I stopped by the church yesterday after a month of being sidelined by health issues. It was strange to see the Easter decorations and realize I would miss Easter for the first time since entering the ministry.
The good news is that James Talarico will be preaching our Easter sermon. Rep. James Talarico has been a member our church since his childhood. We are very proud of his courage and integrity. He is also a seminary student. His sermons have gone viral on CNN and other news sites.
The last time Rep. Talarico preached for us we got a snarky complaint that we should give equal time to his Republican opponent. I informed the complainant that James didn’t have an opponent. I also informed him that the fairness doctrine had been destroyed during the Reagan years so it was disingenuous to demand that of others.
I also told the man that James Talarico is a student at Austin Presbyterian seminary and a member of our church. I informed him that anyone who preaches at our church needs to preach what Jesus taught- sharing the world, turning the other cheek, loving our enemies, caring for immigrants, and not judging others.
I’m so relieved that our pulpit will be reserved for messages of the love and of justice in my absence. People need hope in this time of cruelty. They need to hear messages of honesty in this time of propaganda. People need to hear messages of universal love in this time of national selfishness.
And, after all, scripture didn’t give Herod equal time.