REALIZATIONS

“I can’t Breath” and “Say their names” is the chant that alerts us to a realization that really evil and hateful people have lived and still exist.  A realization highlighted by the most recent unexplained hangings in the town square and the news report of a black man shot in the back.  We know evil exists by the continuing practice of genocide, wars & terrorism, gouging the poor, disenfranchising those seeking to be self-governed, piling up goods without thought people on the margins, and lying to keep themselves in power.

Evil has a ripple effect, one felt for many generations after Ahab and Jezebel.  Many would applaud Elijah’s promise of God’s punishment of Ahab and Jezebel. “But I say to you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you . . . (Mt 5:44) be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Mt 5:48)

Jesus recasts the old law and offers us another way to look at those who are “enemy” to us and the world. We aren’t asked to “be God” but rather to be as perfect in our loving as God is, who makes the sunshine and rain come down equally on the just and unjust.

Jesus puts before us the example of our heavenly parent and demands we act toward others, as God acts toward each of us. This is a startling challenge. God does not weigh whether we deserve sun or rain, He acts with integrity and unconditional graciousness—independent of whether we are just or unjust. That’s God’s perfection.[1]

Our nation is amidst some great realizations of how individual sin had a communal effect.  The pandemic is making us realize we really are not in control and that the only thing we have control of is how we embrace our personal behavior to avoid its spreading further.  The protests bring the realization that while great strides have been made in race relations in the U.S. racism is still prevalent within individuals, within family cultures, and institutionalized into business, political, and enforcement systems. The riots and violence against law enforcement officers and community businesses helps us realize that evil still has a voice in our nation and it takes advantage of every opportunity to divide even God-fearing people.

How, then, are we to love? We must pray for our enemies, for God’s grace in their lives, for a change of heart for them (and for us). We must come to realize how our own stereotypes and prejudices can divide the world between supposed good and bad people, how our inclination for justifying actions through  the practice of competing victimization that expects the punishment of the bad according to our desires, or for gaining reparation or simply for revenge.

We must be inclusive, welcoming, acknowledging God’s potential within each person. Jesus says we are to live and respond differently than what our nature might dictate. It’s not easy! Paraphrasing C.S. Lewis, we don’t love others because they are lovable but because God is love—and we are expected to love as God loves. How are we doing?[2]

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[1] Weekday HomilyHelps. Exegesis by Dr. Mary Ann Getty.

[2] Ibid. Homily Suggestion by Leota Roesch.

A RELATIONSHIP OF TRUST

As I reflected on today’s readings a theme called to my heart and in my research, I stumbled upon on what some would say is a forgotten piece of history.  In 1997 President Bill Clinton announced he would lead the country in a "national conversation on race."  It would be the first in almost 30 years.  At the time the nation was in a good place, the president’s approval rating was high, the economy strong there was positive housing ratings. This initiative was going to be the legacy for which President Clinton was to be remembered.  Unfortunately, the initiative was greeted with skepticism and questions: Who would be included in such a conversation?  What would be discussed?  Ultimately, what could be accomplished?  Even after the president’s artfully conducted town hall meeting, the answers remain elusive.

He used a therapeutic model of group dynamics to underlie the initiative.  The group was supposed to be getting long-hidden fears, resentments, and frustrations out in the open.  "Be blunt," the president instructed his audience.  Yet, absent a relationship of trust having been established and without the privacy to ensure one’s unguarded comments wouldn’t be taken out of context, this was a vain aspiration. A nation cannot talk like a family, no matter how earnest and articulate its political leaders might be.[1]

A relationship of trust.  This was my first thought as I reflected on the first reading and oh, if it was only this easy.  Elijah, sent to a widow in a dire situation, says, “Do not be afraid … For the Lord, the God of Israel, says,” (1 Kg 17:13-14) everything is going to be alright.  Her obedience and trust are rewarded.

St. Ephrem’s, who’s memorial we celebrate today, works reflect deep insight and knowledge of the Scriptures.  In writing about the mysteries of humanity’s redemption, Ephrem reveals a realistic and humanly sympathetic spirit and a great devotion to the humanity of Jesus.  He writes, "I have chanced upon weeds, my brothers, that wear the color of wheat, to choke the good seed." ~St. Eprhaim

The challenge to having a national conversation on race, seems to be it gets clouded by the abuse of authority, use of trigger words and finger pointing, competing victimization, or other emotional attachments (i.e. patriotism & riots) and the fear of needing to make a personal sacrifice.  There is a sacrifice to standing up for justice and right, “Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” (Mt 5:16) As Christians we are called to enter the conversation as Jesus would, boldly knowing and trusting our just, compassionate, merciful, and loving Heavenly Father.

Sr. Thea Bowman was a fiercely strong black woman who fought through breast cancer to be a witness, sharing her boundless love for God. Before she died in 1990, she wrote: “We unite ourselves with Christ’s redemptive work when we reconcile, when we make peace, when we share the good news that God is in our lives, when we reflect to our brothers and sisters God’s healing, God’s forgiveness, God’s unconditional love.”

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[1] The Washington Post “Why Talk About Race: Welfare and Crime Demand More Than Feel-Good Chat” by Glenn C. Loury. December 7, 1997.

AMERICA ARE YOU LISTENING?

This week has brought pain and hurt to an already uncertain time. The death of George Floyd seems to be the straw that broke the camel’s back, AGAIN. Through the complexity of all we're feeling right now, it seems that listening is our country’s greatest challenge. Today’s psalm reminds us that in “the sum of our years, being 70 or 80, if we are strong, that most of them are fruitless toil, for they pass quickly, and we drift away.” (Ps 90:10)

Many have toiled over the decades to get us to listen and see the injustice that continues to exist in our nation.  The loss of life and the collective pain of our nation is a grim reminder of our inability to hear the cry of the poor and appropriately respond to personal and institutional injustices.  In 1967, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave a speech at the University of Minnesota entitled, “The Other America”.  As I read the speech, I couldn’t help but notice it seems to have a familiar ring of truth for our present time, 53 years later. 

Dr. King says, "…that America has been backlashing on the whole question of basic constitutional and God-given rights for [Blacks] and other disadvantaged groups…. So, these conditions, the existence of widespread poverty, slums, and of tragic conditions in schools and other areas of life, [including our current pandemic,] all these have brought about a great deal of despair and a great deal of desperation. A great deal of disappointment and even bitterness…. Today, [many] of our cities confront huge problems. All of our cities are potentially powder kegs as a result of the continued existence of these conditions. Many in moments of anger, many in moments of deep bitterness, engage in riots.” 

Dr. King goes on in his speech to condemn riots saying, “that riots are socially destructive and self-defeating.” He was convinced that nonviolence is the most potent weapon available to oppressed people in their struggle for freedom and justice, stating, he felt that “violence will create more social problems than they will solve.” 

In the second letter of Peter we hear, “According to [God’s] promise we await new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you await these things, be eager to be found without spot or blemish before him, at peace.” (2 Pt 3:13-14) 

When does the violence end, when will peace begin to take shape? When we learn to listen, not just hear them, but listen to the cry of the poor. When we learn to recognize and address the little personal biases, often unconsciously practiced, in our everyday lives. When we willingly become active participants to speak out against institutional injustices within our communities. 

It takes intentional attentiveness and action.   Like the officer who was alert enough to move his partners knee off the neck of an arrested protester or the officers who remove their riot gear to empathetically stand and pray with protesters.  It’s taking the time in our everyday lives; to recognize, listen to, pray for, and stand with our brothers and sisters who are so often invisible and disadvantaged just because of their race, skin color, national origin, or any other classification used to unjustly differentiate and separate God’s children.  God's children who long to see promises of a better community and nation, made by past generations of parents, governments, and churches, fulfilled.  

We all have a part to play in realizing "The Dream".  Let us be found eager to be found without spot or blemish before Him, working for and at peace with all our brothers and sisters