by Mike Hughes, Assistant Vice Provost, Graduate Enrollment
Pope Francis is in Iraq as I write, and is scheduled to visit the ancient site or Ur, believed to be the birthplace of Abraham. Let’s pray for his safety and those who congregate to see and hear him. I’ve been reading recently about the complicated connections between the Old Testament, the ancient Hebrew scriptures, and the New Testament, the gospels, the letters of Paul, the nascent history of Christianity spreading throughout the lands surrounding the Mediterranean in the second and third
centuries CE.
I’ve also been, this Lent, following a series of daily readings and reflections published and distributed to parishioners of St. Ignatius Church. They were published at least one, maybe two years ago, so as usual, I’m a bit behind. But the theme encompassing the readings centers around displaced peoples, immigrants, those whom we consider “the other.”
It’s a lot to absorb, isn’t it? Consider, especially, those who are the “other” in the Middle East: Israelis and Palestinians, Syrian government loyalists and their supporters, and “rebels” backed by multiple tribal, international, and cultural forces, the Yemini victims of crushing poverty caught in a similar clash. And in our country, of course: Red vs. Blue, Democrats vs. Republicans, “maskers” vs. personal freedom, the ever-urgent migration of immigrants desperate to find safety, enough food to eat, basic needs, peoples of different races. Our own Christianity finds the priorities of Evangelical Christians at odds with Christians and Catholics who believe they are more moderate or progressive or nuanced in faith and beliefs.
In our own back yard, where regardless of our efforts, to many, the homeless remain the other, where those who retain their salaries working from home meet those in the service industry, or jobs where they cannot shelter in place, or whose jobs are lost and are faced with financial ruin and food insecurity. How can this Lent be a time of joy, as I’m reminded it can be? How to reach across to the “other?” What difference can I make? I’m reminded of the outset of the COVID pandemic when we learned that while we cannot control the pandemic – we can control our actions: shelter in place, distance ourselves from others, wash our hands, wear our masks, respect the health and safety of – others. Likewise, I can only take actions that are within my control to bridge the distance with the “other.” Not far from where Pope Francis visits, Jesus told his disciples, “For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, strive for His kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.”
So as Pope Francis journeys this Lent to Iraq to bridge division between the “others”, I journey this Lent, a bit overwhelmed by it all, learning what I can, doing what I can. It doesn’t have to be huge, I’ve learned. In what small ways I take action, to learn, see, speak up, pray, just think about, serve or help, it’s my journey through Lent and long after.
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