A Culture of Death & the God of Life

 

In  The Third of May, 1808, along with its companion work The Second of May, 1808, Goya sought to commemorate Spanish resistance to Napoleon's armies during the occupation of 1808. Both were produced in 1814, while the print series was in progress.

1 Beneath the cross of Jesus

I fain would take my stand:

the shadow of a mighty rock

within a weary land,

a home within the wilderness,

a rest upon the way,

from the burning of the noontide heat

and the burden of the day.

Francisco Goya was a Spanish painter and printmaker who worked in the latter 18th and early 19th centuries. He became a sought after artist by the influential people of his time and created idyllic scenes along with a couple of controversial nudes for a government official. Later in his career Goya created a series of grim prints called The Disasters of War which graphically portray scenes related to the French invasion of Spain and the atrocities of that conflict. 

Earlier this week I thought about a stark Goya painting from that same time period called The Third of May, 1808 which depict the execution of Spanish insurgents by French soldiers. This work came to mind because of the stunning news that the Pentagon under Pete Hegseth had decided to put a former military officer, a mass killer to death by firings squad, a form of execution not employed since 1945. The controversy over this choice was deepened with the additional announcement that the execution would be live-streamed for any and all to watch. 

Thank God that there was an immediate outcry about this barbaric spectacle with both Roman Catholic bishops and Evangelical Leaders making strong statements in opposition, along with other denominations. Many politicians on both sides of the aisle condemned the live-streaming, although not necessarily the execution. A poll found that about 80% of Americans were against the live-streaming and soon after it's release President Trump, who was initially in support, decided that it wouldn't happen. This is politically expedient when the mid-term elections are just around the corner. 

How did bloodlust become so deeply rooted in a segment of this society that the notion would even be entertained? Hegseth constantly huffs and puffs about his own Christian faith and maintains that America is a Christian nation. Has he ever read the teachings of Jesus or given serious thought to Jesus' choice not to fight for his freedom? How can Christians claim that the suffering love of God on the cross is central to their faith and then gleefully support a public execution? Crucifixion was the Roman equivalent of a firing squad.  Just a reminder: Afghanistan and Iran and probably North Korea are the only nations to enact the death penalty in public.

 It is with shock and great sorrow that I have learned of the Department of War’s decision to publicly livestream the execution of Nidal Hasan. Our God is the God of life. In no way can Hassan’s actions be condoned but this decision is a barbaric promotion of a culture of death and must be reconsidered. The word of God exhorts us: ‘do not repay anyone evil for evil' (Romans 12:17). The public execution even of one who has done grave harm will only further undermine the moral fabric of our nation and be a blight on the conscience of its people.

Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops 

Amen. 

Wrestling with the Right to Die...Again...

                                   New Creed Booklet illustration Gary Crawford

 "in life, in death,
in life beyond death,
God is with us. We are not alone.
Thanks be to God."

Last week the parameters for Medical Assistance in Dying or MAID were publicly addressed again by the Canadian government and in the aftemath there has been lots of public discussion, some of it heated. Plenty of Christians are categorically opposed to MAID including the Roman Catholic Church as an institution, along with various Evangelical groups. Some critics prefer to use the term "euthanasia" and I'm not sure why because it means "good death" and they obviously don't consider this option as good or ethical or moral.

The United Church of Canada has supported MAID with caveats, recognizing that society must protect the vulnerable, including those with disabilities, those who no longer have the capacity to decide for themselves, and those who suffer from mental illness. The UCC has been criticized for its perspective but there is nothing new in this. And the UCC is a "herd of cats" so there are plenty of different perspectives and passions within our membership. We haven't said anything new about MAID in several years even though more Canadians are availing themselves of this end-of-life option. The stigma in society and amongst some religious people has lifted and access is much more straightforward.

The decision last week states clearly that the law will not extend MAID to those who experience mental illness. This possible change has been quite controversial and a "line in the sand" for some who generally support MAID. This is still complicated because  some of  the strongest advocates for permitting MAID for those with mental illness are individuals who have suffered from poor mental health for years without relief. 

The lack of consensus concerning who is eligible for MAID and when and why  is reflected in stances within the Globe and Mail newspaper in the past week. The editorial board published a response to the announcement with the headline The Liberals are right to restrict MAID. A few days later an article in the same newspaper by Andre Picard, a respected health reporter, had the title Why is Ottawa so hellbent on limiting access to MAID?

The next frontier in this ongoing debate will be permission for Advanced Directives, allowing individuals to formally state wishes concerning MAID in the event that they are cognitively incapacitated, perhaps with dementia.

Some feel that this is yet another "thin edge of the wedge" in terms of safe-guarding the sanctity of life for the vulnerable. Yet a decade ago, just before the first legislation was passed, the UCC congregation I served then hosted a discussion with MP Rob Oliphant, one of the co-chairs of the committee addressing the parameters for MAID. Rob is also a United Church minister and I've known him for a long time. Over 100 people attended on a hot Friday evening on the Victoria Day weekend. Most were seniors and a number stated strongly that they wanted the option of an Advanced Directive to spare loved ones having to spend years providing support and care when they were no longer cognitively aware. 

So, what are the straightforward answers to these challenges? The straightforward answer to this question is that there aren't any. I feel that it's vital for faith groups to provide opportunities for information and prayerful conversation and to do so with humility and grace. There was a presentation at Trenton United led by Rev. Isaac a couple of weeks ago and I led a series there a few years back. We all need these opportunities for discernment and clarity. 

Pope Leo, Cardinal Czerny, & Sustainability

 

 God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations:  I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 

                                     Genesis 9: 12-13 NRSVue

I suppose we were all hoping that the surgery to remove a node from one of Pope Leo's lungs would have a more positive outcome. The growth turned out to be cancerous and a lobe of his lung was removed. The reports are that this cancer was detected early and that the surgery was successful. It's curious -- certainly not providential -- that now both Leo and his immediate predecessor, Francis, have had part of a lung removed. 

Francis and Leo share something much more positive in common, a deep theological appreciation for the gift of Creation, even though we may be more aware of the legacy of Francis in this regard through the encyclical Laudato Si: On Care for our Common Home. It happens that yesterday, the day Leo underwent surgery, Villanova University in the US presented the  first Pope Leo XIV Sustainability Medal. The presentation took place during  a conference in Rome called Responding to the Cry of the Earth and the Poor" and Leo was scheduled to be there. Here is the description of the award: 

The Medal seeks to honor those whose work demonstrates a holistic vision of sustainability, integrating care for the environment, social justice, concern for vulnerable populations and responsible stewardship of economic and natural resources. 

Distinct from secular awards, it evaluates integral ecology over pure technical metrics, prioritizing the ethical mandate of caring for the marginalized and bridging the gap between rigorous science and moral conviction. Recipients may come from any field or discipline and will be selected based on their demonstrated impact in advancing a more sustainable and equitable world.

This sounds so balanced and I would hope all Christians are committed to a more sustainable and equitable world.

The first recipient is actually a Canadian, Cardinal Michael Czerny, a Jesuit. During the fifty years of his priesthood Cardinal Czerny has been involved in human rights in Central America, an AIDS network in Africa, and in a special appointment by Pope Francis on behalf of migrants and refugees. He has also been committed to the ways in which the plight of the poor and our planet are interwoven. 

It seems to me that Czerny is a distinguished Canadian few of his compatriots know about and I'm glad he's being honoured.  

It's interesting that in his acceptance speech he gave a shout-out to his parents who modelled recycling and who instilled in him a love of nature. He cited the story of God's covenant with Noah in the book of Genesis “Thanks to him,destruction did not have the last word. Humanity and the Earth were granted a reprieve: a wonderful opportunity to begin again, symbolised by the dove with ‘a fresh olive leaf in its beak’ and, for all time, by the rainbow.”

We can be grateful for Michael Czerny's inspiring Gospel witness and pray that Pope Leo is on the road to restored health. 

Behemoth and Leviathan & Theme Parks?

   Behemoth and Leviathan, watercolour by William Blake from his illustrations of the Book of Job(1805).

O Lord, how manifold are your works!
    In wisdom you have made them all;
    the earth is full of your creatures.
25 There is the sea, great and wide;
    creeping things innumerable are there,
    living things both small and great.
26 There go the ships
    and Leviathan that you formed to sport in it.

                    Psalm 104: 24-26 NRSVue 

Many moons ago we spent time at Canada's Wonderland, the huge theme park in southern Ontario. Back then I was considerably more cowardly than our children when it came o some of the scarier rides and they have only become more extreme over the decades. I shuddered at the news of a death at a Six Flags venue in the state of Georgia, an incident where a rider fell to his death from a ride called Goliath. Condolences to his loved ones. 

The name intrigued me because while I can assume that this ride is huge we live in an age of general biblical illiteracy, so would riders make a connection with the oversized Philistine, the adversary of the young David, who came to a grisly end?

                                                         David and Goliath -- Peter Paul Rubens 

The news story became broader when we were told that rides at other theme parks, including Canada's Wonderland (same corporate ownership) had been temporarily closed as a precaution. These include Leviathan and Behemoth. If the story of David and Goliath might not ring a bell with riders, these two biblical names would elicit nuttin'. 

Psalm 104 is a wonderful hymn of praise for the diversity of Creation, including a nebulous creature, perhaps a sea serpent,  called Leviathan. The name Leviathan shows up elsewhere in both scripture and theological speculation as an embodiment of chaos, threatening to eat the damned when their lives are over. In the end, it is annihilated. Phew. 

Enter Behemoth from the book of Job, this one a land monster. Some scholars have speculated that this may have been a hippopotamus, somewhat amphibious, and the most dangerous mammal on the African continent. Behemoth is a creature evoking awe and terror. 

While these rides may be "monsters" it's crazy that they have been given names from the bible unknown to most enthusiasts. When you do an online search for them what comes up first is theme park info, but we know better.

 I suppose " there is nothing new under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 1:9)

“Look at Behemoth,

    which I made just as I made you;
    it eats grass like an ox.
16 Its strength is in its loins
    and its power in the muscles of its belly.
17 It makes its tail stiff like a cedar;
    the sinews of its thighs are knit together.
18 Its bones are tubes of bronze,
    its limbs like bars of iron.

              Job 40: 15-18 NRSVue 

                                         Behemoth and Leviathan rides, Canada's Wonderland 

Thanksgiving Dinner & L'Chaim!

 Today we'll do what many other Canadians will do, drive to the home of one of our three adult children for Thanksgiving dinner. We'll join with them, their spouses, and our four grandchildren in one of those rare opportunities to all be together in one place. 

We're grateful that we can sit around a table to share good food and express gratitude for the many blessings of life. For some of us these are gifts from God. 

This year is particularly meaningful because a year ago, October 2025, one of our lovely daughters took advantage of the opportunity to have a mammogram at age 40. No symptoms, healthy living, but why not when there is no cost involved in our healthcare system?

To the shock of our daughter and her doctor there was evidence of cancerous cells. The specialist she consulted was not highly concerned and said that she was a Stage 0 patient. But as testing and time progressed she became a Stage 2 breast cancer patient and eventually underwent two operations, Neither of them was as radical as they could have been because of early detection but significant just the same. She was fortunate to be referred to Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto, one of the best in the world for breast cancer treatment and she was continually impressed by the quality of care she received there. 

This said, she spent months going to medical consultations, undergoing scans, as well as the surgeries. All the while she continued to work, with only brief breaks, and mothered two young children. She discovered along the way that many young women are being diagnosed with breast cancer, an alarming number in their twenties and thirties, and too many discover their cancers at much later stages. 

Just over two weeks ago our daughter completed three-plus weeks of daily radiation treatments and got to ring the bell declaring her cancer-free, to the best of everyone's professional knowledge.

This has been a tremendously challenging journey for her, her family, and all who love her. Ruth has been a pillar of strength for her with stays in her home, and we've both been involved in trips to hospitals. There is something about watching a child suffer, no matter their age, which can be overwhelming.

We have prayed and offered care as best we could, and today we will give thanks for the outcome. There is a Jewish toast with the Hebrew word L'Chaim. It means "to life!' I find it meaningful because it's not about the past nor a claim for the future. It is a declaration of the gift of life in the moment we are given.

We are impressed that our daughter and her supportive husband have chosen to host our family gathering, given that she is still recovering from the debilitation of her treatment, and we're all pitching in. This will be a special Thanksgiving for all of us. 

I hope you are all able to celebrate the goodness of your lives today, whatever may swirl around you. Please keep in mind that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and that we are blessed to live in a country where there is exceptional medical care without cost to those are living with this disease. 

Dirty Squash & Thanksgiving Sunday

1 Come, you thankful people, come,

raise the song of harvest home!

All is safely gathered in,

safe before the storms begin;

God, our maker, does provide

for our needs to be supplied:

come to God's own temple, come,

raise the song of harvest home!

                                         Voices United 516

Happy Thanksgiving Sunday! I realize I risk confusing American readers but we're seven weeks ahead of you here in Canada. Still, the timeless themes of gratitude for abundance, the blessing of harvest and unbegrudging hospitality are shared. 

A couple of days ago we took advantage of yet another lovely Fall morning, heading to Prince Edward County, the peninsula jutting into Lake Ontario. Our destination was Lodge Point, part of Sandbanks Provincial Park. To our surprise we saw lots of Monarch butterflies, thinking that these migrating wonders would have passed through by now.  The County, as its known, has become Toronto's playground but heading there early and during the week meant we had the wind and waves to ourselves.

On our return trip we stopped at a roadside farm stand that we've appreciated for years. Prince Edward County was once known as "the Garden County" with dozens of canneries producing a third of Canada's canned fruit and vegetables in the days before transporting fresh produce long distances. There were scores of orchards as well. This distinction faded in the 1950s but there are still direct farm sellers, including the large but rough and tumble spot we visited. For years the public-facing person was a very old and matter-of-fact woman. Now it's a guy in his thirties who is probably a grandson. 

Last year there was a drought in our region and not much in the way of squash and other field vegetables requiring natural watering. We chatted about this for a moment. This year the dilapidated farm wagon was laden with hubbards and acorns, butternut and buttercup.  We bought a bunch and some small ones will adorn our Thanksgiving table, while one has already been transformed into a delicious soup. Most of what we purchased was still bearing some of the soil from the fields directly behind us. 

So, why am I telling you this today? I grew up with the front of the church festooned on Thanksgiving Sunday with produce from gardens, often brought by members of the congregation. It all became more polished (literally) over time and cornucopias became part of the display. We understood that it was important to recognize the gifts of the Creator for our nourishment, physical and spiritual, to never take this for granted. We sang about it on Thanksgiving Sunday, we heard about it in Scripture, and we saw and perhaps even smelled this abundance as a gift to our senses. 

This may seem antiquated now, particularly in more contemporary focused congregations but it may be more important than ever as "global weirding" changes patterns of climate and weather. 

I lament the alienation we are currently experiencing from our American neighbours but many of us have been encouraged to "buy Canadian" as well as supporting local growers whenever possible. These farmers are a blessing not to be taken for granted, nor is the rich heritage of agriculture in our country. 

Do Not Forget the Lord

⁷For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land-a land with streams and pools of water, with springs flowing in the valleys and hills; ⁸a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; ⁹a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills.

¹⁰When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. ¹¹Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. ¹²Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, ¹³and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, ¹⁴then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

Deuteronomy  8: 7-14 NRSVue

Waking Up on World Homeless Day

 

1 Jesus Christ is waiting, waiting in the streets;

no one is his neighbour, all alone he eats.

*Listen, Lord Jesus, I am lonely too.

Make me, friend or stranger, fit to wait on you.

5 Jesus Christ is calling, calling in the streets,

'Who will join my journey? I will guide their feet.'

*Listen, Lord Jesus, let my fears be few.

Walk one step before me; I will follow you.

                        Voices United 117

We have experienced glorious Autumn weather in southern Ontario with sunny, moderate days. Last night was a few degrees above freezing but we bundled up to cycle downtown in Belleville (pop 56,000) to make some purchases at the Farmer's Market and an excellent French bakery. Of course, we'd slept in our own home and put the heat on for a few minutes to take off the chill and we would return to the warmth.  On our way along the waterfront we passed people who'd "slept rough", those we might term homeless or unhoused. We've noticed that some of them seek out the lamp posts along the trail to plug in their cellphones and even compact generators. Resourceful!

As we set out I hadn't realized that this is World Homeless Day and later on a new documentary will be aired on TVO called Home.  https://www.tvo.org/video/documentaries/home

Here is some background from a CityNews piece on the doc: 

When tents started popping up on the lawn in front of a sprawling provincial property in Cobourg, Ont., television producer Linda Schuyler wondered who the people living in the encampment were.“I started to go in and get to know them,” said Schuyler, a filmmaker and producer who is best known as the co-creator of the “Degrassi” television series.

“As Torontonians, we have been very aware of the homeless crisis for a long period of time. And I always felt kind of helpless about it. It seemed like such a big problem. I didn’t know what I could do to help,” said Schuyler, who splits her time between Toronto and a community near the southern Ontario lakeside town.

She teamed up with filmmaker Will Bowes to explore the inner workings of the encampment and the complex individual circumstances of its residents. The result is a new documentary, titled “Home,” set to premiere on TVO on Saturday, coinciding with World Homeless Day.

The film introduces audiences to several unhoused people who settled at Brookside, a vacant property owned by the province that had previously been home to Cobourg’s elite and later became a youth detention centre. It details the myriad reasons how someone can end up without a home, from executives and business owners losing their livelihoods, to those who faced abusive partners, the death of loved ones and the challenges of addiction and mental health.

The filmmakers said they first entered without filming equipment and simply listened to people’s stories. Once they formed relationships, the filmmakers asked if people were comfortable speaking on camera. If they did, they’d receive a Tim Hortons gift card to acknowledge their time.

Earlier this week I listened to an interview with Wilfred Laurier University professor Erin Dej who is a collaborator in a project to provide resources to schools for discussions in classrooms about homelessness called Creating Dialogue https://creating-dialogue-curriculum.netlify.app/

I'm also thinking about the award-winning book Encampment: Resistance, Grace, and an Unhoused Community by Rev. Maggie Helwig, one of the most radically Gospel books I've read. 

All of these resources invite us to consider homelessness as more than a growing societal problem, to imagine the lives of those who have been pushed to the margins and deserve to be treated with dignity and compassion. Helwig reminds us that they are beloved by the Christ who often lived rough with his disciples. 

May the Christ who walks on wounded feet

walk with you on the road.

May the Christ who serves with wounded hands

stretch out your hands to serve.

May the Christ who loves with a wounded heart

open your hearts to love.

May you see the face of Christ in everyone you meet,

and may everyone you meet

see the face of Christ in you.

Voices United 349