January 10, 2021
/1 Epiphany
Genesis 1:1-5; Psalm 29; Acts 19:1-7; Mark 1: 4-11
The Rev. James M. L. Grace
In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. AMEN.
Probably like many of you, I spent Epiphany (which was last Wednesday) closely watching the news. With you, I watched as protestors pushed beyond barricades at the Capital. Together we saw America’s constitutional process interrupted, the seat of our democracy desecrated, and the power of that democracy tarnished. Capital police officers were clubbed, and one officer, Brian D. Sicknick (who supported President Trump) is dead. The assault on our nation’s Capital and the disrespect shown inside its chambers was, to quote former President George W. Bush, “sickening and heartbreaking.” Prior to January 6, I believe the last time there was an assault on our nation’s capital was during the war of 1812, over two hundred years ago.
In the days since, I have wondered how this assault might have been handled differently, if the assailants were not largely Caucasian. What would the response had been if the mob were undocumented Latinos, or a mob of African Americans? Jimmie Briggs, a black author wrote of the assault in Vanity Fair, saying that “despite the mobsters extraordinary disregard for the rule of law, for agents of law enforcement, and for social norms regarding government, government property, and government processes, a near mythical graciousness was shown to the insurrectionists.”
Occasionally when I preach or write about political matters, I will receive an email or a call or a letter, asking that I limit my preaching to the realm of the religious or spiritual, and leave politics out of it. With a moment like last Wednesday, my response can only be that either our faith has something to say to our world, or it does not. Either as Christians we are called to make the world a better place or we are not. Which is it?
What happened in the Capital was not a reasonable response to the concerns about a presidential election. It was madness. But it was also deeply revealing of how broken we are as a country, and how desperate our need is for God’s grace and wisdom. The number of protesters taking selfie pictures of themselves in our nation’s capital is revelatory of the selfishness we as a nation are contending with.
As your priest, it has been challenging leading this congregation through a season of divisive politics the likes of which I have never seen before. If we are to learn anything from the events of last Wednesday, I believe it is a lesson that we are all familiar and which we all neglect.
It is humility, and it is sorely needed on both sides of the political aisle. And it is needed here – right now – with us. A helpful litmus test for all of us to consider if we should be more humble is this – take your pulse. If your heart is still beating, you could benefit from being more humble. The left and the right sides of our political aisles simply cannot be reconciled to one another until both sides humble themselves to the point where they are willing to listen, to take the cotton out of their ears and put it in their mouths.
Our printed national currency bears the motto “E Pluribus Unum” which translates to “out of many, one.” That phrase is attributed to Roman lawyer Cicero who said that a Republic is made up of many diverse individuals who make up one unit. Echoing this sentiment centuries later, on June 16, 1858, Abraham Lincoln, famously stated upon his acceptance speech as senator from the state of Illinois: “a house divided against itself, cannot stand.” Spoken just three years before the Civil War, Lincoln’s words were as true then as they are now.
Our democracy is fragile, and our arrogance is threatening its very livelihood. As a nation, we must learn humility. How do we learn humility? Lots of ways – life experience, our children, conversations with those who hold different views than ourselves. We also learn humility through prayer. There is of course very little that any of us can offer that will change the outcome of events nearly 1,400 miles away in our nation’s capital. But we can pray and we can vote. We can use this moment in our history to return to God, to begin praying again. Like some Episcopalians, you might find yourself saying “but I don’t know how to pray.” That is fine. That is why we have a prayer book. You may have one if you do not own one. Throughout its pages are prayers written for every circumstance in your life.
Prayer and humility over time, will open yourself to receiving God’s providence – the appearance of God’s care and direction. Friends, we are in Epiphany, the season in which we proclaim the appearance of Jesus to all people. The appearance of God’s care and direction, of Christ, is what all of us need. Humble yourself. Pray. Use this time to reflect how Jesus is apparent in your life. In a moment of a national crisis, where is the Son of God to be found? AMEN.