My column this week was inspired by a recent edition of the Christian Century. The First Words, on the first page in the May issue of the magazine were written by Peter Marty, son of the previous editor of the magazine, who died earlier this year. One paragraph in that memorial really resonated. It was about grace.
The workings of grace in him (Martin Marty) are powerfully transparent. Those workings of grace endure. He encouraged those he met to love God from the top of their head and the bottom of their heart. Grace gave him the conviction that nobody was beneath him, just as the music of Bach reminded him that angels hovered just above him. In between was his own confident place in the lap of God.
One idea that especially struck me was the idea that music could manifest angels in our midst. Music can be a sign, a symbol, a satisfying experience of heavenly beings and Gods good grace. Even in the midst of grief, fear, or death; music can crowd out the works of the devil and lighten the burdens of life.
Even with the aches and pains of aging and all the troubles and tragedies around us, I find that more and more I need a few daily moments with voices raised in song and instruments united in harmony. It enables us to face the challenges of the day better in that lap of God.
The editorial in this issue of Christian Century was about a disappeared activist, Mahmoud Kahlil. He is one of those now imprisoned in Louisiana. A student at Colombia and in this country legally, he was arrested and disappeared because he was involved in protests against the genocide taking place in Gaza. He is charged with anti-semitism and supporting a terrorist organization, Hamas. No evidence has been presented. No court case has been set.
Freedom of speech and protest are fundamental rights in a democratic society. Now we see them slowly and methodically disappearing. You can be grabbed off the street. Or you might have your car window smashed because you resist surrendering to those trying to get into your car without your lawyer present. Or worse, you can wind up in El Salvador with no rights to trial; no rights at all.
There was one brief note in the magazine about Georgetown University. The university had been ordered by the Trump administration to eliminate all DEI from the curriculum or alumni would be banned from fellowships, internships or employment. The dean responded, citing their First Amendment right to determine their own curriculum, citing their Jesuit founding and mission as a Catholic University. As a Catholic and Jesuit institution, Georgetown University was founded on the principle that serious and sustained discourse among people of different faiths, cultures and beliefs promotes intellectual, ethical and spiritual understanding, the dean wrote.
Its admirable the way some institutions of higher learning are standing up to the threats of the Trump administration. But I doubt the Trump folks have any regard for, or support, discourse between different, faiths, cultures, beliefs, races, people. The Trumpists seem wedded to one thing: white, Christian, nationalism.
In this same issue, news comes from the Presbyterian Church (USA) that the phrases sexual orientation and gender identity have been added to the list that may not be the basis of discrimination in the church. Those new phrases join: race, ethnicity, age, sex, disability, geography and theological conviction. Would that every church claiming the title Christian would do the same.
Finally, a New Testament scholar and teacher writes about Ascension Sunday, when Jesus rose into the heavens. She is quite articulate about the difficulties of our day, just as in the days of Empire at the time of Jesus.
As I write these words, shocking events unfold in the United States, as individuals holding governmental power pursue the demolition of institutions that provide a lifeline to many of the most vulnerable people in this country and abroad. Their actions threaten the lives of an increasingly long list of people, immigrants, people of color, women, LGBTQ people, the elderly, and those who are ill or suffering not to mention thousands of people who are losing their livelihoods with little to no warning as programs and whole agencies are scrapped. Gods strongest desire does not focus on siding with human wealth and power. Instead God brings down the powerful from their thrones and lifts up the lowly.
As the celebration of Easter is in the past once more, faith in new life remains. You can even hear the Easter music and experience the Easter grace if you take the time to listen. May believers be strengthened for the days ahead.
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