Shirin McArthur

Let the wicked forsake their way and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
—Isaiah 55:7

Jesus said to them, “If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”
—Mark 8:34

Dear Siblings in Christ,

Yes, I’m a bit late to the party in reflecting on the sermon by Bishop Budde at the inaugural prayer service and its impact today, but there’s a place for taking time to pray and reflect first. As I see it, she was faithfully prepared, centered, and listening for the invitation from God to speak up when the opportunity presented itself. For those who might have missed the sermon, you can find it here—and it’s worth listening to it all. For one thing, it seemed that she paused to pray, to check in with the Spirit before speaking her prophetic words. In fact, I would imagine that a lifetime of prayer, of listening for God’s guidance, had prepared her for this moment.

And yes, her words were prophetic. As others have noted, she spoke God’s truth to power. She spoke in terms straight from the Hebrew Bible, focusing on mercy and unity, kindness and care. She did so with a calm, pastoral stance. She spoke simply, powerfully, and directly to one of the pledges in our Episcopal baptismal covenant: to respect the dignity of every human being.

Bishop Budde had clearly prepared for this. She probably sensed she would be taking up her cross in preaching prophetically. Like so many of the prophets, she spoke an unpopular message, and she is being harassed and threatened because of it. But that’s not the only response. I heard a story about folks who showed up at an Episcopal church the following Sunday because of the bishop’s message. They had heard God’s word and were curious to learn more.

Now, chances are miniscule that you will have the opportunity to say a prophetic word to the president. However, chances are much higher that you will have the chance to say something to people who disagree with you. I’m reminded of a passage from Scripture that speaks to this: “Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you.”

So, I ask you: What practices ground you so that when tough decisions come, God might be heard? How do you practice listening to God so you can be open and prepared for the Spirit’s invitation to speak up?

Peace,

—Shirin

A version of this message first appeared on my blog on February 3, 2025.