Quick Summary:

The song of Zechariah on this REJOICE! Sunday is a powerful antidote for people who have passed through bleak, desert times. And we seem to have entered such a time ourselves, have we not?

Many are living with fear—and having that fear stoked further by prominent figures who claim to be truth tellers. As a result, no proposal—no matter how outlandish, unconscionable, or abhorrent to American principles—seems to be off the table.

Compassion and common sense are being told to take a back seat so phobias of every kind can take the driver’s seat. The truth is, these so-called solutions we’ve been hearing only add more fuel to the anxiety we feel. Is this really the road God is calling us to go down?

John's ministry calls us to pay attention to the "real." But this is tempered by our commitment to compassion. Bishop Elizabeth Eaton's letter to the Muslim-American Community helps guide us in these challenging times.