2023-08-24 A Meditation on Alliances

“11 And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them. 13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” 14 Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. 15 But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” 16 And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled. 18 Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. 19 And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.” (Ac 19:11–20 ESV)

Alliances made, alliances won. To recognize a common hunger in the eyes of a neighbor, to seek and join hands in discovering with a friend, to have heart warmed by words of institution, of faith-expression; these things are the stuff of poetry and of lore.

Alliances correct any and all who distrust, mistrust their common human expression, their humanity, their copacetic personality. Many mistrust, thinking themselves too plaintive or needy, too panic-stricken or becalmed (it can be a sin to be unable to express particular and immediate needs; we need each other; we are relying on a good report as to who is “out there”, whom “encountered”, where and with what “reconnoitered”).

Then the heart warmed by signpost and vocal expression: this one is announcing allegiance to this book, to that creed, to this lover of souls as in Jesus or a prophet. We are people of tribe and flag, of signage and murmuring attestation. Alongside love for the faith-similar, we have love for the moral repugnance or the moral exhortation: it soothes to say, “Be it done!”; to cry out, “As done to others, may it be done to him or her!”; to insist, “Let them marry, it is only right!”; to gesticulate, “There is a moral duty to parent or kin lived out!”.

Alliances warm the heart because the heart knows dire need. The heart knows society all motoring along, humming to a beat, judgmental in this direction and precocious in that direction, but emphatic and bold to be in the seat of Success. Then, we know society more particular and careful, loving and ready, found and discovering. This is society in a time of upheaval, which society leaves the door open for a new friend or a beleaguered saint. This is society not brushing over the art and the painstaking pleas, the ones Encountered upon by fresh militance in an opponent, hearing the distant drumbeat, bold to say, “War is waged, and who are we but agents in the game”.

So to the many alliances and parties of kindred souls, in time of war—abroad, at home—learns to be peace and copacetic with a religious expression, any expression, some expression, a means of waging peace because the Good Book says so. We are all of us not calculable decision-makers but rather mysteries Created by God Above. We do things out of love for the brethren and for the sistren. We do things that are beyond mere self-preservation. The wealthy finds ways to contribute to the community rather than to tax it. The poor find ways to be rich in matters of family hearth and honesty or moral upbringing. The middling classes find ways to be those possessed of ambition properly understood, to act in gratitude but in keeping pace with the opportunities and the Call.

Then to the Call as a matter of discussion: to warm to the sacramental, instituted, plain service of the Body and the Blood of the Lord to be our safe space and forgiveness. This holds a special place in our hearts. This we well up inside upon seeing acknowledged in this helter-skelter ramshackle world. We are warmed, through a mystery and enigma, to dwell no longer self-righteous but rightly forgiven, Called, healed, inspired and motivated. We go forth as fighters for an Experience, taught and reiterated through peaceful symbolism and worship and words of institution, yet cause for all manner of good feeling and intention welling up inside. The soldier is no academic disputer or authority on religious differences, but in finding one’s own home base, does find respect and commiseration for all religious backing. In a friend or a peer. In a new alliance. In playing unto all high water and bellicose reaction, the card of peace and of prayer for one’s enemies. All this is in the Good Books. All this is untold Peace and Hopeful Countenance. All this is Certain and grants the reward to our fearless Leader and our Hope, our God. Whom others see in us and learn thereby to warm to. For we are soldiers of a God who has untold range and power to Call and to send forth in joy and peace in believing.