January 27, 2026

REFLECTION

I am sad, furious and feeling powerless. 

On Saturday, ICE agents executed a 37 year old nurse.

The scripture reading in many churches this past week comes from the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 4, Verses 12-23. Beautifully, it speaks to the moment. The reading takes place at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry immediately after he has been tempted by the Confuser in the desert.  At the order of King Herod, John the Baptist is jailed. 

Let us be clear, John has broken no laws.  He is preaching repentance meaning people should change their minds, change directions, live differently than the way society is telling them to live. And John is baptizing people, cleansing them for this new life.  Herod, the current king, feels threatened by John’s rhetoric.  To Herod, John’s teaching undermines the fragile partnership with Rome and the understanding that all serve the Emperor. So, John is arrested. Soon after, Herod will have John the Baptist executed.

In the last three weeks, armed ICE agents killed two people standing in the margins with their neighbors.  

In the face of this persecution, I find myself looking to Jesus’ reaction in this  moment in which we find ourselves.

First, Jesus reflected.  He dug into the wisdom of Isaiah and the writings of people who had faced tremendous persecution, 

“The ones who sit in darkness, where death casts a great shadow, have seen the light of a new sunrise.”

“From that time forward, Jesus began to speak out,”Creator’s good road from above is close. It is time to change your thinking and begin your great journey.” (First Nations Translation)

Jesus began building.  He invited Peter, Andrew, James and John to be the first to join him asking, “Come walk the road with me” or in another translation “Follow me”.

In the midst of fear and danger, oppression and terror, Jesus began building a movement of people to journey on the good road.

As Minneapolis faces a federal occupation, I urge us to discern ways to support our siblings.  If Milwaukee faces a federal occupation, I hope Kairos Collective will be a community willing to stand in the gaps, to be followers of Jesus on the good road and its path of liberation, love, and justice. I do not know exactly what our specific next steps are.  I want us to figure out together what we do, what we join, what we build together.  Over the next few months as we explore Jesus’ invitation to journey on the Creator's good road, we will ask questions, explore, and build relationships together.  

Together, let’s follow Jesus’ call, “Come walk the road with me.”