Terms of Peace

Now large crowds were travelling with him; and he turned and said to them, ‘Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, saying, “This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.” Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a

 delegation and asks for the terms of peace. So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions. ‘Salt is good; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure heap; they throw it away. Let anyone with ears to hear listen!’ Luke 14:25-35

For many generations the tribes of North America have signed treaties with the federal governments, both here and in Canada, which were immediately ignored, violated and forgotten. Many tribal chiefs made treaties because their people were dying, starving and pushed far from home. Those making the treaties with the tribes expected us to die out in a generation or two. Here we are in 2026, and our people are thriving, despite all the neglect and violence meted out.  We made treaties because we were decimated and broken. Jesus knew this condition all too well. Yet, our hearts and our people are strong, faithful and ready to share our blessings with all the people. We have remained salty and full of faith, even as our tribal people are being rounded up as "illegal" aliens by the children of true illegal aliens. 

Blessed Creator, you breathe new life in old bones

you give us visions we can share with our children

and dreams of renewed peace, and renewed hope.

Too many of our people have been broken by abuse

and anger bubbles up all to quickly when we fall

yet you O Sacred One, walk with us still and always.

Walk with us now, Great Creator, so we might show

how peace is the only good road to renewed life

and healing comes when we love our neighbor as ourselves. Amen.