Restore the City of God in Rochester

Dear Friends,

We’ve watched numerous cities of our country and world, during the last half year, become places where  “violence and strife make their rounds day and night.” (Psalm 55.1) Portland, Minneapolis, Beirut, Kabul and Kenosha, Tulsa and Rochester.  Yet we can say with Isaiah, ours “is a city that is not forsaken.” (Isaiah 62.12)

It’s important to love our cities as places where God dwells, and people make their way toward goodness, justice mercy, and compassion – all those things which speak of wholeness in the community.

Two efforts you and I need to make to restore the city of God in Rochester.

Honest Dialogue. Not waiting impatiently for the other to finish so that I can have my say. Not seeking agreement with what I say, but searching for a common ground – a space between us that is empty and awaits a new reality. If we have honest dialogue, there will be a new reality. Gone will be the original orientation. gone will be the disorientation that violence brings. There will be a new and seminal orientation. Black and brown will not cease to be black and brown. White will remain white. But there will be appreciation for the rich and varied colors and all they bring to the city we are rebuilding. Let’s not skip over talking respectfully with one another about the racism issues of our day.

Work Toward  An End To Systemic Racism. From our founding as a nation, whites have considered black and brown people less intelligent, less than human, less capable. Some white people, to the horror of other white people, experimented on blacks at Tuskegee. We used the services, the bodies of black and brown people for our advantage. What makes this way of treating our brothers and sisters of color so awful is that we hardly adverted to this use and misuse. It was our normal. We may not think of our nation as systemically racist. But consider our American culture, our nation’s policies and institutions. They are woven through with racism. Developers mark out whole suburbs where blacks are not wanted, businesses have no black or brown people in administration. We could go on, but the point is for us to become color brave and nor color blind. To change our cities together, find at least one organization that is committed to life-giving change and participate. While the pandemic goes on, such organizations offer ways to participate from home by internet or by phone. Make the effort.

Finally, let’s pray together Psalm 122 (selected/paraphrased):

                          Our feet are standing on your streets, O Rochester

                          I pray for the peace of this city.

May all who love you prosper.

May peace be within your walls and security for everyone.

For the sake of my relatives and friends,

for the sake of all who dwell here, I say

“Peace upon you.”

For the sake of God, who dwells among us,

I will seek your good.

~Sister Joan Sobala