In light of the attempted assassination of former President Trump, I felt that I would heed President Biden’s National Oval Office Address and ask that we all take a step back, reevaluate what is really important, think carefully about what we believe and who we are willing to lose from our lives over someone who, in all probability, will never know our name or even meet us in our entire lifetime, or certainly while they occupy an office for the next four years.
I had thought that my initial, balanced, and compassionate statement, albeit for a much smaller audience, would suffice to do that work, but alas, I already see some threats and sad commentary, demands to be unfriended if you disagree, and power brokers claiming everything from ‘angels assisted’ to protect the former president and that somehow, he is God’s chosen/anointed one. All of this is dangerous, all of these are mean-spirited, all of these shut down dialogue, and some of these are even blasphemous and simply arrogant and just plain wrong.
The power of the vote this November will determine who will occupy the White House next January, and then all will settle to a more regular routine once again, just as it always does. Yes, some rights will change or be challenged, others perhaps even trampled upon. There will be some misgivings that will occur and some of us will find it to be akin to a fight against our moral fiber. Some folks will be joyful, some will gloat, but others will weep deeply. This is where we must stop as Catholic Christians, at the weeping part.
If we cause others to weep. If we cause disdain and dissention and devastation, by what we post or the threats we make, or the lack of compassion we exhibit, or the meanness in our spirit or words, then we are the sinner. And what we must never do is to go into such a deep anger or tirade that we incite or elicit a response of hatred that elevates to any form of violence.
A few years ago, we sung John Lennon’s famous 1971 song, Imagine, at Mass as a reflection piece at the meditation. I thought it relevant since we created Saint Miriam to imagine a parish without the anxiety and separation experienced by so many; one where everyone could worship God together regardless of who they are and enjoy the liturgy and community. Oh, I had so many compliments, but then soon piled on the strict naysayer ‘more orthodox’ Catholics who said we had no right to sing, as one put it, such ‘secular garbage’ at a sacred liturgy! I reminded that person that music isn’t meant to be dogma; rather, it should enhance a thought to move us through a feeling in order to produce a deeper understanding of the Eucharist. If we missed that point, then we missed the whole point of the Mass. (I really wanted to tell them that we had just scheduled for later that year a date for our first “Beatle’s Mass” featuring all kinds of music from the famous iconic musical group. I am sure that person didn’t join us. Maybe I will bring that back this year!)
Well, a new version of Imagine is now out by a lesser known, but so deeply beautiful soulful artist named, Chris Kläfford. Please, take a moment, sit back and listen. (You can find a link here and below, too) Then imagine a world without those you are fighting with over politics and then, pause and reflect of world without you. I don’t know about you, but I can’t imagine that either.
I doubt I will see you in the Oval Office anytime soon, but perhaps we will see each other at Mass, living in peace.
Imagine.
Monsignor +Jim