I am a pastor to all people. Political lines do not limit the ministry of my pastorate or my church. Therefore, I do not make public political comments. I live to help people understand and embrace the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is where I offer my  insights.

I watched in full Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde’s sermon that has been the source of so much clamor recently (January 21, 2025, Washington National Cathedral). I heard themes of unity across diversity and division to serve the common good. I heard a call to actions that match our prayers. And I heard three foundations for unity: honoring the inherent dignity of every human being, honesty and humility. Finally, she made a plea to the president to be merciful to those who are scared right now, especially LGBTQ persons and immigrants.

Let us hold Rev. Budde’s words against the words of Jesus so that Scripture might validate or discredit them.

How it started

To start his ministry, Jesus read from the book of Isaiah (Luke 4). He stood up in the temple to speak these words, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”  Jesus’ first message in the temple was to state the purpose of God’s anointing upon him: freedom and recovery for the poor, the prisoners, the blind, and the oppressed. Jesus’ first message validated the inherent dignity of every human being, especially those deemed less-than by society. Jesus did not whisper it to someone in a side meeting. He proclaimed it publicly. Jesus modeled in his reading from Isaiah that the pulpit is the appropriate place for the good news of Jesus to be preached for all people. That’s how it started.

How it will end

In Matthew 25 Jesus made it clear that in the end, we will not be asked who we voted for. We will be asked if we fed hungry people, if we helped people that were sick, and if we welcomed the stranger. From start to finish, Jesus preached, lived, and commanded his followers to do the same. Ask yourself, honestly, who are the hungry, sick, and strange among us now? Beyond political and religious divides, who are the vulnerable people in our society? Jesus’ command still stands. We are not to punish, discard, or disparage them. We will be judged by Jesus based on if we fed them, cared for them, and welcomed them.

What happens in between

Read the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Listen to all the stories in between of how Jesus treated people. Consider the one caught in sexual sin, who the religious people wanted to kill with stones, but Jesus protected and saved (John 7). Listen how he had a theological conversation with a woman of a different ethnic mix and validated her spirit of worship (John 4). See how Jesus brought together the one working for the Roman government and the one wishing to overturn it, all for the greater good of preaching the Gospel (Matthew the tax collector and Simon the zealot). See how Jesus showed mercy to a common criminal sentenced to the death penalty (Luke 23). Love and humility were hallmarks of Jesus’ life. He set the example and then implored his followers to “learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart” (Matthew 11:29).

My assessment

As a believer in Jesus Christ and a pastor, it is easily noted that Rev. Budde’s words resonate whole heartedly with the message of Jesus Christ. In the words of Rev. David Simmons, Episcopal Priest, “Asking the most powerful person on the planet to show mercy to the powerless is what the Gospel of Jesus is about.” Jesus warned us that we would be persecuted if we preached his message (Matthew 5:10-12). Rev. Budde is finding those words to be true. I, too, have received the most negative responses from the messages I have preached about love. Love is challenging and yet, thankfully, God is love (1 John 4:7-8).

Your response

So, I encourage you. Rather than rising up in political offense, allow the Holy Spirit to soften your heart. Hear the message of Jesus. Do not just listen to pastors and politicians who tell you what you want to hear, those things that benefit you and make you feel superior. Be willing to be corrected, rebuked and encouraged by the message of grace that is in Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 4:2-4). Then people will know that we are Christians, not by our political prowess, but by our love. Jesus preached that, too (John 13:35).

Humbly Yours,

Pastor Tish

1.21.25 Sermon by The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde

Washington National Cathedral