds us that God loves the world – its people and all that God created. This doesn’t mean there are never consequences for actions in the real world, or even a necessity for war, but in short, be very cautious when applying such texts as 2 Chronicles 7. One risks becoming not just unbiblical but rationalizing overt sin including abuse and violence against one’s neighbor.

When we begin to see human beings as an anonymous “other” rather than a person loved and being called by God as we are, it becomes easier to move from anger toward hatred and much, much worse as history proves time and again. Indeed, Jesus warns against anger in Matthew 5. In verse twenty-two, he very specifically warns about unrighteous anger, or calling anyone raca or a fool. (Raca is an Aramaic term meaning roughly “empty headed.”) The evangelical site, Got Answers, sums it up nicely:

First, Jesus warns that the very act of murder finds its roots in an angry, murderous spirit: “But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment” (Matthew 5:22a). God, who examines the very thoughts and intents of the heart, will issue judgment upon unrighteous anger. Next, Jesus warns against name-calling, using “raca” as an example (verse 22b). Then He issues a third warning against those who call someone a “fool” (verse 22c).

In summary, Jesus explains that murder begins in the heart. How our heart is disposed toward others can misshape our lives and lead us toward harm of others. It is a slippery slope. This is why Luther expands upon God’s command to the people of Israel and on Jesus’ teaching about “Thou shall not murder.” We are all murderers at times as we sin against one another.

Jesus warns about false teachers (Matthew 7:15-16 for example), and Christian supremacists (including those friendly with or espousing NAR theology) might be moving us in the above wrong direction whether they mean to or not. (Trust, some NAR theological adherents explicitly indicate they mean to.) And if we hear their “Christian music,” or read sermons or blog posts, or see memes that echo this theme (subtly or not), or expose ourselves to their well packaged events, without proper reflection, this exposure risks influencing our worldview and gifting their voice with undeserved legitimacy. NAR is often identified as a heretical movement by leaders of Pentecostal, all sorts of Protestant, Roman Catholic and Orthodox bodies, so be on guard. They aren’t Evangelical in the truest sense of the term. In fact, using that term to identify their beliefs gifts them with more unwarranted, if not dangerous, legitimacy.

I believe deeply in the values that come with freedom of religion, but it comes with risks. No religious person should be imprisoned because of their faith – even heretical or harmful faith – unless they violate the law or are hurting themselves or others. And I am not asking they be persecuted or cursed. (Although, NAR adherents commonly utilize imprecatory prayers against those who disagree with them.) Yet be cautious and intentional in engaging such events, teachings, or worship. By lifting up our nation in such an unbiblical way, we tend to subjugate and demean others. In response, we need not become aggressors. We can seek to share the Gospel as Jesus taught us and invite others to see and follow a different way than the powers of this world offers us.

Through the Bible, we have been told that our Kingdom is not of this world, and we do not need to act or react in worry. We are only asked – in both the Jewish and Christian scriptures – to trust as we love our neighbors as ourselves. And if we fail, we can be forgiven because of what Jesus’ has already done through the cross. Our repentance ultimately becomes a sign of our thanksgiving for a God who loves us and all peoples first – before we even knew of God.

That’s ultimately a very different message than either Christian nationalism or NAR offers. The Gospel speaks of Christ’s yoke that is easy and light, not their political manipulation, strong arming, and sinful pride. It is the gentler but certain message and promise that I hope all people will come to hear.

© 2026 The Rev. Louis Florio. All content not held under another’s copyright may not be used without permission of the author unless under terms of fair use and properly attributed. Scripture passages when used are from the NRSVue translation unless otherwise indicated.

1 Comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , ,

March 30, 2026 · 4:04 pm

Come to Die (Sermon)

Cross located at Hochhädrich, Austria (2018). Photo by Thanti Riess on Unsplash

The below sermon was preached on Palm Sunday, March 29, 2026, as I served as a supply preacher at Madison Presbyterian Church. Readings included Matthew 21:1-11, Isaiah 50:4-9a, Philippians 2:5-11, and Matthew 26:14 through 27:66.

When Jesus arrives in Jerusalem to the shouts of “Hosanna!” (meaning Save us!), Jesus embodies the fulfillment of prophesy. The Essenes, those responsible for the Dead Sea Scrolls, were an ascetic and apocalyptic Jewish sect living in the desert. They and many others expected the Messiah to come to Israel’s political if not spiritual salvation on a warhorse. Yet the true prophets of God did not focus on the promise of a worldly, powerful warrior but rather that of a suffering servant…a Messiah who was willing to die for us.  

You might recall that the prophet, Zachariah, lived at a time coming out of the low ebb in the flow of Israel’s long history with God, the later 6th Century BC. The Temple had previously been destroyed by the Babylonians, and the people, especially the elites, had been sent into exile. The Babylonians hoped to eradicate any resistance as the Jewish culture, religion, and society was forcibly mixed into Baylon’s own.

Then, after the Babylonians were defeated by the rising Persian Empire under Cyrus, the Israelites were allowed to return to Israel. For, Emperor Cyrus had a different idea about ruling conquered peoples. He assisted them, aiming to win their favor so that they would become a faithful vassal state. Thus, Cyrus and several of the rulers following him wanted to help reestablish the Jewish cult in Israel, the center of which would be a second, rebuilt Jewish Temple.

This benevolence, seen as something directed by the hand of God, is why the prophet Isaiah calls Emperor Cyrus a messiah…not the Messiah mind you, a messiah (with a small m). Cyrus was an earthly king who would help reestablish the Temple and Israel’s religious laws. He would help regather the people of Israel, but it was never likely that he would bring world peace and the knowledge of the one true God to all peoples as the Messiah would.

Certainly, Zechariah lived in a difficult, transitional period under the later Persian Emperor, Darius. It was a time of external and internal threat and uncertainty. Therefore, much of his writings encouraged the returned exiles to rebuild the Temple (the Temple of Jesus’ time, but before Herod the Great’s grand expansion), and he urged them to repent from pagan and unfaithful practices.

Under the thumb of Persia’s power, Zechariah hoped that the Messiah would prove a truly victorious king, but he also had some curious prophetic insights to share. He foresaw a humble Messiah entering Jerusalem on a donkey. This shepherd-leader, a suffering servant, would be rejected for 30 pieces of silver. And eventually through a final battle, God would restore Jerusalem. All nations would come to worship God because of him, and the city would become a new Eden with living waters.

If this sounds like what you know about Jesus and the story of his intense suffering and death, the Passion as people call it, or even the establishment of a new heaven and earth at Jesus’ Second Coming, this is no mistake. Indeed, as Jesus enters Jerusalem, we hear Matthew clearly identify Zechariah’s text as pointing toward Jesus as the Messiah. We are supposed to see and understand the connection. Jesus came on a simple donkey. Not just that, it clearly states that it was a colt. For those with the eyes to see and a memory of scripture, Jesus was claiming the humble, messianic role.

So, it is no wonder the crowds under the thumb of Roman cruelty cry out, “Hosanna! (Save us!).” They have huge hopes after seeing or hearing about his miracles and authentic preaching. Right before them, Jesus is fulfilling prophesy! Liberation is at hand! Yet, as we will see, the crowds and even his dearest friends do not yet fully understand that Jesus is offering a very different kind of salvation than they expect.

After Palm Sunday, Holy Week rapidly transitions our focus. We move from triumph to intense grief followed by ecstatic joy. Each day through assigned lectionary readings, we can follow Jesus and his friends during his final week of human life until we come to the Great Three Days – Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter – a microcosm of the overall rollercoaster that is Holy Week. After his Passover meal, Jesus will be arrested at night, tried in secret by religious and secular authorities, suffer horribly, then die the death of what his contemporaries might consider “the worst of the worst”[i] – a criminal’s death under the Roman Empire’s rule. The process of public crucifixion from scourging to hanging on a tree where one dies slowly through blood loss and suffocation helped assert and solidify Rome’s worldly rule. It served as a stark warning to others challenging Rome’s claimed dominion.[ii]

Amidst all the jubilation of Palm Sunday hosannas and the bookend of Easter alleluias, we are asked to remember the cost…Remember the cost of the cross…not gloss or rush over it toward Easter. Jesus had predicted this death, as did prophets before him. Jesus willingly came to Jerusalem to die…He had come to die! Christians debate about the mechanics, about the why and how of his suffering, death, and resurrection, and how it redeems and saves us, but within this “mystery of faith,” we are asked to understand that thanks to our faith in Jesus and because of what he has done…that alone…nothing to do with our own efforts…we become eternally saved.

Yet even then, the mystery does not end. Jesus himself taught that we who hope to be his disciples must pick up our own cross and follow. For although Sin, Death, and the Devil are defeated with his resurrection, the Kingdom is not yet here in its fullness. We have work to do sharing the Gospel with others through word and deed. Or as one of my favorite theologians, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, similarly proclaimed, “When Christ calls a [person], he bids [that person] come and die.” We die to ourselves. We die in our surrender to God’s will amidst times of trouble. We die as we try to love the Jesus in others as Jesus loves us. We might face rejection for following Jesus, and some of us might even die as Christian martyrs.

Now, we are not talking about some sort of a bait and switch here. For, Jesus is clear. To follow Jesus in a fallen world which often rebels against him infers the likelihood of suffering for Love’s sake…for God’s sake…or in other words, to fulfill God’s will for our lives and the world. This true Christianity of costly discipleship is antithetical to any false prosperity gospel, unhealthy Christian nationalism, or worldly selfishness. Through it, we discover that our good behavior does not prevent our own suffering in a fallen world.

Instead, we are asked to both love others and trust in God no matter what happens, for thanks to Jesus, our resurrection day will come. In fact, we are already victorious… we are conquerors Paul writes in Romans 8:37… redeemed…saved…whether we feel it or not, understand it or not, or fully trust in this or not. Jesus declares this, and that one day, every tear and suffering will be wiped away…just not yet. This promised perfection will only come at the Parousia, the Second Coming of Jesus.

Yes, our baptism or conversion of heart always comes with a cost. By divine necessity, we must die, yet God will be glorified in and through our suffering and sacrifices made in love…always. Love is never wasted, and Jesus will be with us. The Spirit will pray for us with a groaning too deep for words. And someday, we will rise as Jesus did to be with our Triune God forever. Death no longer has power over us, so why do we so often act as if it does?

As we heard Paul write to the church in Philippi (2:5-11), Jesus nonsensically and willingly lowered and sacrificed himself. He is no victim. He knew what he was about. It hurt emotionally and physically. He struggled, shedding tears and sweating blood in the garden (something that science shows can happen under extreme duress). Jesus even experienced all the horrors of crucifixion. And yet, he humbled himself, “becoming obedient to death even on the cross.” He trusted and understood that resurrection day would come.

Many love the exuberance of Palm Sunday, but the cross? Ah, it seems easier to skip forward to Easter, for the cross remains a scandal to many, even at times for those of us who believe. No, not all of us are called to be martyrs. I’m not saying that, but day by day, we are called to die little deaths[iii]…to offer our lives for others (perhaps figuratively, but offer them nonetheless)…to go without at times in order to help others…to offer our time, treasure and talent because of who we are, out of love, not what we might get…to give even when it hurts or doesn’t make sense only because it is the right thing to do and pleases God. We are asked to accept the realities of suffering while never giving up hope nor stopping our attempts to alleviate it.

Yes, Jesus loves us still even amidst our shortsightedness, struggles, or failures…and he has called us to this time and place to be his body. Yet make no mistake, we come to die…Still what of it? We can rejoice amidst our sufferings (see Romans 5:3-5), even if through tears. For, Jesus never lies. Resurrection Day is on its way. Amen.

[i] The “worst of the worst” reference might remind us of current immigration policy where political entities have falsely called people with administrative issues criminals and peaceful protestors terrorists.

[ii] Perhaps this, too, might bring to mind the modern dominionists who long for theocracy and theonomy, or those who dream of a political American empire shaped by Christian nationalist fervor and bad teaching.   

[iii] One of my Pastoral Care professors at Union Presbyterian Seminary, The Rev. Dr. Charles Brown, often reminded us of this.

© 2026 The Rev. Louis Florio. All content not held under another’s copyright may not be used without permission of the author. Scripture passages are from the NRSVue translation.

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , ,

February 26, 2026 · 4:40 pm

Early mourning thoughts and prayers…revisited.

AP_Ashley_Guindon_160228_DC_12x5_1600

Officer Guindon (center), Prince William County Police, died on her first shift during a domestic disturbance. She was shot and killed on February 27, 2016. Two other officer were injured.

Ten years ago on the early morning of Sunday, February 28, 2016, I learned about the shooting of three Prince William County Police Officers as I prepared to head to my church (at the time in Mechanicsville, Virginia). One of the officers, Officer Guindon, had died from her wounds – just a day after becoming an officer.

Now, I had friends who worked with that department, and at times when an officer in Alexandria, I had served alongside Prince William police in training or some other task. Yet, I did not know her or those wounded. Still, the shootings angered me, and her death impacted me with surprising emotion and connection; bringing a sense of loss and memories of past, similar trauma.

There are reasons thousands of officers travel far, sometimes at their own expense, to honor fallen officers. Certainly, it displays solidarity and respect for the fallen. It’s meant to be a concrete sign of support to the family and department members in deep grief. A large crowd can help proclaim the message that the deceased’s life mattered and continues to matter. Much as the National Police Memorial indicates through its inscriptions, they will be honored, not for the way they died, but for how they lived.

As one police ministry in Texas notes on its webpage, “The job is referred to as having ‘a mystique veiled by a sacred canopy.’ The symbolism, pageantry and tradition make our calling noble.” And certainly, the “final radio call” and the playing of bagpipes serve to honor the officer’s dedication to service, but they also serve as a profound expression of grief fostering an emotional connection between those presents and speaking memories of other people and places gone but still carried in one’s heart. Vincent E. Henry correctly notes in his book, Death Work: Police, Trauma, and the Psychology of Survival (2004), that these events force officers to confront their own mortality. Funerals act as a necessary, though painful, part of the process for the survivors. There always exists the psychological reality that it could have been you or someone you know and love.

At the time of Officer Guindon’s death, I suspect that many people sensed the added “wrong” of her just starting her job with hope and celebration only to die the next day. As with infant or child deaths, such unexpected, sudden officer deaths can become personalized. Thus, they can become more intense if not traumatic. As suggested in literature about grief such as The Burden of Loss: Unexpected loss of a loved one and psychiatric disorder across the life course in a national study (2015), unexpected losses can make processing grief more difficult. The proximity of death emotionally or identity can cause very real complications for some. At the same time, I would remind the reader that we never fully “deal” with the grief of those we feel connected too. Anniversaries or other reminders can make us grieve anew. Indeed, it’s important to say that no one person grieves the same way.

So, I suppose that’s the fuller context of Prince William County’s Facebook post this morning. Departments promise to “never forget.” There are certainly members of the department still working who knew her personally and remember the trauma and loss of that day as if yesterday. Based on comments, you can see how people in and outside the department are touched by personal grief. Such deaths tend to stick with you.

The below essay was written in haste before heading out my door that morning. It wasn’t masterful. It won’t win a prize for literature. Yet it was my real time response echoing what I wrote about above. I’m reposting it in her honor but also for other colleagues of mine who have been murdered or died by suicide. May they all rest in peace, and may our love for one another, sacred memories shared, and God’s grace bring ongoing healing and hope until Jesus returns to wipe away all tears (Rev. 21:4).

God bless Officer Guindon’s mother, and all those who continue to grieve. Please join me in praying for our officers, deputies and their families each day.

My original post follows:

I’m thinking a lot this morning about my first shift, my first arrest, and the many men and women who helped me have a great (if relatively short) law enforcement career. They actually helped me become who I am today, and so I always give God thanks for them and my experiences. It is why I volunteer as a police chaplain today – to try to give back.

And yet, I’m also recalling the joy my family felt having just seen me graduate from the police academy, and then on that same weekend, seeing their fear as I headed out to my first midnight shift. I also remember with love coworkers injured and killed as a result of their desire to serve others. Thus, Officer Guindon’s death is somehow personal to me, as with every law enforcement death. I can’t help it. I feel like a piece of me has died, although I know it doesn’t make much sense to many.

How many Officer Guindon’s are out there? How many such families sacrifice, live in fear, or are now grieving across our country? How must her Field Training Officer and fellow officers feel as this recruit died and as they try to make sense of it? They all need our active support and prayer.

And yet, I don’t know how to pray for this. She was on her first shift, and the hope of last Friday has turned into community shock and grief spreading across the Thin Blue Line. I remain at a loss for words, especially as law enforcement officers in our country continue to be so quickly and openly hated, condemned and needlessly die. And so, I find comfort in these words. “But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.” (Romans 8:25-26).

To my brothers and sisters still fighting the fight, you are not alone. God has not forgotten you. God will make good come from this evil, although we do not yet know how. No life dedicated to the service and love of neighbor is a wasted one, no matter how short. I remain in communion with you, and you will all be with me at worship this morning in my heavy but hopeful heart.

The Rev. Louis Florio is a former member of the City of Alexandria Police Department and current volunteer law enforcement chaplain with Hanover County Sheriff’s Office and the City of Fredericksburg’s Police Department. This post may be shared freely with proper attribution.

(C) 2026 The Rev. Louis Florio. All content not held under another’s copyright may not be used without permission of the author. Scripture passages when used are from the NRSVue translation unless otherwise indicated.

1 Comment

Filed under Crime, policing

Tagged as , , , , , , , , ,

February 21, 2026 · 7:13 pm

We are supposed to be Christlike, not Left or Right

Cartoon by Nate Beeler. It remains under his copyright.

Recently at the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) convention, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth praised President Trump as a “fighter for the people of faith.” He suggested the President’s policies were biblical. He proclaimed that Christ is King. Yet, he also condemned all those on the political Left as evil.

I agree with the Secretary of War that Christ is King. I concur that Christian voices need to be heard in politics. And like Luther, we both understand that earthly government structures can be (and are) used by God. Yet, Luther always understood that governments like the people that compose them are deficient. It’s not just that we might err. We will err, for we are always sinners and fallible even if truly saved by Christ. Fruits of the Spirit are not measured by political victories but by love, joy, peace, forbearance (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These fruits reflect if not embody Jesus. From what the Secretary of War too often says and posts, I suspect he might not agree while I do.

Whenever political figures (or religious ones) claim they represent God’s way but others are beyond salvation, “evil,” you can be relatively sure they have lost their own way. Left or right, their faith tends to be rooted in flawed human reason, politics, and power – even themselves – more than God. In contrast, humility demands that we need to be open to how we might be wrong.

Most certainly, Jesus focused on the in rushing of the Kingdom of God which challenges rather than aligns with the authorities of this world. Jesus consistently refused to side with partisan religious and political parties of his day, although he would often call out their faults and failures. Hence, those who should have known to listen to him did not. Instead, they conspired to kill him.

That said, the Secretary of War seems to ignore Christ’s call to such humility. The blessing of meekness, even as that word was used in the Bible to describe Jesus and Moses, is rejected. Sadly, his small denomination, more of an association called Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC), is an abomination of overt Christian Nationalism, theonomy, extreme patriarchy, and other bad theological takes condemned by the majority of Christians across denominations and political orientation. Woefully in the politics of today, the groups combative, authoritarian manner (intentionally and openly encouraged by its leaders) is influencing others and becoming normalized. Such groups and their behaviors are being accepted as evangelical (reflecting scripture) no matter how far afield their own theology has gone from Christ’s own.

I’m gobsmacked and disheartened by how many Christians are suggesting the ends justify the means. They are willing to overlook certain vices and criminality as long as what they discern as right or good wins the day politically. And still, they can condemn others. This was never true for Jesus. He did not teach or model this. Why do we expect a different standard for us is ok? We are supposed to be agents of reconciliation; willing to suffer for what’s right rather than dominate others. We might be saying “Christ is King,” but we seek to take control of things. In doing so, we ultimately fail to trust in God’s providential kingship and care. We can stray doing things that, as in the time of the Judges, are right in our own eyes.

In contrast, as I’ve written previously, Jesus explicitly warns about calling others “roca” (empty headed basically, but in his use unredeemable, beyond salvation, or unworthy of love, in effect “evil”). Every human is to be treated with dignity even when horribly wrong in our minds – even those who might try to kill us. So yes, do not be afraid. One is not implicitly doing evil for arguing for conservative or liberal values, but how we argue and fight for what we believe in matters if we wish to be Christlike. Are we able to be nonanxious, kind, or gentle when facing opposition? Sure, there is indeed a time to fight and anger is not a sin, just as the Bible states, but if we must escalate we must do so with caution. It’s easy for us to blindly fall into sin. The Bible warns us of this error as well.

If we are truly morally and ethically (dare I say biblically) right in our beliefs and actions, we should be trying to “defeat evil with good,” turning the other cheek, loving one another even when difficult, helping others open their eyes and not punching them symbolically or otherwise in the face. That’s being Christlike. His way is not the way of political Darwinism – the strongest survives. Christ’s way involves a cross.

Patience is a virtue, described as a fruit (or gift) of the Holy Spirit, but we who claim to be Christian too often lose patience with one another. We embrace fear rather than our neighbors. We don’t listen to Jesus nor those who challenge us. Simply, we tend to sin in our self righteousness. All of us are in need of God’s grace.

Please trust that my comments are not simple condemnation casting those who disagree with me into the abyss. I’d suggest the Left and Right are both right and wrong about many things. No person, denomination, or party is perfect. This is intended as a call for our collective, societal (as well as individual) repentance. It’s a warning to not be so sure of ourselves, for we can only be sure that Christ is King, and we are not.

In summation, we can always do better with God’s help. We must. As of now, our cold hearts and closed, certain we are right minds are making our world worse rather than better. People are rejecting Christ and his Church because we look more and more like the world rather than Jesus. We must repent (turn back) from our worldly ways toward Jesus; listening to him rather than the powers of this world; letting his voice and love transform us.

For, Jesus is truly King, but his kingdom is not of this world.

Post Script:

I just read a report by Dr. Brian Kaylor who wrote, “As part of the Secretary of War’s recent speech at a prayer breakfast, he argued, ‘The willingness to make sacrifices on behalf of one’s country is born in one thing: a deep and abiding belief in God’s love for us and his promise of eternal life,’ said Hegseth, who has crusader tattoos. ‘The passage says, “For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.” The warrior who is willing to lay down his life for his unit, his country, and his Creator, that warrior finds eternal life.”

No, we are saved only by Christ’s work, never our own. This echoes the mindset of the Crusades which the Secretary of War often alludes to, but historically, they were problematic at best. This is not unlike the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church declaring those who fight and die in the invasion of Ukraine are automatically Christian martyrs. It ignores that secularists and people of other faiths or no faith do and have always died to protect our nation. It is historically forgetful by not remembering mistakes made in the name of patriotism. It seems odd if not unholy that he uttered this at a prayer breakfast where the dictators of the Democratic Republic of Congo and El Salvador also spoke and were applauded.

Yes, it can be a holy act to die for the love of our neighbor, but it is never a saving one. It is also a mistake to assume that our acts of war or use of force are holy when war is never God’s will – even when a “necessity” or unavoidable in a fallen and dangerous world. I’m not a pacifist. I agree with Martin Luther that some are called to protect others using violence. Yet, that’s a sign we live in what can be an unholy world where war should be the last option never the first. It is partly why the Department of War was renamed the Department of Defense after World War 2. War is horrible and always tainted by sin. They hoped to recognize this. Hence, many warriors and law enforcement officers experience moral injury and post traumatic stress. Again, it is not God’s will. War is a curse, not a blessing, even when thrust upon us.

Along with many biblical passages and historical facts that came to mind to refute him, I thought of literature as well. First and foremost, Mark Twain’s The War Prayer (1905) came to mind. (If you’ve not read it in its entirety, please do using the link.) Challenging a congregation’s blindness, a man prays:

“…for our sakes who adore Thee, Lord, blast their hopes, blight their lives, protract their bitter pilgrimage, make heavy their steps, water their way with their tears, stain the white snow with the blood of their wounded feet! We ask it, in the spirit of love, of Him Who is the Source of Love, and Who is the ever-faithful refuge and friend of all that are sore beset and seek His aid with humble and contrite hearts. Amen.”

Does this sound like Jesus to you? Christian nationalism is not the way of Christ and his universal Church. It’s time to repent, as I indicated above, ultimately meaning to turn back toward God. We are heading in a very bad direction, but all is not lost. Jesus wants to guide us.

© 2026 The Rev. Louis Florio. All content not held under another’s copyright may not be used without permission of the author. Scripture passages when used are from the NRSVue translation unless otherwise indicated.

Leave a comment

Filed under Theology

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , ,

February 6, 2026 · 10:32 pm

Walking together, peace is made real

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. (John 14:27)

The Walk for Peace went by my neighborhood yesterday. As I posted on social media, I was happy to “meet” them. Peace is a good thing and a shared desire. I respect their witness even if I’m of a different faith. (As someone wrote after publication, Buddhism is often characterized as a philosophy, although it is generally classified as a world religion. It can be adapted even to a secular approach to life. It is hard to pin down.)

The Walk for Peace heads toward Route 95 and the City of Fredericksburg from Spotsylvania County.

As I wrote a friend, there are some parallels in Christian monasticism and spirituality with Buddhism. Mindfulness and being present, hospitality, graciousness, peace are concepts among them. Thomas Merton, a Benedictine Monk, ended up exploring that dynamic later in his life.

Sadly, I’ve seen some dogmatic, conservative Christians calling them names in posts, damming them to hell, or insulting Christian congregations that housed or fed them. Yet, any calls for peace are a good place to start a conversation or cooperation. Plus, they seem to forget that hospitality to the stranger is a core Christian value regardless of who the strangers are.

And although Jesus was taking about people ministering in his name who were not disciples, I suspect God can use the monk’s efforts. Jesus said, those that aren’t against us are for us. It is helpful to meet our neighbors and strangers with hospitality and grace as Jesus taught, especially those trying to meet us with grace and kindness themselves; desiring and offering peace.

A Methodist pastor suggested to me that if their efforts ignite interest or efforts of our Christian desire for justice and peace, he is glad. I concur. It has always deepened my faith to interact with the beliefs of others including their very different or oppositional views, questions, or doubts. If the teachings of Christ are true, we need not be afraid or angry about their walk. I can’t imagine Jesus meeting them without kindness. And Luther used to argue that those who would find Christ must first find the Church. We should meet them in his name without poising, pressure, or worse, abuse.

As the Venerable Monks walked through Spotsylvania County and Fredericksburg, they walked through and added to history. Spotsylvania knows the pangs of war. As captured in the novel, Roots, too many, including Kunta Kinte, were held or died as slaves here. Known as the crossroads of the Civil War, several battles raged there with horrific human cost. The county did not return to its pre-Civil War population until the mid-1960s, about 100 years.

As they walked under Route 95, they crossed under one of the busiest highways and the longest north-south road in the US connecting Maine to Florida toward the City of Fredericksburg. It’s also known for the Civil War, but it’s also steeped in Revolutionary War history. It was the first stop of the famous Freedom Rides of the 1960s as well.

Less commonly recognized among its sites is a small monument made of stone which honors the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom, a foundational document drafted by Thomas Jefferson and others in Fredericksburg (1777). Inspiration for the later Bill of Rights’ call for religious freedom, it declared no person should suffer for their religious beliefs. The Walk for Peace passed very close (about one block away) to the location where Jefferson and others conferred on the matter in our Old Town. Unfortunately, the building no longer stands.

Crossing the bridge into Stafford County, they gazed upon Chatham Manor site of a slave revolt in 1805 and where President Lincoln later observed a Union military dress review as people fought to end slavery in their time. They were walking approximately a mile from George Washington’s Boyhood home.

The Fredericksburg region is known for much, particularly its history including the ravages of war, slavery, and human hatred. How splendid the community had the opportunity to gather and pause together around the Venerable Monks’ Walk for Peace to contemplate a shared hope that crosses races, faiths, and nationalities.

We may never know complete peace in this life, but we can catch glimpses of it in our lives today. It can be through public moments like this or concrete, relational moments few others notice. Still, peace breaks in, because that is God’s will. And if a believer, our recognized source of all peace, a peace beyond understanding, invites us to take note and believe. For all things are possible through him.

The Walk for Peace crosses the Rappahannock toward Stafford County. Chatham Manor is on the bluff obscured by trees to the right of the photo.

© 2026 The Rev. Louis Florio. All content not held under another’s copyright may not be used without permission of the author. Scripture passages are from the NRSVue translation unless otherwise indicated

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , ,

January 22, 2026 · 9:34 pm

Don’t be so quick with the table flipping

Have you seen this recent meme and posts about it?

First off, she never said this. We really need to have our yes mean yes and our no mean no just as Jesus said. Disinformation is problematic and often harmful in the long run if we claim that we want any kind of justice. I have seen people write about this as if a quote. It doesn’t matter who we are or how we vote, our personal honor is important because it builds trust, helps build relationships, and over time, what we say might eventually influence people in surprising ways. Please be careful reposting memes and quotes, as people can be mislead.

Why is this important? We live in caustic times. If people don’t trust us, we lose the opportunity to positively influence others. If we are correct in our opinions or beliefs, left or right, why lie of tolerate those who do? I think we should not, and yes, that should include lies from those in political parties and authority of any kind. It should not matter if we agree with their stated goals.

Attorney General Bondi did say it was unacceptable to interrupt services and federal authorities would charge those who do it. This leads to my second point. Virginia already has laws on the books against this kind of protest action or disturbance dating to the 1950s. I suspect others do as well. Just as with the mask laws, it seems the law was partly in response to the KKK and other such groups active at the time due to struggles over Civil Rights. I’d like to suggest there are better ways to influence change including peaceful protests outside the church or faith community. That seems to generally be the law already. To become what we say we hate – again left or right – is a grave error often making things worse and hardening hearts. It can become fodder for more untruths or questionable legal actions.

All faith communities should be protected from unlawful interference as with our homes. It matters not if their theology or politics is bad in your view, because someone could claim the same about your faith community and take action. And if someone does not believe in a god, they should not be harassed. That’s what the constitutional mandate for Freedom of Religion protects. We should seek to love and respect the humanity of other humans even if deemed our enemies. We should seek to encounter people as the individuals they are, not say, “All (fill in the blank) are bad.” This does not negate social repercussions, law suits, or convictions when the group opposed to us doesn’t live to this standard, but our giving up our moral and ethical values to achieve our goals often proves like a cancer long term. I recognize the risks, but particularly if a Christian, we should understand that doing the right thing often comes with costs. It is why Jesus taught so often that we must take up our own cross and follow him.

If Jesus is Lord, and I believe he is, we must try not to act out of fear, and we should humbly seek to listen to one another. In the end, we might be the ones who are wrong. Regarding this meme people have pointed to Jesus’ “cleansing of the Temple” as a defense of the protesters. I think it’s important to note that he didn’t enter the inner sanctum. He was in the courtyard. Jesus was trying to embody scriptural prophesy, and he likely knew he was provoking authorities to precipitate his arrest and crucifixion. I don’t think Jesus’ situation and purpose fully informs our own. We are not Jesus. Otherwise, there would be plenty of churches having tables flipped every Sunday for their lack of love or other sinfulness. He might even chase you or me with that whip of cords, for at times, we likely all deserve it.

Art by Balage Balogh. See more of his work at Archaeology Illustrated here.

Fight for justice? Yes, but seek to love all the more – even those who persecute us. For God has promised a full and lasting justice is on its way.

Postscript: Sadly, on the evening of this post, I read that the White House X account changed a photo image itself. A woman arrested for her part in the above incident was altered to make it appear that she was crying. Presented as if true, the falsity of the image was soon identified. The person in charge of the White House account answered bluntly and unrepentantly, “Enforcement of the law will continue. The memes will continue.” Forgive us, Father, we know not what we do.

© 2026 The Rev. Louis Florio. All content not held under another’s copyright may not be used without permission of the author. Scripture passages are from the NRSVue translation unless otherwise indicated.

1 Comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , ,

December 2, 2025 · 5:01 am

Goodbye?

“I’ll see you in the funny papers” is a phrase reportedly dating back to the 1920s. It was a lighthearted way to say goodbye. Yet true goodbyes are never easy, especially when forced upon you by unfortunate events. Due to a reported financial crisis at my most recent congregation, I was advised in October by leadership that there would be a recommendation made to transition to a single pastor model. So, long story short, I’ve resigned in exchange for a severance package. 

Today (December 1, 2025 as I write) was my first day without a full time call since ordination in 2007. My office is empty, some tears have been shed over these last weeks, but my heart remains full and hopeful. I will be working with the bishop’s office to discern my next call in a congregation or in some other role. Prayers are appreciated as I seek what’s next, although I firmly believe God’s in the mix and always working for my (really our) welfare. You can learn something from bad experiences as well as good even if only to hold on to God more tightly than one did before. (God will ultimately never disappoint.)

Indeed, wherever we go, whatever our vocation or situation, we can always love and serve God and neighbor, and that’s been a source of great joy throughout my life – working, laid off; in higher income positions, lower income positions, or with no income at times. (I’ve been through all such periods before having worked in both secular and faith based positions.) I firmly believe that money is really only a tool. It’s the giving and receiving that comes through love based relationships and service that makes one truly rich. 

Farewell gathering (November 16, 2025)

Looking back, I will certainly miss most deeply the youth at my recent congregation as I walk on, and I will always love them. I witnessed unique gifts in each one of them, and I found blessing through our time together. (I hope they did too.) As with others who I have come to love before through my police work, volunteering with the Community of Taize,’ as a houseparent and teacher at St. Joseph’s Indian School, as a researcher and writer at First Nations Development Institute, or while serving as a hospice and hospital chaplain as well as many other places and spaces, I know they have become part of who I am and how I will love and serve the Lord and others forever. The communion of saints is real, and nothing can truly separate us when God has connected us through love. 

My favorite comic strip as a young adult was always Bloom County, and it still can make me smile reading the old strips that are now digitized or in collections on my bookshelf. As a fan, I developed a special affinity for Opus the Penguin. I admired his innocence and how that could lead him to make keen if ironic observations about life. I came to think of him this week in relationship to my current situation. In the “final” strip, you see the familiar scenes empty of life. The colorful artwork fades to white within the panel, and Opus waddles on into the unknown to the distress and sadness of fans. (He looked sad, too.)

Bloom County, August 6, 1989

Yet ultimately this departure led to new books, totally new comic strips with reimagined characters and plots, and adventures on television including a Christmas special. Bloom County even came back after a prolonged absence as the original comic strip in recent years thanks to social media. So maybe there’s something we can learn from the funny papers after all. Life is not always easy. It won’t always be funny or fun. Yet who one shares life with brings joy to our journey. And a somewhat innocent, hopeful attitude can help us on our way no matter how many times life knocks us down.

Best of all, our own story never really ends…God’s making all things new (Isa. 43:19). Thus, I guess it’s time for me to waddle my way toward what God has in store for me next. I can do so boldly and with confidence (with the Spirit’s help and support of family and friends anyway). Whatever condition I might find myself in, it can serve God’s will and prove to my benefit. For as Paul writes, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28); including within any unexpected end to one’s position or perceived security.

© 2025 The Rev. Louis Florio. All content not held under another’s copyright may not be used without permission of the author. Scripture passages are from the NRSVue translation unless otherwise indicated.

1 Comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , ,

November 10, 2025 · 5:44 pm

Here we stand: The Holy People of God (Sermon)

Image: Charles O’Donnell, Detail from “Ancient city of Jerusalem with Solomon’s Temple,” ca. 1871. Public domain, via Wikimedia commons.

The below sermon was preached on Reformation Sunday, October 26, 2025, following the Narrative Lectionary (Year 4). The preaching text was 1 Kings 5:1-5; 8:1-13.

For those who might not know, the Books of First and Second Kings were originally one book. The stories within cover an expansive narrative of Israel’s kings from the end of David’s reign through the Babylonian Captivity. (That’s about 400 years.) In them, you can discover ancient history with moral and ethical high points, and often people who fall short in their love for God and neighbor.

Today, we join King Solomon, David’s son, blessed with great wisdom by God, as the nation dedicates its long-awaited Temple for their God on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem. With that gift of wisdom, Solomon had led his people well. Israel was experiencing both peace and prosperity. His God given gift has led to this great blessing for the people of Isreal. They are a people whom God has declared Qodesh Olam, “the Holy People of God.” Yet, they aren’t Holy because of anything they do. They are holy because God has chosen them, loves them, and wishes to live among them.

Yet hold on to your hammers and nails, you good Lutherans out there (it is Reformation Sunday after all), because there’s much more to this story. The Temple Mount and the Temple itself have long been a part of salvation history before we ever come to this day of Temple dedication – the Temple being what becomes the center of all priestly activities and place of cultic sacrifice. You might recall the story of Abraham binding Isaac so that Isaac might be sacrificed on a mountaintop in the Land of Moriah. In lieu of this, God provides a ram to be sacrificed. This is believed by many Jewish, Christian, and Muslim persons to be the site of what is now called the Temple Mount. You can find a large bolder there located under the present-day mosque which people suggest is where it all happened.  

As the story of the Jewish people unfolds through a time of slavery in Egypt and beyond, we eventually get to King Saul. The people have been tribal and nomadic once in the Holy Land. The were anxious to move from governance by tribal leaders, known as Judges, toward governance by kings. God indicated that the Israelites did not really need a king. God was their ultimate king. Still, God said, “OK.”

Then, when David replaces Saul, he conquers a city, named Jebus, owned by a foreign people. Now firmly Isreal’s, David renames the city, Jerusalem. It will become their capital. He joyfully dances before the Ark of the Covenant as it is carried to be placed within the Tent of Meeting. As the Tent of Meeting and the Ark moved through the desert with Moses’ people, wherever they people camped, it was always placed in the center of the Tribes. Symbolically, this reminded them that God and their Holy Covenant was to remain central to their lives within community. The city itself was also chosen to be the capital because it was in a relatively central, neutral location between the twelve tribes, had strong defenses, and was where the story of Abraham and Isaac occurred. Jerusalem would become where the Tent and Ark would now dwell.

As the nation grew and David and his people looked around at other growing nations or city states, David began to think, “Hmmm, maybe we need a great Temple to honor God as well as our nation.” That’s what all his neighbors had after all, so why not Israel? Well, through the Prophet Nathan, God basically says, “I was perfectly happy traveling with you in the wilderness within the Tent of Meeting. I don’t need a Temple…but if you do, ok.” God relents once again. Yet because of David’s sin and other faith issues, always still beloved by God, God decrees that the Temple will not be built until David’s son becomes the king. This is not too unlike Moses when he was not allowed to see the Promised Land. David never gets to see the Temple.

Finally, we arrive back to the glorious dedication of the Temple with Solomon. Seven years have passed since work began with a great financial cost, the investment of lots of sweat and toil, and like modern construction sites today, perhaps at the cost of some lives as well. That would be likely. Great excitement and joy must have been generated in the city as the Israelites prepared to move the Ark from Mount Zion to the neighboring Mount Moriah.

Again, today this location is known as the Temple Mount. All the religious and political leaders are there (the “insiders”), but all the commoners and less than common people are there too (the average people and the “outsiders”).  All the people, no matter how rich or poor, weak or strong, perfect or imperfect, have been decaled the Holy People of God, so they are there. The covenant and promises made with Abraham, Moses, and other patriarchs include each and every one.

God will reside in the inner sanctum of the Temple, an area available only to Priests and hidden behind a large curtain. (This curtain will tear as Jesus dies. Some suggest this symbolizes the Kingdom breaking into our world through Jesus’ death and resurrection.) Golden cherubim located opposite one another over the Ark will sit with wings spread toward one another. This will continue to serve as God’s throne, his “mercy seat,” where God’s presence was said to dwell, and the ultimate God would mercifully deign to speak to and bless his Holy People. They must have thought that the Temple might last forever just like their God…but it didn’t. Babylon will invade Israel and destroy it. Cyrus the Persian will defeat the Babylonians and rebuild it. It will be defiled later by the Greeks and even later conquered by the Romans.

Then, Herod the Great, will be installed as a vassal king serving Rome, and he will look at the Temple and think in his pride, “We need better to reflect my glorious reign.” And as we know from scripture and historians of the time, he was not a great believer, but Herod the Great understood politics. His expansion of the Temple would beautify a place for faithful people to gather, but it was also a place to reflect his own glory as it becomes through its size and splendor a Wonder of the Ancient World.

Yes, Herod the Great’s work will become the Temple that Jesus and his Apostles would know and love. It will be the Temple the Apostles will marvel at before Jesus’ death because of the large and ornate stones. Yet Jesus would respond, “As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down” (Luke 21:5). Later, Jesus will declare that he will become our cornerstone (Luke 20:16-18). The Apostles and world will soon learn that life has never been about just nations or kings, tents or temples, sacrifice or worship. Jesus wanted to build a Church out of you and me and millions of others like us. Over the centuries as had happened with the Jewish People, what will matter most is that God comes again and again, despite our pride or mistakes, success or failures, to form us into one Holy People of God. We will stand together forever through God’s power, promises, and help.

 And when the Temple is finally destroyed in 70 AD, and all that fine furnishings, holy vessels, and wealth were carried away by the Roman Legion to Rome, we see that Ecclesiastes was right. “All is vanity.” The earliest Christians finally came to understand promises of old in a new way. From Ezekiel we hear, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws” (Ezekiel 36:26-27).

No temple, church building, or anything else is needed other than faith in Jesus. For through faith, we become a “living temple” where God has longed to reside. Yes, it was God’s plan all along. Just as a cloud filled the Temple, the Glory of the Lord hungers to fill us and overflow. It desires because of love for us to dwell in our hearts and make us one through God’s own Spirit.

As Professor Amy Oden suggests,[i] I think people do like to try to put God in one place…to restrain God and define God for their own advantage or comfort…or to limit or doubt the capacity for God to save (perhaps not always wittingly)…or maybe it is because they don’t yet fully trust God’s love or love God fully with their hearts. Despite human doubts and darkness, or any evil of this world, likely because of it, we are told the Spirit is on the move (Genesis 1:2, Acts 2:1-4). God is doing new things (Isaiah 43:19). And God guides and blesses us on our way as we move through valleys of darkness and the heights of joy (Psalm 23).

Certainly, temples can be destroyed. People and their congregations will die before Jesus returns. Yet, we are to always trust God’s great and steadfast love for us. For even as we stand between hope and despair, God becomes our bulwark defending the weak and helpless (Psalm 9:9, 12:5). “Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; [God] lifts his voice, the earth melts,” and yet, the God of Jacob proves our mighty fortress (Psalm 46:6-7, NIV translation).

Friends, we might not always feel like it, nor live up to it, but God has declared that we are the Holy People of God. We have become Christ’s body by our faith and baptism through grace alone. Whatever comes our way, through fire or pouring rain,[ii] as the Evil One devises any plans,[iii] we need not be shaken. Although our own strength might fail us, God never will.[iv] God’s love and mercy will see to it that the Holy People of God will stand eternally. Amen.

[i] Ogden, A.G. Commentary on 1 Kings 5:1-5; 8:1-13. Working Preacher.

[ii] Bethel Music. “We Will Not Be Shaken (Live).” We Will Not Be Shaken, Bethel Music, 2015.

[iii] The Imperials. “Let the Wind Blow.” Let the Wind Blow, Myrrh/Word Records, 1985

[iv] Martin Luther, “Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott.” 1529.

© 2025 The Rev. Louis Florio. All content not held under another’s copyright may not be used without permission of the author. Scripture passages are from the NRSVue translation unless otherwise noted.

If you would like to listen to the above sermon or watch our service, the video can be found below. The sermon begins at about the 29:15 minute mark. 

Leave a comment

Filed under Sermon

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , ,

October 30, 2025 · 3:58 pm

The truth of friendship

Image created with the Bible App.

The Apocrypha including texts like the Book of Sirach is not considered part of the Protestant cannon of scripture, but Martin Luther did suggest the Apocrypha was “profitable and good to read.” The Apocrypha is a collection of works primarily in Greek, and they can help provide historical context for the period between what is identified as Jewish scriptures and the Christian scriptures. They also can help us better understand God and our world.

As they contain teachings that some traditions find unbiblical, they can be challenged. Jewish people of Luther’s time and today have consistently found that they are not the level of scripture. That said, the Roman Catholic and Orthodox world both consider the Apocryphal texts scripture, but they do recognize some different texts as part of those works. So, there’s no fully ecumenical or interfaith consensus. Our Lutheran bibles often include them with explanation (and we do study them in seminary), but I’ve read some Protestant editions began to drop them over time after the Reformation to help make the Bible more affordable. So, they aren’t always well known.

And still, some Evangelicals and others – like Pat Robertson who I saw once denounce them as dangerous – have had no use for them. It’s a minority voice among worldwide Christianity, and I have suggested that if such people don’t want you to risk reading the Apocryphal texts, then perhaps they should offer the same counsel about their own writings available for purchase. For, those aren’t scripture either.

I stand with Luther. There’s no consensus among Jewish traditions nor Christian ones regarding them. That gives me pause to consider them scripture. Yet, they are profitable and good to read, for historical insights or wisdom including this saying by Sirach about friends (Sirach 6:14-17):

14 A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter:
    he that has found one has found a treasure.
15 There is nothing so precious as a faithful friend,
    and no scales can measure his excellence.
16 A faithful friend is an elixir of life;
    and those who fear the Lord will find him.
17 Whoever fears the Lord directs his friendship aright, for as he is, so is his neighbor also.

Through chapter 6, he argues, “True friends are discerned not by prosperity (v. 11), but through the trials of adversity: distress, quarrels (v. 9), sorrow (v. 10) and misfortune (v. 12) (USCCB Daily Readings, 2025).

The Book of Sirach which was written in Hebrew remains the oldest example of such wisdom literature. It is absolutely applicable to modern times as it addresses friendship. Similar to Proverbs or Ecclesiastes, it offers helpful sayings about ethics written by Yeshua ben Eleazar ben Sira (Ben Sira), a Hellenistic Jewish scribe of the Second Temple period, yet it also can inspire or encourage.

Friends prove a treasure as other scriptural texts and my own life suggest. Friends helped me reconnect to the Church and lift me up after traumas in my past. Friends helped identify my call as a pastor, and they have concretely and through prayer supported my work. Friends helped me as I grieved the death of loved ones, faced cancer, or experienced past jobless periods in my life. In many ways, I discover Gospel truth and holy wisdom through them, not of the level of scripture but true nonetheless.

Friends, new and old, I covet your prayers always, and give thanks for you as I pray. Peace+ and love be with you this day and always. Yet if you ever find yourself doubting or afraid, if you ever feel like giving up, remember your trusted friends. For Christ is waiting in their hearts ready to help and embrace you.

© 2025 The Rev. Louis Florio. All content not held under another’s copyright may not be used without permission of the author. Scripture passages are from the NRSVue translation.

1 Comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,