Praying Together 5th July 2026

“We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.” Matthew 11:17

But whose music should we dance to?

“The trouble with Jesus and his followers”, complain the religious establishment “is that they don’t do what we tell them. They are supposed to obey the rules and regulations we insist upon, but they don’t. Those laws are set down for their own good. If they fail to abide by them, our peaceful society itself will be at risk”. They believe that their status gives them the right to dictate those rules and regulations for their own benefit. They seek to justify and legitimise their preferences by terming them to be ‘traditional’ values.

It’s not that rules and regulations are wrong in themselves – on the contrary, they are essential for guidance and mutual societal growth. The difficulty arises when instead or promoting and supporting justice and equity, they are modified to suit the wishes of those in leadership roles – religious or political. They need people to do what they say without question; but as we have seen (and are seeing) often, that way leads to corruption. They make laws to suit themselves – and their pockets. They play the flute (badly), and expect everybody to dance to their music. When people refuse, they don’t like it and call them subversive, traitors and often charge them with criminality.

They can’t cope with people like Jesus and John the Baptiser who dance to a different drum and are rocking the boat. The religious authorities are increasingly uncomfortable and challenged. John’s asceticism is calling for people to repentance and renewal; Jesus’ humanity and unconditional love is inviting ordinary people to Himself irrespective of who they are or their position in a hierarchical society. This kind of behaviour is not going to keep people sedated, unquestioning and obedient. Quite the opposite.

Essentially, said the philosopher Henry David Thoreau, unquestioning obedience results in slavery. Instead, Jesus offers freedom.

Our Lord challenges us to love as He loves us – but with a difference. The dance He leads gives us a choice. We obey His command, but not as slaves – instead, he invites us to be willing servants, alongside the freedom to always ask and reason together with Him as we choose our actions. Therein lies the path to Wisdom, and in God’s Wisdom lies gentleness, humility and rest for our souls.

We can dance to man-made Law. Or Servant Love.

Choose Love.