Morality is Hard

I am concerned that parishioners will perceive my words as “bad news,” that I will be disliked or admonished, that I am inadequate to the task, and that my witness may not make a difference.  I think that often what we might identify as prophetic preaching might seem aggressive, especially if one finds oneself in a defensive position.  Often such sermons ask us to consider the ways we are complicit in oppressive systems and often we are complicit in ways we don’t want to give up.  I think of responsible consumerism and how frequently calls for vegetarianism, greener products, or products produced without exploiting or trafficking are met defensively and sometimes angrily.  Sometimes the way that my positions are met lead me to ask whether I am being too aggressive or not aggressive enough, or to ask in what ways my position might be hypocritical.  Hmm…