Doing Our Part for the Common Good

Dear Friends,

On Wednesday January 6, the traditional feast of the Epiphany, we witnessed in horror together the insurrection at our national Capitol. We were, as a people, stunned at what we saw and heard. Videos amassed from that day continue to haunt our tv viewing. And the impeachment of President Donald Trump on Wednesday, January 13 only adds to American misery.

For the foreseeable future, masterful teachers and analysts will be going over every inch of what happened that day to reveal the truth about ourselves, our leaders, our very way of life. This search for truth is not new in human history. Long before Jesus, people looked at the chaos and destruction foisted on one society by other members of that society. In these Christian centuries, the work of rebuilding nations has continued, and each of us has a part to play.

Jesus, in John’s Gospel, tells us unequivocally: “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free” (John 8.32). But truth needs to be pursued, recognized, welcomed, and internalized. Later in John, Jesus comes face to face with Pilate who flings at Jesus the question that continues to haunt us: “What is truth?”

In the search for truth and integrity, today’s American citizens – you and I included – are called to a new articulation of what matters most in life: the appreciation of people of all colors, men, and women alike, the common good. “Do no evil” is our bottom line. We can’t leave our future to elected leaders alone. We need to do our share.

To do this, we need to rethink and re-form our lives. Ron Rolheiser, in his book, Sacred Fire, offers a series of invitations that work in the light of our recent national experience if we let them. Practice these alone or with others and see.

• Be willing to carry more and more of life’s complexities with empathy.
• Transform jealousy, anger, bitterness and hatred rather than give them back in kind.
• Let suffering soften your heart rather than harden your soul. 
• Forgive – those who hurt you, your own sins, the unfairness of your life, and God for not rescuing you.
• Bless more and curse less!
• Pray.
• Be wide in your embrace.
• Stand where you are supposed to be standing, and let God provide the rest.

The work before us is reconciliation, transformation and a fresh regard for building the common good. Jesus also says in John (14.6): “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.” Now is the time to let go of falsehood and walk together in this new and life-giving way. As Mary Oliver puts it, “It is a serious thing just to be alive this fresh morning in a broken world.”

~ Sister Joan Sobala