Scripture: Revelation 13:1
And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, diagnosis having ten horns and seven heads; and on its horns were ten diadems, and on its heads were blasphemous names.

Thought for the Day: Although it makes for good TV and movies, The Book of Revelation is not about Satan, demons, or an actual apocalyptic event sometime in the future (or in the past). Revelation is about the ideological struggle between empire and faith. Historically, it is about the Roman Empire between the years 60-95 CE (or thereabouts) and the way Christians were treated in that era. Read with an understanding of the history of the era, Revelation is a cautionary tale, warning us that the interests of the Empire are rarely the interests of followers of Christ (or any religious tradition that espouses love and freedom from oppression). In fact, Empire seduces people of faith away from a relationship with God.

If we are to be the body of Christ, then it is our job to help break these oppressive chains for all humankind by being examples of compassion, justice, mercy, unwavering faith, love, and fair respect when we deal with others. People of faith—Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Sikhs—we cannot be driven by profit motive. We need to be driven by prophet motive—we need to become the voices in the wilderness, in the streets, in the boardrooms of GloboCorp—voices of hope, voices of the real possibility for change in the world if we change our perceptions about each other, voices of love, voices of peace, voices of egalitarianism.

You know, kind of like Jesus.

Prayer: Holy God, Source of Strength, Source of Salvation, may my eyes and heart be opened to the subtle undercurrents of life that conspire to keep me separated from Jesus’ message of love, peace, mercy, justice and hope. May I see those moments and react consciously by seeking your presence in my life, every minute of the day. Amen.