We stood in a row across the middle of the meeting room. We were a mixed group of folks: African-American, Euro-American, men, women,
most of us middle aged or older. The
facilitator said, “If you are a white
male, take one step forward.” I took a
step. “If there have been times in your
life when you skipped a meal because there was no food in the house take one
step back.” A few did. I stayed where I was. “If your family had health insurance, take
one step forward.” I stepped
forward. “If you have ever been called
bad names because of your race, ethnicity, gender, skin color or sexual
orientation, take one step back.” Again,
I stood still. Statement followed statement. Step followed step. By the time the exercise
was over, I was standing by myself.
Everyone else in the room was behind me.
I was stunned. I had never felt
the reality of my privilege so powerfully.
Things that I just took for granted were simply not available to others
in the room. It opened my eyes.
The Beatitudes in the Gospel of Luke paint a striking
picture of privilege and lack of privilege.
Jesus makes it pretty clear that, in God’s economics, the tables are
turned. This theme of reversal runs through the whole
Gospel. It starts in the very first
chapter as Mary, Jesus’ mother, proclaims, “[The Lord] has filled the hungry with good
things, and sent the rich away empty…” (1:53)
But these blessings and woes are not meant to set the
privileged and unprivileged against each other.
Jesus’ goal is not to incite class warfare. Instead, Jesus always has an eye to
reconciliation and justice. Jesus calls
upon us to love our enemies, bless those who curse us, give to those who beg
and do unto others as we would have them do to us.
As always, Jesus shows us the way. As Paul teaches us in Philippians, Christ
emptied himself of his privilege, humbled himself and gave his life on a cross
to reconcile us to God and to one another. (2:5-8) As followers of Jesus, we participate in that
reconciled life and are moved to share it.
I was stunned when my privilege was reveal to me. But, more than that, I was motivated to
figure out how to use my privilege to be a blessing and to change systems that
perpetuate such divisive realities in our world. I’m still trying to figure that out. A friend tells me that it begins by building
relationships across the very divisions that were revealed in that simple
exercise. We need to step towards each
other, not further apart. I am convinced
that, as we seek reconciliation and justice together, we will discover and
share the blessing that Jesus promises us all.
Peace,
Bishop Mike
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