When Love Shows Up: Weekly Reflections about God’s Presence

Loving My Political Enemy - Part 5 - (Rerun) - The Rev. Philip DeVaul

Rev. Phil reflects on a sincere question from a politically opposed relative about whether God cares about income inequality, answering through the Lord’s Prayer: praying “thy kingdom come… on earth as it is in heaven” implies rejecting radical inequality as unlike heaven and taking responsibility to act after saying amen. He argues this is practical Christian striving: creating communities of peace, love, and justice that treat all people with dignity. Continuing a series on loving political enemies, he says building a more Christ-like world requires refusing the win/lose dehumanization of opponents, even while condemning policies he sees as racist, anti-LGBTQ+, harmful to schools, veterans, and poor seniors. Citing Dr. King, he describes ending racism as healing for all and calls Christians toward equity and shared liberation.
 
Want to support our podcast? Give Here 

Loving My Political Enemy - (Rerun) - Part 4 - The Rev. Philip DeVaul

 And as a Christian, I have the responsibility to do so in a way that acknowledges and honors the human dignity of my enemy, not to sink into the mire of hatred for them, not to allow myself to indulge in hateful speech, even if my political enemy relishes hateful speech. My decision to love cannot be dependent on anything but God, who has promised to help me love if I am willing to commit to loving.
 
Why am I so tempted to see this kind of love as weak or ineffectual? I believe I resist loving the politician who is my enemy in part because I am scared that it will not accomplish enough. I believe I am also resistant because I get a moment of cheap satisfaction in dehumanizing my political enemy.

Loving My Political Enemy - (Rerun) - Part 3 - The Rev. Philip DeVaul

Rev. Phil reflects on Jesus’ command to love enemies, offering the Book of Common Prayer’s “Prayer for Our Enemies” as a practical starting point. He begins a series focused on loving different kinds of enemies, especially political ones, and addresses the political enemy who is a friend or family member. He argues politics are personal and can rightly strain relationships, noting such divisions are not new and even existed among early Christians. Rev. Phil suggests that when people share political views they reveal hopes, fears, and something of their hearts, even when they may be wrong or harmful. Loving them does not require minimizing differences, but recognizing their humanity, listening where possible, and praying toward reconciliation rooted in humility, because love is the reason for human existence.
 
Enjoy this podcast that originally aired on February 7, 2025. Use the buttons below to listen or read more.

Loving My Political Enemy - (Rerun) - Part 2 - The Rev. Philip DeVaul

Rev. Phil reflects on Jesus’ explicit command to love enemies and pray for those who hate us, arguing that for Christians this is practical, foundational guidance rooted in the belief that God’s love underpins reality and human purpose. He introduces an upcoming multi-episode exploration of loving political enemies: people we disagree with personally, politicians we oppose, and opponents within the broader political system. Duvall acknowledges his own privilege and notes that loving enemies can seem easier for those with less at stake, contrasting this with Jesus as a marginalized person under an oppressive regime for whom enemy-love was costly and risky. He emphasizes that Jesus’ command is not to excuse evil or become a doormat, but to avoid losing one’s soul to hatred, calling privileged listeners toward sacrificial, costly love
 
Enjoy this podcast that originally aired on January 31, 2025. Use the buttons below to listen or read more.

Loving My Political Enemy (Rerun) - Part 1 - The Rev. Philip DeVaul

.Maybe the most controversial and universally ignored statement of Jesus’ entire ministry is when he says, love your enemies and pray for those who hate you. It seems the universal response to Jesus’ command is “No. No thank you.” We do not at all seem interested in this, and we who call ourselves Christian often relegate this command to either a suggestion or a description of being an idealistic superhuman. It is neither of these things. Loving our enemies is not a suggestion. It is, however, a description – not of a superhuman, but of something you and I can learn to do in real life if we are interested in taking Jesus seriously.I get that we are skeptical of Jesus’ admonition to love our enemies and pray for those that hate us. In part this skepticism comes from a shallow understanding of love simply as warm and affectionate feelings. And being commanded to feel warm feelings and think happy thoughts about those who hate us rightfully seems ridiculous. Try to remember that when Jesus talks about love, he is not appealing to your emotions or sentiments: He is talking about the lens through which you view people, and the actions you take towards them. He is talking practically.So let’s think practically. Political and ideological division are at the front of our minds these days, and I understand why. For the record, when you hear people say, “Politics should never get in the way of our relationship,” I disagree. 
Enjoy this podcast that originally aired on January 25, 2025. Use the buttons below to listen or read more.

Wagging the Dog - The Rev. Philip DeVaul

Rev. Phil presents two contrasting, “technically accurate” portrayals of Jesus—one echoing a John Fugelsang quote and another written in a similar style—to show how people often interpret Jesus to fit and validate their current beliefs. He argues that calling Jesus a socialist or a capitalist is anachronistic, and notes that even in Jesus’ time people tried to categorize him for their own benefit, often to dismiss rather than engage his teachings. Using Kurt Cobain and Nirvana as an analogy for how controversial figures become safe over time, he warns that distance lets us make Jesus into whatever we want. Rev. Phil says Christians can’t separate Jesus from politics because discipleship touches all of life and Jesus taught about social structures and communal life, but Christians also must not co-opt Jesus for partisan agendas; his practical, transformative love should reshape beliefs about politics, economics, and society.
 

Why I am not a Communist - (The Bubble - Part 5) - The Rev. Philip DeVaul

Rev. Phil argues that communities should be oriented toward belonging and ensuring everyone has enough, and says that if a country is structured so some are excluded, marginalized, or lack basic needs, that structure is anti-Christ and a misunderstanding of God. He reflects on fears of sounding like a communist and cites Brazilian priest Helder Camara’s quote about being called a saint for feeding the poor but a communist for asking why they are poor, noting that critiques of American capitalism are often dismissed this way and that Martin Luther King Jr. was repeatedly investigated and labeled communist. While rejecting communism as godless, morally relativistic, and historically totalitarian, he also rejects capitalism due to its inequity and, citing Walter Brueggemann, its commodification of human life. He concludes capitalism and communism often operate as two sides of the same coin for those in power and calls Christians to move beyond these binaries toward more just, merciful, inclusive ways of sustaining community.

God's Not Fair - (The Bubble - Part 4) - The Rev. Philip DeVaul

Rev. Phil introduces a Bible study on Jesus’ parable in Matthew about a landowner who hires vineyard workers throughout the day but pays everyone the same wage, prompting complaints from those who worked longest and a reply emphasizing the owner’s generosity. The Rev. Phil argues the story is often misread as about who goes to heaven after death, but is really about how God sees and wants people to treat each other here and now. “The kingdom of heaven” is described as the reign of God wherever love, justice, mercy, forgiveness, healing, reconciliation, and inclusion occur on Earth. Connecting to a prior discussion of meritocracy, The Rev. Phil says God and the kingdom are not about fairness but about everyone being included, contributing, and having enough, challenging listeners to rethink their ideas of merit and fairness as essential to following Jesus.
Want to support our podcast? Give Here 

The Myth of Meritocracy - (The Bubble - Part 3) - The Rev. Philip DeVaul

The Rev. Philip DeVaul recounts a conversation with an atheist English teacher who believes in predestination, arguing that people have far less free will than they assume because birth circumstances—place, time, culture, parents, language, beliefs, and DNA—shape not only how choices are made but which choices are available. He applies this to America, rejecting the idea that the nation is or ever was a meritocracy, citing slavery and early voting restrictions, and warns that denying historical realities creates spiritual sickness; loving America requires honestly criticizing it, echoing James Baldwin. He concludes that predestination and free will coexist: we are not blank slates or puppets. Jesus exemplifies this by accepting his destiny while choosing loving, committed action, stewarding privilege for others’ spiritual nourishment rather than defending fairness or preserving privilege.
 
Want to support our podcast? Give Here 

Privilege and Struggle (The Bubble - Part 2) - The Rev. Philip DeVaul

Rev. Phil reads Psalm 51 (“Create in me a clean heart…sustain in me a generous spirit”) and connects it to learning how to talk about privilege. He argues the strongest defense against privilege—“I’ve struggled too”—is true but distracts from hearing others and keeps oneself at the center, resisting transformation. Privilege is defined not as having an easy life but as society benefiting some people in ways it does not benefit others, illustrated by easily accessing medical help through doctor neighbors. A quote from Newt Gingrich is used to acknowledge the heightened everyday danger and discrimination Black Americans face and how whites underestimate it. Rev. Phil frames acknowledging privilege as a spiritual practice of decentering, listening, solidarity, and love.
Want to support our podcast? Give Here