Published on May 5, 2013

The Keystone XL Pipeline project is an example of how the rules of the world are often written by and for the wealthy and the powerful. Capitalism can function like a religion that asks us to believe that the most wealthy, powerful and greedy people in the world, if left largely unregulated or governed will eventually do the right thing for the poor and the weak. That just takes more faith than anyone should have in a system designed by the rich to serve the rich.

The miracles in the New Testament are called “signs.” They are metaphors for the Kingdom. In John 5, Jesus heals a man who has been looking at his source of healing, a pool that this sermon titles “the hospital” but the rules are such that he cannot get in to be healed. Jesus breaks through that injustice to bring healing to the one who needs it the most, without an insurance card, without proof of employment or citizenship. And that is what the faith community is called to do: to break the rules that bar the sick from health care, that favors banks over homeowners and corporate profits over the interests of those who need air and water that has not been polluted.