By Jodi Beyeler, vice president for communications and people strategy
This week’s theme: From power over to power with
This week’s Scriptures: Isaiah 50:4-9a | Psalm 31:9-16 | Luke 22:14-23:56 | Philippians 2:5-11
Are you comfortable with your power? Maybe it depends on the day. A lot of us are not because of how often we have seen or experienced the abuse of power. We may even deny our power or believe we are powerless. But that’s pretty dangerous too!
With Jesus arriving in Jerusalem on a humble donkey instead of a valiant white horse, Palm Sunday is again upon us and turns our assumptions about power upside down. God continually invites us to rethink worldly quests for power — which often go hand in hand with some form of violence — and instead join the true power of love, service, humility, compassion and nonviolence. This is “power with” instead of “power over.”
This approach to power requires asking questions like:
How are we working with and for the most vulnerable?
How do we use our own power to empower others?
How are we being servant leaders who are listening to and connecting with others instead of watching and correcting them?
God, help us to let go of our love of power and embrace your power of love as we work for and with others in all that we do.