Sunday, January 18, 2026
Sunday Reflection: Violence and State Power
Jesus lived in a place that was occupied by a military force from a far-away capital, which oppressed and controlled the people the with aid of some local collaborators (such as Herod). The Roman occupation is an important context to the Gospels, and to the individual and human dignity Jesus saw and championed in the oppressed people.
Right now, many people here in Minnesota feel as if they are in an occupied place where a militarized force restricts their movement and freedoms. Make no mistake-- there are people, American citizens and legal residents included, who will not go to church this morning because they are afraid that armed, masked men will assault them in the street or drag them out of their cars, beat, and detain them. Perhaps even kill them-- and that fear is rational.
Think about that for a moment, the reason for that empty seat in church. That's where we are.
This isn't really about immigration, this massing and deployment of a huge militarized force. Look at the chart above-- Minnesota has a tiny fraction of the immigrant population compared to places like Texas and Florida. It's about a President who does not like the people who live and govern here, does not like that he lost this state three times, who becomes enraged at a woman in a hijab among our representatives, and wants to inflict pain.
If you don't think this is a spiritual issue, I wonder about your spirit.
