“My heart shall sing of the day you bring. Let the fires of your justice burn. Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near, and the world is about to turn.”
Canticle of the Turning — Refrain
The news has been all Georgia for the last few days as we wait to see the outcome of the runoff elections for senators in that state. At the same time there are subdued but ominous storm clouds gathering in Washington DC as the National Guard is called out to protect that city from harm.
It seems we are balanced on a razor’s edge, waiting to see which way our country will tip – toward a greater justice for all people with a renewed concern for the general welfare of the population, or toward continued obstructionism by a Senate controlled by a leader who favors the rich and the white class. This Senate leader may stay in power and continue to obstruct whatever the next president tries to do, or he may be replaced. All depends on Georgia. It is sad when the accomplishment this Senate leader is most proud of is standing in the way of the black president. The last four years he has propped up a failed president who has spent his four years trying to undo whatever the black president did manage to accomplish. These two men symbolize the white supremacy that still ravages our country.
We also wait to see how those who oppose the presidential election results, still wanting to keep their man in office, will behave on January 6th – tomorrow – when Congress accepts that Joe Biden will be our next president. It saddens me that with this group of people the expectation is violence. Why is that? Why is their response to grab their guns along with their protest signs? At least they will not be allowed to bring their guns to protests in Washington DC.
By their fruits you shall know them. The followers of Christ are not those who incite violence. You cannot be a follower of Christ and bully people to do your will. The followers of Christ are those who are compassionate, caring, and patient even while at the same time standing firmly on the side of justice, peace, and equality. They are called to protest, but non-violently. They are called to be the voice for the voiceless, and to pull people out of their misery, not ignore their needs. Their concern is for the common good, or as the preamble to our constitution states it, for the general welfare of our population.
White supremacy is not compatible with Christianity. It is time for our country to let go of this trait. It is time to embrace with joy the diversity of people we have in this country who bring a diversity of marvelous gifts. The diversity of foods alone is a joy we celebrate already. To suppress any group of people because of the group to which they belong denies us their gifts and makes us weaker, not stronger. It is past time for us to move away from the sins of our ancestors and follow the Light of Christ into a better tomorrow.
My beloved ones, no matter the outcome, stay with Christ and follow love.
Bishop Kedda
Bishop Kedda 