Just when we thought we'd hit bottom

Evidently the war in Iran was not enough. Now Donald Trump is waging war with the Pope. God is not amused and the two-thirds of Americans who did not vote for Donald Trump are appalled. Trump is a pariah among us. He shatters norms, silences the press, and behaves like he is king of the world.

He called the Pope a “liberal” for his treatment of immigrants and people of color. Pope Leo even welcomed the marginalized. Imagine that.

Trump’s behavior is beyond the pale. Even the sycophants are beginning to turn on him. Some muse that Trump might resign his office, while others are demanding that the 25^th Amendment be invoked. That would be too good to be true.

Pope Leo, in his gentle voice and tone, did not get ruffled, saying he was not intimidated by the Trump administration. He did cancel his trip to the United States. The Pope will not play silly games with a lunatic.

People of faith will not be okay with Trump’s madness. If we stand for such abuse of the Pontiff, we are also part of the problem.

In the season of Eastertide, we still reflect on the movement from darkness to light. A lot of us are tired of stumbling in the dark.

What are we to do? Persistence in resistance is central in this struggle. This is the ancient struggle between good and evil. We have seen evil acted out among us in the killing of innocents, the locking up of citizens, the whitewashing of history.

Finally, after the war, higher gas and food prices and all the ugliness, we see this puppet for what he is – a small, ignorant, narcissist whose bullying has played itself out. He is naked, alone, and increasingly shunned.

People mis-judged Trump. They thought he was a change agent who would bring increased prosperity to them. The gullible bought it. The snake oil salesman is alive and well.

Psalm 119 says, “Happy are they who follow the ways of the Lord.” Our goodness that incarnates the goodness of God is the only true influence that matters.

The Christian faith is about bearing Christ to others - feeding the hungry, caring for the poor and marginalized, loving the stranger.

We know that Donald Trump is not a practicing Christian. We also know Christian Nationalism is a distortion of the faith. Hate is not part of Jesus’s message.

A reckoning beyond earthly bounds will come to the evil, but that is in God’s hands. In the meantime, we must be steadfast in our practice of good, and the calling out of wrongdoing.

My long practice of Lectio Divina gave me two words I have carried for years. They are risk and adaptation. This is where I find the strength to speak out. I have no desire to be a martyr but I know there is risk in my outspokenness. I will watch my step, and risk keeping up the good fight.

I stand with the Pope.

Lib Campbell is a retired Methodist pastor, retreat leader, columnist and host of the blogsite www.avirtualchurch.com. She can be contacted at libcam05@gmail.com