We live in turbulent times, with chaos in so many parts of the world.  In the U.S., the COVID-19 pandemic has burrowed into the consciousness of our society, bringing out the best and worst in people.  The basic social fabric is founded, I always thought, on agreeing to exercise one’s freedom in such a way that no harm is brought to another member of society.  My freedom extends broadly, and it ends when I can cause you harm or put you in a position where you are less safe than before.  I wear a mask in public to guard against harming you in case there is something wrong with me, not necessarily to protect me from you.

On top of the stress of combating a pandemic which has caused over 100,000 deaths in the U.S. alone, we now have another situation where members of a police force have caused the death of a black man while in their custody.  Peaceful protests and marches have unfortunately led to more death, violence and looting.  Law enforcement officers have at times reacted to protect with compassion and solidarity, but also to control and enforce order with gasses and clubs.

I reflect on today’s excerpt from Matthew while holding these competing social situations in my mind.  Religious leaders have expressed a variety of opinions and words of guidance to their congregations on both the pandemic and the latest racial violence.  One pastor famously insisted that “God’s rule” transcended public authority in this area and that his congregation would meet in violation of social distancing rules; he contracted COVID-19 and died of the disease.  Some religious leaders have expressed more support for law and order than for the racial intolerance that results in the deaths of innocent men and women.

As He so many times does, Jesus reminds us to not be like the scribes and Pharisees.  He refuses to exalt process and false piety above real compassion and empathy.  For Jesus, following ritual while one’s heart is troubled by strained human relationships is hypocrisy.  He admonishes His followers to fix their human problems before they attempt to meaningfully interact with the divine. 

In today’s situation, I think Jesus would tell us to relinquish our fear of the unknown.  He would ask us to calm our anger at the changed economic and life security circumstances that are beyond our personal control.  He most assuredly would condemn our hatred and prejudice for those who we think of as the other.

Jesus would challenge us to look inward, to reflect on our attitudes and dispositions, to understand how we may hold unfair expectations of entitlement and privilege.  He would invite us to open our hearts and arms, to unclench our fists, and to join in His love for those who are hurting from the pandemic, for those who are victims of senseless racial violence, for those who oppress and persecute these innocents, and for those in authority who act as unthinking bullies.  He would join us in dialogue with victims and their families, with communities and businesses, with police and other government security forces, in searching for paths to a more just future for us all.      

And so, my prayer today is for the grace to be ever mindful of how I have unknowingly treated others with prejudice, how I have failed to be sensitive to my positions of privilege, and for the strength to open my arms and unclench my fists in solidarity with Jesus and all my sisters and brothers.