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In keeping with your sabbatical theme of conversation and I would add reflection on life, I thought that I would share with you my reflections on my life
and the life of our nation this week and the scripture readings of today. There are a couple of things that you should know about me in addition to what
you have in the worship aid. It references the Sisters of Mercy—many of whom are my friends, but I do want you to know that I am a Sister of Social
Service. We as a Roman Catholic Community were founded in 1923 in Budapest and 1926 in Los Angeles to respond to the needs of society by doing the
social mission of the Church. Our foundress in Budapest was the first woman in parliament. So we have always worked at all levels of society, even
in the political realm to live the gospel and create the reign of God.
In that effort, as the Executive Director of Network, I have spent this week in a quest for an effective response to the President Bush’s Wednesday
announcement about Iraq policy. My heart has been anguished by his statement that what is needed are more troops. We at NETWORK have struggled to be
faithful to our relationship with Iraqi women that we have created over the last year. In March of last year we sponsored a delegation of 14 Iraqis to
Washington DC and have since maintained contact with many of them. These delegates tell us that what is needed is effective military action and not
more troops. They also tell us that immediate withdrawal of all troops would be disastrous for their country. They see that without a U.S. troop
presence, they will become a battle ground for regional interests. We and our Iraqi friends have a glimmer of hope that the Administration is
finally beginning to agree that development by Iraqis for Iraqis is a way to peace.
In addition to our friendship with Iraqi women, many of our staff have friends and friends of friends who are either serving in the military or NGOs
in Iraq now or have served in the past. My nephew, a submariner of all things, says that he might be sent to Iraq to provide support for the army and
marines. I personally have been to Baghdad and Basra in December 2002, 3 months before the invasion and met warm hearted people desiring peace. In
short, relationships have made this an anguished week of woe and worry.
Then on Thursday evening I went to a MLK Day reception hosted by Speaker Pelosi for the House members and representatives from the faith community.
Many of the new members of Congress were there and I had a chance to speak with some of them about the struggles of these their first days in Congress.
They also spoke about their hopes and dreams for our country and their sense of history and responsibility for the future. Martin Luther King III spoke
about the vision and commitment of his parents. There is much that I could say about my reflection on his short talk, but it got me thinking about the
fabric of my life—the faith and politics that are woven together at the center of my life. I reflected on the readings for this Sunday in that context.
I realized that Jesus moment in the Jordan where God was heard to speak endearing words was the exceptional moment in his life. Only at the
Transfiguration is there another such moment of certitude. I believe that most of Jesus’ all too human life was like ours—filled with times of
murky uncertainty. I believe that Jesus might share my view of the faith life.
Unclear View
I live in the froth, the foam at the top
of a liquid life. Like the white ooze
first released from a frosted beer can,
froth tickles the nose in an annoying
delicious way. An effervescent life,
agitated by the world around,
creates bubble bursting surprises
that shake my thoughts, my views.
Limited by this foggy excitement,
I yearn to float down, be compressed
into the essence of my fluid self
and seep out into All.
But mysteries of red mystery, All seeps
in and ferments up to penetrate
the haze. In the rest that follows,
clarity for a mystic moment!
And then foam.
I think that for Jesus, this moment in the Jordan was one of two or three mystic moments of insight. We all hunger to be called the Beloved. That is
not often what we hear, nor is it the world that we live in. How do mystic clarity, the world this week and the scriptures fit together?
Let’s look at the first reading of Isaiah—and God says “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” It is out of
this stance of rejecting fear that we should look at this week’s events and at our faith life. So if we are to avoid fear, let’s look at the reality
that we are facing. On Wednesday, our President said that we needed to increase military action in order to decrease violence. He emphasized that we
should be afraid of terrorists, afraid of the stranger. To me this is the antithesis of a faith response.
I approach the reality of Iraq from the position of faith and friendship.
In faith I embrace Jesus’ call to be peace maker. I therefore oppose the escalation of combat troops in Iraq. In friendship with Iraqi women whom we
have met through our March 06 delegation and those whom I met in December 2002, I oppose the escalation of troops. Troop increase in Baghdad has
already been tried and it has failed. In the late summer and early fall of 2006 troop increases brought increased violence and death for both Iraqis
and U.S. troops. But more than just pragmatics, Isaiah tells us to step back from fear and welcome in the stranger.
In faith, as peacemakers, I believe that only diplomacy and political negotiations are the way to something new. The only sensible way forward is to
achieve a comprehensive cease fire and the political engagement of all interests in Iraq. The President needs to embrace this way as the only viable
way of achieving stability in the country and the region. We need to surge, escalate, even try for the first time an intense engagement of
diplomacy—meaning talking AND listening.
In faith and friendship with the Iraqis we know that the other key element of stability is economic development. Currently almost 50% of the population
is unemployed—this gives rise to desperation and violence. Additionally, 60% of the population is younger than 25 years old. Only by engaging youth in
creating a meaningful future through education and employment will there ever be a stable country. It is not a stopgap measure as proposed by the
President with more funds for military commanders to pass out for short term projects, rather it is the long term commitment that is required and the
only meaningful way through to peace and stability. I am heartened by the article in this morning’s Post about Timothy Carney who will head up
development efforts in Iraq. I pray this change is not too late.
As we observe Martin Luther King Day tomorrow, I am reminded of his words when he accepted the Nobel Peace Prize. He stated that he did not understand
at first why his movement that had yet to accomplish anything was awarded this august prize. He said that “After contemplation, I conclude that this
award, which I receive on behalf of that movement, is a profound recognition that nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral
questions of our time: the need for humans to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to violence and oppression.” It is this non-violence
that is the true way forward to success and peace.
It is living this faith path that leads to the Gospel reading. It is not a facile saying, but rather an embracing of integrity. I believe that we are
called to live an integrated life—where my politics, relationships, prayer are all from the same source. I believe that our loving God hums us all
into being at every moment. There is no distance between secular and sacred, me and God. When I live mindful of this unity, trusting in faith that
the unseen (but felt) is real. Then I know in my bones that we too are the Beloved. To be caressed by this knowledge is treasure in deed. When we
live from this integrity then there is no one who is stranger; no one who is not the Beloved of God and no one who is not deserving of our creaturely
love. We may live in the foam and not see clearly but there are mystic moments of communion. But these moments are not for our own enjoyment. They are
graced gifts for all around in family, neighborhood, Church, city, state, nation and world. The whole crowd around us needs to know the nourishment
of that insight. When we are in touch with the reality that we all are Beloved of God then we have no fear. Rather we live in centered confidence
that we can do our part and the grace of the Spirit multiplies it in unknown ways.
And so my prayer at the end of this Christmas time is expressed in a poem that I wrote the last night I was in Baghdad in 2002—It is called incarnation.
Incarnation
Let gratitude be the beat of our heart,
pounding Baghdad rhythms, circulating
memories, meaning of the journey.
Let resolve flow in our veins,
fueled by Basra’s destitution, risking
reflective action in a fifteen-second world.
Let compassion be our hands,
reaching to be with each other, all others
to touch, hold heal this fractured world.
Let wisdom be our feet,
bringing us to the crying need
to friends or foe to share this body’s blood.
Let love be our eyes,
that we might see the beauty, see the dream
lurking in the shadows of despair and dread.
Let community be our body warmth,
radiating Arab energy to welcome in the foreign
stranger—even the ones who wage this war.
Let us remember on drear distant days,
we are a promised Christmas joy
we live as one this tragic gifted life—
