In Secret

After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He did not wish to go about in Judea because the Jews were looking for an opportunity to kill him. Now the Jewish festival of Booths was near. So his brothers said to him, ‘Leave here and go to Judea so that your disciples also may see the works you are doing; for no one who wants to be widely known acts in secret. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.’ (For not even his brothers believed in him.) Jesus said to them, ‘My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify against it that its works are evil. Go to the festival yourselves. I am not going to this festival, for my time has not yet fully come.’ After saying this, he remained in Galilee. But after his brothers had gone to the festival, then he also went, not publicly but as it were in secret. The Jews were looking for him at the festival and saying, ‘Where is he?’ And there was considerable complaining about him among the crowds. While some were saying, ‘He is a good man’, others were saying, ‘No, he is deceiving the crowd.’ Yet no one would speak openly about him for fear of the Jews. John 7:1-13

Too many people have to hide these days. Some are hiding in fear because of who they are or who they represent. Some folks legally in this country are hiding for fear of ICE. Throughout history, people have had to hide from the authorities, the government, or even their communities. After removal from our homeland to then Oklahoma territory, our people had to hide who they were. All our traditional ways were outlawed and had to be done in secret. If caught, one could be thrown in jail for many years. Many Native people still hide today and carry their passports when the go out due to their fear of being arrested as "illegal aliens." Jesus was in hiding and went to the festival in secret. It's encouraging to me to imagine Jesus in hiding, in secret with those who are now scared for their lives as he was. He is with us even in the most terrifying and fearful circumstances.

Loving Creator, you bring us into light

when we are fearful and daily terrified

and you dwell with us in our hiding places.

We have come to believe in our own safety

and think our money or our power can save

yet even the most powerful hide from the law.

Help us Lord Jesus, to see you here in hiding

staying with those who are scared and trembling

surrounding the hidden with eternal love and peace. Amen.