Who we listen to

RCL Pr29B - "Christ the King" Daniel 7:9-10,13-14, Psalm 93, Revelation 1:4b-8, John 18:33-37

They say we live in news silos. Maybe that’s why I had never heard of “Father (Alex) Cooper” and her podcast even though it was the second most popular podcast in 2022 and fourth most popular in 2024. Too bad for me. I guess.

We don’t all hear the same news. We have different understandings of what is going on in the world and why. This Sunday’s gospel suggests that it has always been this way. Pilate had no idea why Jesus had been brought to him. The story was not in his news feed.

The Jesus story hasn’t necessarily been told well in the Christian silo either. Notwithstanding all of the hymns about Jesus-the-king, Jesus did not claim that title. He simply said that there was a kingdom to which he belonged, that he was born to “testify to the truth.”  And that “everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” John 18:37

There will be times when it seems like we are the only ones hearing the news we hear, or the only ones who see what matters the way we do. I am sure it felt that way to Jesus as he stood before Pilate.

In fact, many people had listened to Jesus.  Many had heard his voice. After Jesus’ arrest, most fled. They were probably terrified. But they stayed together. They waited. I imagine they talked and prayed. They were still together days later when the women came back from an empty tomb.

After Pilate and Easter the disciples began to understand the meaning of what Jesus had said in a new way, and they shared that news with the world.

When we are facing difficult times, in addition to holding on to friends and allies, it is a good idea to pay attention to what and who we are listening to: Let it be news from trustworthy sources, but let it also be poetry, music and all kinds of art, scripture, the voices of the poor and marginalized, the voices of the prophets among us, the sounds and the silence of nature, and the sounds and the silence of prayer. Seek out and listen to whatever nourishes your hope and your faith.  Treasure it. Carry it with you. Be open to understanding it in a new way. And share it.

Peace

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