January 29, 2025 • 10 mins
Have you ever found yourself in trouble? Not just any trouble, but the kind of "good trouble" that drives change and justice in the world? This concept, famously championed by civil rights leaders like John Lewis, stems from a powerful notion that aligns with Jesus’ Beatitude about those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. In this enlightening discussion featuring Lynn Shematek, Lauren Welch, and Jon Shematek, we explore what it means to seek justice and the transformative power of passion and perseverance.
00:00 Introduction: The Concept of Good Trouble
00:23 Exploring Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness
01:37 The Passion for Justice and Change
03:35 Historical Examples of Good Trouble
04:57 The Hope in Hunger and Thirst for Justice
07:38 The Call to Action: Getting into Good Trouble
09:40 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
10:26 Closing Remarks and Credits
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Dolores (00:00):
Have you ever been in trouble?
(00:01):
Or should I say "good trouble?"
Jesus said something about thisin one of his beatitudes, the
one about hunger and thirst.
So let's join a conversation withour Good News team Lynn Shematek,
Lauren Welch and Jon Shematek.
Lynn (00:15):
blessed are they who hunger and thirst for what is right.
They shall be satisfied.
I'm gonna start off with Lauren, theyhunger and thirst for what is right.
Lauren (00:30):
Hunger and thirst for what is right is being driven, have a great desire
to, make right what is wrong around us.
That passion to do anything thatit takes to see something through.
(00:50):
I think that's the hunger and thirstthat nothing will get in the way.
there's no obstacles that can stopsomeone who hungers and thirsts for
change to make things more just, morepeaceful, more in harmony with what God
(01:13):
created us to be as beloved community.
Lynn (01:18):
And what did you think, Jon?
Jon (01:20):
I'm astounded at Lauren's answer because it's so perfect.
when you think of hunger,and being thirsty.
this is one of those beatitudesthat people hear those first words
of and think about people that areactually physically hungry and thirsty
that's not what this is really about.
This is about people that havethis, passion, this drive, hunger
(01:42):
and thirst are needs for survival.
they have this need to help bringthe world back into the divine
intention we all are, in union withone another, in communion with one
another, in relationship to oneanother, and with the divinity.
(02:03):
So I think that this is what it, thehunger and thirst words Sound very much
like what they sound like to Lauren's ear.
This is an intense feeling to the pointof being not just a feeling, but a need.
Lynn (02:18):
You'd
Jon (02:18):
justice.
I need truth.
I need the world to be a differentkind of place than what it is.
the people that are hungry andthirsty, You might think are the
ones that are social activists.
Is that right or wrong?
Lynn (02:38):
they're zealot.
Jon (02:39):
They are zealots.
Lauren (02:40):
Yes.
Lynn (02:41):
That could be a problem.
Jon (02:43):
you're saying being a zealot could be a problem?
Lynn (02:47):
Yes, you are in great need to change.
Sometimes, I would like tohave a little bit more balance.
Someone that is hunger andthirst, you're right, but they
are really in need of change.
And I wonder if they have the abilityto realize that the change they want
(03:10):
may not be exactly, for everyone.
Lauren (03:15):
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for what is right.
can that be overwhelming for some people?
I think so.
not all people are called to have thatsame kind of passion and, drivenness to,
Work for this kind of common good for all.
(03:35):
the people that come to mind for me,
are the Reverend Dr.
Martin Luther King, who was willingto non violently, start a movement
that would bring, some very goodand great changes to our country.
for people who had been, enslavedand then not counted even after
(04:00):
slavery was, abolished, wefound other ways to oppress.
And he brought that toeveryone's attention.
people like, Dorothy Day inthe Catholic Worker Movement.
spent their lives trying to,bring forth, the needs of
(04:23):
people who were being oppressed.
And I think that's whatJesus was doing in his time.
he lived in a time of a lotof oppression from Rome.
he was calling people to have that,not a military, way of responding, but
(04:44):
a non violent, just as passionate andmeaningful, to make the changes that
were needed at the time and that we needeven to, it continues throughout history.
Lynn (04:57):
Something
Jon (04:58):
I would say, the second part of the Beatitude, is another statement of hope.
it's a statement of hope that, ifyou are the people that are really,
Hungry and thirsty for justice, forsocietal change and individual change.
(05:18):
to be kind to one another and so on.
People that have that, feeling.
of hunger and thirst.
And who will do something to satisfythat hunger and thirst will be satisfied.
It takes us
Not just to sympathize and empathizeand say, we're in solidarity with
(05:40):
people suffering from some societalill, It takes more than that.
if you're hungry, find away to satisfy that hunger.
If you're hungry for righteousness ordoing the right thing, What Jesus said
in that beatitude is if people have thatkind of hunger, they're going to bring
about the creation that God intended tome, it's a beautifully hopeful message.
(06:08):
at times I've probably notpaid much attention to that.
There've been times in my life where Ihaven't had the appetite for change or
for trying to be, an agent of change.
that's, the message in thisparticular, Beatitude be a change
agent and you will see change.
You will be blessed.
You will be happy.
You will be healthy.
You will be whole.
This is what God intends.
Lynn (06:31):
I loved, John Lewis's, he said that, these people work for something
that they may not see, you have to keepon going out and doing it day after
day, John Lewis said people will go out,looking for righteousness or the right
(06:54):
way Something you keep on doing evenif it doesn't happen in your lifetime.
I thought, that's very interesting.
I don't know
if you can feel that need forchange, or for good, or for right,
(07:15):
that may not even happen now.
Lauren (07:20):
Lynn, you're right.
that's the example that Jesus gave us.
he certainly didn't see the changethat he wanted to bring about.
neither did John Lewis he, sawchanges, but he didn't see the
change that he was, working, for.
the other quote that I love from,John Lewis, and you reminded me
(07:42):
of it, Lynn, was, he called usall to get into good trouble.
to work every day and to dogood, to get into good trouble.
I really like that.
I think that's what satisfies us if wedon't see the result of what we want
in our lifetime, we probably grieve.
(08:03):
I suspect Jesus grieved thatwhat he wanted to bring forth
did not happen in his time.
I suspect John Lewis and Martin LutherKing and all the people before grieved,
but at the same time Satisfied, and knewthat they had done what God had called
(08:26):
them to do, with all their heart and soul.
that's all we can do, is work with all ofour heart, all of our soul, to the best of
our ability, every day, and, get into asmuch good trouble as John called us to do,
Lynn (08:45):
forgotten if I'd liked that
Jon (08:48):
I'm really grateful that you both brought up how it may not happen
in our lifetime, If we see evenincremental movement, or have hope
that we've planted some seeds thateventually will take root and make
change, that is satisfying in itself.
Dr.
King also used this whole idea,when he's talking about, compared
(09:11):
himself in a way to Moses.
he saw the Promised Land, butdidn't enter it, he brought his
people right to the brink of it.
it wasn't meant for himto enter, but, they did.
and made progress.
they're making the kingdommore and more into a reality.
That's helpful.
(09:32):
So let's all get hungry and thirsty.
Lynn (09:35):
Yes.
Lauren (09:35):
and get into good trouble.
Jon (09:37):
And get into good trouble.
Lynn (09:39):
That's right.
Jon (09:40):
What are we going to invite our viewers and listeners to do?
Lynn (09:46):
think we did.
Jon (09:49):
Okay.
Great.
Lynn (09:51):
I think that there's examples in the Bible of people that have done good
things, and then examples of peoplethat we know in our own lives or in
history that have done great things,We should all try to emulate them.
Jon (10:12):
thanks very much to you two.
Thanks to everybody who's with us.
We appreciate it.
See you next time.
Lynn (10:22):
bye.
Lauren (10:24):
Peace and blessings
..............Dolores: This episode of Bless-ed Are You has been brought to
you by listening for clues.
You can find us at ourwebsite listeningforclues.com,
on our YouTube channel or on justabout any audio podcast channel.
hope to see you soon.
Have you ever been in trouble?
(00:01):
Or should I say "good trouble?"
Jesus said something about thisin one of his beatitudes, the
one about hunger and thirst.
So let's join a conversation withour Good News team Lynn Shematek,
Lauren Welch and Jon Shematek.
Lynn (00:15):
blessed are they who hunger and thirst for what is right.
They shall be satisfied.
I'm gonna start off with Lauren, theyhunger and thirst for what is right.
Lauren (00:30):
Hunger and thirst for what is right is being driven, have a great desire
to, make right what is wrong around us.
That passion to do anything thatit takes to see something through.
(00:50):
I think that's the hunger and thirstthat nothing will get in the way.
there's no obstacles that can stopsomeone who hungers and thirsts for
change to make things more just, morepeaceful, more in harmony with what God
(01:13):
created us to be as beloved community.
Lynn (01:18):
And what did you think, Jon?
Jon (01:20):
I'm astounded at Lauren's answer because it's so perfect.
when you think of hunger,and being thirsty.
this is one of those beatitudesthat people hear those first words
of and think about people that areactually physically hungry and thirsty
that's not what this is really about.
This is about people that havethis, passion, this drive, hunger
(01:42):
and thirst are needs for survival.
they have this need to help bringthe world back into the divine
intention we all are, in union withone another, in communion with one
another, in relationship to oneanother, and with the divinity.
(02:03):
So I think that this is what it, thehunger and thirst words Sound very much
like what they sound like to Lauren's ear.
This is an intense feeling to the pointof being not just a feeling, but a need.
Lynn (02:18):
You'd
Jon (02:18):
justice.
I need truth.
I need the world to be a differentkind of place than what it is.
the people that are hungry andthirsty, You might think are the
ones that are social activists.
Is that right or wrong?
Lynn (02:38):
they're zealot.
Jon (02:39):
They are zealots.
Lauren (02:40):
Yes.
Lynn (02:41):
That could be a problem.
Jon (02:43):
you're saying being a zealot could be a problem?
Lynn (02:47):
Yes, you are in great need to change.
Sometimes, I would like tohave a little bit more balance.
Someone that is hunger andthirst, you're right, but they
are really in need of change.
And I wonder if they have the abilityto realize that the change they want
(03:10):
may not be exactly, for everyone.
Lauren (03:15):
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for what is right.
can that be overwhelming for some people?
I think so.
not all people are called to have thatsame kind of passion and, drivenness to,
Work for this kind of common good for all.
(03:35):
the people that come to mind for me,
are the Reverend Dr.
Martin Luther King, who was willingto non violently, start a movement
that would bring, some very goodand great changes to our country.
for people who had been, enslavedand then not counted even after
(04:00):
slavery was, abolished, wefound other ways to oppress.
And he brought that toeveryone's attention.
people like, Dorothy Day inthe Catholic Worker Movement.
spent their lives trying to,bring forth, the needs of
(04:23):
people who were being oppressed.
And I think that's whatJesus was doing in his time.
he lived in a time of a lotof oppression from Rome.
he was calling people to have that,not a military, way of responding, but
(04:44):
a non violent, just as passionate andmeaningful, to make the changes that
were needed at the time and that we needeven to, it continues throughout history.
Lynn (04:57):
Something
Jon (04:58):
I would say, the second part of the Beatitude, is another statement of hope.
it's a statement of hope that, ifyou are the people that are really,
Hungry and thirsty for justice, forsocietal change and individual change.
(05:18):
to be kind to one another and so on.
People that have that, feeling.
of hunger and thirst.
And who will do something to satisfythat hunger and thirst will be satisfied.
It takes us
Not just to sympathize and empathizeand say, we're in solidarity with
(05:40):
people suffering from some societalill, It takes more than that.
if you're hungry, find away to satisfy that hunger.
If you're hungry for righteousness ordoing the right thing, What Jesus said
in that beatitude is if people have thatkind of hunger, they're going to bring
about the creation that God intended tome, it's a beautifully hopeful message.
(06:08):
at times I've probably notpaid much attention to that.
There've been times in my life where Ihaven't had the appetite for change or
for trying to be, an agent of change.
that's, the message in thisparticular, Beatitude be a change
agent and you will see change.
You will be blessed.
You will be happy.
You will be healthy.
You will be whole.
This is what God intends.
Lynn (06:31):
I loved, John Lewis's, he said that, these people work for something
that they may not see, you have to keepon going out and doing it day after
day, John Lewis said people will go out,looking for righteousness or the right
(06:54):
way Something you keep on doing evenif it doesn't happen in your lifetime.
I thought, that's very interesting.
I don't know
if you can feel that need forchange, or for good, or for right,
(07:15):
that may not even happen now.
Lauren (07:20):
Lynn, you're right.
that's the example that Jesus gave us.
he certainly didn't see the changethat he wanted to bring about.
neither did John Lewis he, sawchanges, but he didn't see the
change that he was, working, for.
the other quote that I love from,John Lewis, and you reminded me
(07:42):
of it, Lynn, was, he called usall to get into good trouble.
to work every day and to dogood, to get into good trouble.
I really like that.
I think that's what satisfies us if wedon't see the result of what we want
in our lifetime, we probably grieve.
(08:03):
I suspect Jesus grieved thatwhat he wanted to bring forth
did not happen in his time.
I suspect John Lewis and Martin LutherKing and all the people before grieved,
but at the same time Satisfied, and knewthat they had done what God had called
(08:26):
them to do, with all their heart and soul.
that's all we can do, is work with all ofour heart, all of our soul, to the best of
our ability, every day, and, get into asmuch good trouble as John called us to do,
Lynn (08:45):
forgotten if I'd liked that
Jon (08:48):
I'm really grateful that you both brought up how it may not happen
in our lifetime, If we see evenincremental movement, or have hope
that we've planted some seeds thateventually will take root and make
change, that is satisfying in itself.
Dr.
King also used this whole idea,when he's talking about, compared
(09:11):
himself in a way to Moses.
he saw the Promised Land, butdidn't enter it, he brought his
people right to the brink of it.
it wasn't meant for himto enter, but, they did.
and made progress.
they're making the kingdommore and more into a reality.
That's helpful.
(09:32):
So let's all get hungry and thirsty.
Lynn (09:35):
Yes.
Lauren (09:35):
and get into good trouble.
Jon (09:37):
And get into good trouble.
Lynn (09:39):
That's right.
Jon (09:40):
What are we going to invite our viewers and listeners to do?
Lynn (09:46):
think we did.
Jon (09:49):
Okay.
Great.
Lynn (09:51):
I think that there's examples in the Bible of people that have done good
things, and then examples of peoplethat we know in our own lives or in
history that have done great things,We should all try to emulate them.
Jon (10:12):
thanks very much to you two.
Thanks to everybody who's with us.
We appreciate it.
See you next time.
Lynn (10:22):
bye.
Lauren (10:24):
Peace and blessings
..............Dolores: This episode of Bless-ed Are You has been brought to
you by listening for clues.
You can find us at ourwebsite listeningforclues.com,
on our YouTube channel or on justabout any audio podcast channel.
hope to see you soon.
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