Chaos or community?

Countless news articles this week explored various iterations of the question, “Where do we go from here?”

A recent reflection by Fr. Ronald Rohlheriser, OMI asks, “What is love asking of us now?“

Martin Luther King, Jr. asks in one of his seminal texts, “Where do we go from here: Chaos or Community?“

On his Facebook page, Fr. James Martin, SJ even asked, “Where would Christ have been in the U.S.Capitol riots? Whose ‘side’ would he have been on?”

As I’ve reflected on the events of the past couple weeks, and the many questions swirling after right-wing insurrections attacked our democracy, I’m left with questions of my own.

• Where will peace take root admist this shroud of darkness?
• How can this peace begin with me?
• What in my thinking, actions, practices and disciplines can contribute to sowing seeds of unity and peace?
• What is required of us to be bridge-builders and peacemakers?
• If this is to be a transformative moment in the history of this country, what has to change?

The italics are important. The emphases are key. It is in the concrete and the particular where peace, change and transformation must begin to take root once again. In households and neighborhoods. Schools and universities. Hospitals and clinics. Churches and work settings.

If our responses to the questions above are to have an impact, this is where it must begin to germinate. And it is a response, to be sure. We will either respond with the best of who we are or double down on the worst. The past couple weeks we’ve seen the worst in plain site. The world waits to see our next steps. But Americans, let’s be clear, this is our work to do. Or not do. It’s our choice.

All of us would do well to step back and consider what questions have surfaced over the course of the past few weeks. Forego the quick answers and usual quips. What are the questions?

Not Democrat or Republican questions. Not religious or non-religious questions. Not white or black questions. Not questions based on a myriad of other differences and distinctions. Those are important, to be sure, and certainly inform the questions that will arise and likely how one might go about responding to them.

What if, though, we tried to give voice to the questions that focus on our common humanity? The bonds and relationships that unite us? The ways we’re actually more alike than different?

If peace is to take root and transform this cover of darkness and dread, I think this offers a meaningful starting point: focusing on what it means to be human in these challenging times. Focusing, again, on what it means to be people of decency and goodness.

This may mean having to admit mistakes and asking forgiveness.
This may mean working to build back trust.
This may mean giving people second chances.
This may mean committing to do better next time.

This will mean a lot of things. Our questions – and the ability to be vulnerable and surrender to the wisdom it offers – can chart “where we go from here.”

A focus on love and being loving offers a pathway to answering the question “What is love asking of us now?”

And for Christians who purport to follow Jesus, reclaiming his praxis is crucial. Jesus’ own practices, behaviors and actions, centered in the very heart of God’s extravagant love, nonviolent justice, and radical peace, can recenter and refocus a credible Christian path forward.

If we’re honest with each other, “American Christianity” needs a ‘coming to Jesus moment.’ Pun very much intended. Not a makeover wrapped in crosses and crucifixes but whose actions Jesus, quite frankly, would find appalling. Certainly not brimming with confederate and Nazi salutes with a nod to authoritarian tyrants. We’ve been there before, remember. It was the worst of us, then as it is now. If there are any doubts of its moral bankruptcy just look around. Is this the reign of God the Gospels implore us to cultivate?

So what ‘side’ would Jesus have been on? The human side. I’ll let him explain.

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:3-10, NRSV

Jesus chose community. God is community. Are we bold and faithful enough to be likewise?