Living in cornavirusworld 189: Siblings all....

 10/14

.....as you love your neighbor

Today I’m wearing my VOTE shirt and a Brooklyn Cyclones “Dead” hat….

Vote...

Someone suggests that to understand the conflict going on in the gospels, the Pharisees were the Democrats, the Sadducees the Republicans and Jesus AOC. (Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez)

Our main topic of discussion is Fratelli tutti, which is not as Clyde joked a pasta dish but Pope Francis’ latest encyclical. Its topic is active brotherhood.(sic) That we are all siblings and need to live that out. Through action. And celebration.

Steve H talks about the issue of passing the peace in socially distanced worship services When we’re wearing masks. The importance of eye contact. Instead of handshakes or embraces, everyone looking into the eyes of everyone else round the circle. In the midst of the lock down, I remember my nurse organizer friend Tracy recognizing me by my eyes at the health workers demonstration at Harlem Hospital. You can see smiles, even when wearing a mask.

The pandemic has brought to light the basic conflict Francis explores, between individualism and community, a theme we have been exploring for some time. Institutions, by their very nature seem to run counter to the witness of Jesus. Institutions are of necessity focused on long term survival while the mission of Jesus is to live the day. The pandemic has revealed greater emphasis and expressions of people committed to both individualism and community. They each make their own demands and we live in the midst of that conflict.

We reflected on Fratelli’s treatment of war. Nationalism as a highest value seems to lead inevitably to war. Joe points out the since the time of Augustine, Christianity has lived with an ethic of just war. But in our time, the consequences of war are so devastating, especially for the innocent, so generally destructive, that the conditions, the limits of a just war are simply no longer possible. Thus the statement is of historic significance.

It leads to a discussion of what constitutes violence in defense of the innocent or even public order. Especially when confronted by someone who is severely disturbed. Violently disturbed. I remembered when a crazy person took over our worship service and began approaching me as I preached. Rafael, an Occupy Wall Street security person, approached him and offered a hug. When the person hugged him, Rafael wrapped his arms around him and simply carried him outside and remained with him until the ambulance arrived. Andre, who had been afraid the situation would trigger another brain aneurism, said it was the most loving use of physical restraint he had ever seen. Is any use of physical force inherently violent?   A lot of edges too that conversation. 

We talked about compassion, sympathy and empathy. Feeling with, feeling for, and feeling into, a sifters another’s feelings were one’s own. Empathy means you have the same feelings. Sympathy mean you can feel for. Understand the feelings. Compassion means you feel with and take action. Small groups can be capable of this. We can sit shiva (mourning ) with each other. We can gather for 8 day of novenas. 

Our feelings are clearly with Norm, famed Biblical scholar, currently in residence at the Community of Living Faith at Stony Point. At 92 and with doctors in New York, he’s got to think about returning to Berkeley either now or March. Institutional lack of vision. 

The discussion of Fratelli Tutti will continue next week. 

The Presbyterian Health Educational and Welfare Association board is filled with anxiety on the Supreme Court appointment hearings. Especially our  Reproductive Options network. And even more so the election that looms ever closer. As Covid not only doesn’t go away but is spiking in many states, networks like HIV and Disabilities and Domestic Violence feel ever more pressure. 

We are nowhere near the end.....