Agony and Sacred Worth.
Dear friends and members of St. Matthew's,
Last night at Compline, I shared with you that my heart is broken. Like you, I have watched the news from around our country in the last few days carefully. The contrast between God’s dream and our reality is painfully obvious. On Monday night, after the President cleared the church yard at St. John’s with tear gas and rubber bullets, the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, the Rt. Rev. Mariann Budde had wise words to share about "the agony and sacred worth of our brothers and sisters of color" and about the way of love to which Jesus calls us. In particular, she said that, "We follow someone who lived a life of non-violence and sacrificial love. We align ourselves with those seeking justice for the death of George Floyd and countless others through the sacred act of peaceful protest."
Our brothers and sisters of color are in agony. The frustration and the hurt that we’re witnessing is the result of the sin of racism that continues to play out on the national stage. The oppression of people of color is not new. It is historical, systemic, and very real. We who are called to the way of love, must stand with those who suffer and bring about an end to this agony. We who are the Body of Christ are called to this way of non-violent loving sacrifice.
Many of you have been in touch over the last few days to ask how we can do that. Thank you. There is no one right answer. Dismantling systemic racism will require many approaches, many hands, many people, many sacrifices. Meaningful change will come from sustained, coordinated, intentional action. That means we have to listen, learn, and engage - then repeat. For many of us who have privilege (if you are white like me), there is work for us to do, learning and reflection to do, before our action is helpful – because if we don’t know ourselves and our place in the story, we can make things worse even with the best of intentions. One of my most important lessons as I was learning to organize and protest was that, before I can be a good ally, I need to do my work first. For me, that began with listening to the stories of people of color, exploring the ways systemic racism works, and contending with my own privilege so that I can support the voices, efforts, businesses, needs, and lives of people of color. If that sounds like difficult work – it is. It is also sacred, holy, life-giving work. This is the work to which each one of us is called: to be the hands and feet of Jesus in this moment. My greatest hope is that we will do that work together as a community of faith. I believe in you – in your big hearts, in your thoughtful minds, and in the many ways you love and support each other. And so I believe that with God’s help, this gathering of the Body of Christ can make a meaningful difference by listening, learning, and engaging intentionally.
This is not a new conversation at St. Matt's. In the last two years, we have engaged this together - and there is so much more to do. In response to this moment, to your questions, to your faithful desire to be engaged, and with the support of our Wardens, I want to invite you to do some hard work with me this summer. Let’s discern together how we can act justly, show mercy, and walk humbly.
We will begin in a few weeks as a community of learners with an invitation that is open to everyone. If you are struggling, if you are wondering what to do, join us this summer as we educate ourselves for action. You can start by ordering two books: Waking up White by Debbie Irving and Stand Your Ground by the Rev. Canon Kelly Brown Douglas*. And keep an eye out for more information soon about how to engage, reflect on, and discuss this material. My hope is that a team will emerge from this community of learners, a team that will help me discern and chart a course forward. How is God calling us to respond? How can we at St. Matt's be consistently involved in the work of justice? What faithful, intentional actions can we take and be a part of in order to create justice here in our community and across the country? I will share more information with you about this soon, and until then, please take seriously my invitation to be in touch. If you need to talk, if your heart is heavy, no matter what you're feeling, if you have stories to tell, if you're wondering how to talk to your kids, if you want resources or to learn more, please be in touch. I am here to take this journey with you.
If you are wondering what to do today, remember:
We are people of prayer. Pray for our country. Pray for those who have died.
We are people of truth, truth that is collective and found in community.
We are people of love, love that is patient and kind, love that is also strong and fierce. Love that insists on what is right. Love that acts.
We are people of life, of resurrection, of reconciliation. We believe that with God all things are possible.
May we live ever more fully into our baptismal covenant, may we persevere in resisting evil, respect the dignity of every human being, and find the image of the divine in each person we meet.
Faithfully,
--Marissa +
This magnificent fresco of the Madonna & Child is found in Axum, Ethiopia.
*You can also listen to these books. Debbie Irving reads her own work. And Stand Your Ground is read by Machelle Williams.
Tags: Welcome from the Rector