Showing items filed under “The Rt. Rev. George Sumner”

Hurrah for Trump... Melania I mean...

Hurrah for Trump… Melania I mean…

Melania Trump last week asked her husband to deliver to Vladimir Putin a private letter condemning his brutal invasion of Ukraine and demanding that he return the thousands of kidnapped, indoctrinated, and trafficked Ukrainian children. Though the letter was ‘private,’ news about has been reported from various sources, for which we are grateful. Surely part of her motivation is that, as a Slovenian, she is well aware of the bloodthirstiness of the Russian regime. It is also reported that when her husband, the American president, spoke of his ‘wonderful visit’ with Putin, Melania replied ‘Oh really? He just bombed another nursing home.’ (Diane Francis in the New York Times, 8/18/2025).

What has all this to do with the Christian faith in general and ethics in particular? We too, no matter our political affiliation, must cry out against the abuse of helpless children, and call for their return. This may be extended to the deliberate targeting of civilians, which is why Putin has been convicted as a war criminal by the International Criminal Court in 2023. Secondly, all Christians agree that there is no theological justification for a war of aggression (in contrast to the varied opinions we might have over the theory of ‘just war,’ which is by definition defensive). Third, we reject wholesale lying (the Ninth Commandment), about the war itself, as well in Russian intrusions in our politics and our communications.

Many will have their criticisms of the First Lady, but we as Christians do well to have a word of commendation as she speaks on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves.  Sometimes the godly admonition comes from a surprising source. Amen.

Peace,

+GRS

Posted by The Rt. Rev. George Sumner with

Trussed Rooster in a Chair

This painting by Picasso is called ‘Trussed Rooster in a Chair’ and is found in the museum in his home town of Málaga. It was created during his war years in Paris, and you can find a certain tortured quality in it. At the same time it shows a number of other features typical of him: the deconstruction of form, the echo of primitivism, seeing as imagination, a hint of the mythic. All these aspects may be found in the multifarious category called ‘romanticism,’ sharing a desire to feel one’s way past a sterile modern rationalism. We are still wrestling with this, in both our politics and religion.

Peace +GRS

Posted by The Rt. Rev. George Sumner with

12345678910 ... 146147

Complete the Race (II Timothy 4:17)

At the end of our vacation we find ourselves in Chicago for its Marathon weekend (the fastest, I have read this morning, perhaps because it is cool and relatively level). Marathons offer many good things. You can see world-class athletes from places like Ethiopia and Kenya. There is a feel of fiesta with signs by family members, getups by some for-fun runners, and food for sale.

But as I looked out my hotel window at 7:30 a.m., I watched the race of competitors who have lost legs or their use. Wheeling vehicles by arm for 26 miles means serious fitness and determination.

Those competitors were to me, this morning, a symbol of the Church too. For each is wounded. The larger family cheers them on. Each by grace has risen up to run the race. Ahead is the goal, the prize, the welcome home. We find the companionship of Jesus the Lord, there, and along the route too.

Amen.

GRS

 

   

Categories
Authors
Archive