A Quiz, a Question, and Follow-up Thoughts

          Let’s start with a quiz based on recent headlines. Can you correctly match each item in column 1 with one in col. 2?  When finished, reflect on the question that follows

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1. Breonna Taylor and George Floyd	A. pejorative name for indigenous people
2. Mt. Rushmore and Keystone oil pipeline	B. excessive force by police
3. Washington pro football team	C. questionable use of confederate flag
4. Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton	D. violation of native American land rights
5. Mississippi state flag and NASCAR	E. slave owners

          The question: What do these have in common?

         

As an older, middle-class white woman, my own thoughts about answering this question circle around racial and social inequality. These incidents and others make me realize how bias is inbred in our social system, and most of us don’t even see it.                              (QUIZ ANSWERS: 1-B; 2-D; 3-A; 4-E; 5-C)

A few random observations:

·         One popular TV reality cop show most often depicts the culprit as from a minority race, often black. Have you ever wondered why stories rarely depict a black victim and white culprit? After all, white people are much more numerous in our society. Does this mean white people are much more law abiding or could it be that it’s easier to believe black people guilty of a crime?  Because of this newly realized imbalance, the producers of one of these shows have recently pulled it off the air.

·         Some states are still tightening access to the voting booth apparently oblivious to who will now not be able to vote. As a result, the poor are often disenfranchised by their own government because they can’t afford picture ID or cost of transportation to more distant polling places or they would have to miss work because the hours to vote have been reduced.

·         How many of us, including our president and people in congress, speak of how our freedom was enshrined into the constitution and declaration of independence? When we hear this, do we remember that women and slaves were not considered people? This was obvious when the founders were talking about owning land or voting. Women had to protest for decades before they gained the right to vote; that was just 100 years ago. In our own time they and black people are still fighting to be considered equal. Despite amendments to the constitution, both groups are still struggling, women for equal pay for equal work, black people often for their very lives.

·         How often do we recall that our country has struggled with racism in one form or another since its beginnings. Even our sanitized history books refer to how various waves of immigrants were treated like inferior people - Germans, Irish, Chinese, Japanese Americans during WWII, and of course citizens of Africa who were not even considered human, but rather property. Have we outgrown these judgments?

Where do these thoughts lead us? They lead me to wondering what can be done. It all seems so entrenched. What can one person do? Here are some ideas gathered from various sources.

·         Be willing to look at our personal and collective history with more openness. Remember that the history written by victors is probably what we were taught, then consider how the stories might have been different if there had been “minority reports.”

o   A. Would we have learned about lynchings? child enslavement? separation of families? Would “Gone with the Wind” have painted a different picture?

o   B. Would we have learned that the plantations and industry that built the South were built on the backs of black men, women, and children?

o   C. Would we have studied about horrors of the Trail of Tears or Wounded Knee?

o   D. Would we have spent some time reflecting on how our government cheated the native tribes in buying Alaska and Manhattan for a few beads and furs? Was this a “great deal,” imposing our system on a culture that believed no one could “own” land because it was given by the creator for everyone to use?

o   E. Would you be willing to read Sojourner Truth’s speech in 1851 and/or Frederick Douglass’ about 4^th of July in 1852? (Both are fruitful reading these 160 years later.) If so, try these links: HERS: https://www.thesojournertruthproject.com/compare-the-speeches ;  HIS: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4h2927.html

It’s not too late to reflect honestly on these questions and re-educate ourselves about things we as the majority culture have taken for granted.

Often we act as though truth is simple; it rarely is. Because of this, we must learn to open our minds and hearts to the Spirit who is wisdom and insight. God is constantly blessing us with opportunities to become more than we are at the moment. To quote the iconic John Lewis who died just recently, “Hatred is too heavy a burden to bear.” So are ignorance and apathy.

           Sr. Colleen Winston, OSB

The Steadfast Love of God

      Now that we are back in Ordinary Time, and again using the Liturgy of the Hours book for this season, I am reminded of the experience I had five years ago when I was moved by the frequency of this beautiful phrase in the psalms for God’s faithful love – The steadfast love of God.  I actually took time to write out these verses in my journal and went back to ponder them many times.

      I located that Journal this week and noted that in the five-week cycle of psalms for Morning, Noonday, Evening and Night Prayers, the phrase is used nearly 100 times including some of the Prayers.  No wonder it has become such nourishing food for my spirit!

See some examples throughout the psalmody:

PS 33:  The Holy One loves righteousness and justice, and fills the earth with steadfast love.       The Holy One looks on those who stand in awe, on those who hope in God’s steadfast love.     Let your steadfast love rest upon us even as we hope in you.

PS 48:  We have pondered your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple.

PS 86:  For you, O God, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call on you.  For great is your steadfast love toward me…But you are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

PS 89:  But I will not remove from him my steadfast love…                                                              Where is your steadfast love of old?

PS 100:  For God is good, steadfast love enduring forever, and faithfulness to all generations.

PS 107:  Give thanks to God who is good, whose steadfast love endures forever, (and repeated many times through this psalm, ending with) Let those who are wise give heed to these things and consider the steadfast love of God.

PS 119:  The earth of full of your steadfast love.

PS 138:  I give thanks for your faithfulness and steadfast love. Your steadfast love endures forever.

PS 143:  Let me hear of your steadfast love in the morning, for in you I put my trust.

A Prayer at Noonday: “God, you do wonderful deeds in our midst and we praise you for your steadfast love.  Listen to the sound of our prayer and make us firm in our commitment to your will for us.  We pray through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

A Prayer at Night Prayer: “Dwell among us in your steadfast love, O God, and protect us through the hours of this night.  May we who are wearied by the labors of the day rest in the certainty of your love for us.  The pray through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

      In this time of so much trauma in the world: the Covid-19 Pandemic, the effects of unending wars, the upsurge of race issues especially in the US, the millions of refugees all over the world, the jobless and homeless in every country, the lack of honest leadership in so many countries, the raping of the natural resources of our good earth, the list is not ending – of the needs for prayer and concern for others.  It is so comforting to be able to trust in a Triune God who promises to stay with us always, to be faithful, to be steadfast in love with us, to stand always in our midst, from hour to hour, for day to day, no matter the trauma, no matter the pain, in the Divine Dance.  Each line of those Psalms reminds us that our passionate God constantly pursues us with steadfast love, hoping we will one day realize that a person will only love truly when he or she is truly loved.

    Sr. Mary Tewes, OSB

Open Every Door

Shortly after the threat of Covid-19 began shutting everything down and life changed as I (we) had known it, I came across this quote from Emily Dickinson:

                “Not knowing when the dawn will come, I open every door.”

Dickinson sought inspiration for her poetry, I seek to make sense of a world seemingly turned upside down.  As the weeks passed, I have come back again and again to this quote.  Each time asking myself what is the door waiting to be opened? 

Some of the early doors opened to the fog of navigating a new reality for work and so many things in life I took for granted.  Other times there was an invitation to curiosity in exploring possibilities and the time I had on my hands. There have also been many doors which have led to deeper connection with my community, family, friends and co-workers.

In the past couple of weeks, the door opened to pain, sadness, and a sense of responsibility to do better in the face of systemic racism.  This doorway has led to candid conversations, to seeking information, to sitting in the discomfort, and the intrapersonal work to address my own biases and learn how to do better.  

As a woman of faith, I trust the dawn will come.  I seek to open the doors with a listening and humble heart, especially when the dawn seems distant and the road uncertain.  What doors might be waiting for you?

Sr. Kimberly Porter, OSB

My Ongoing Conversion from Prejudice

           I didn’t know that I was prejudiced until I was about 8 years old and may not have comprehended the meaning of being very prejudiced. My great-great aunt lived with us and we were attending  St Johns Children’s Home annual picnic. When we went into the lady’s room an elderly black lady was cleaning, and my aunt obviously knew her from  the small group of black people who lived two  blocks from us. They shook hands and were chatting when my aunt turned to me and said, “Jean, shake hands with the lady.” My stomach did a little flip, but I knew I had to do what Aunt Vennie told me to do. My first thought was how to find another lady’s room where I could wash my hands! 

           Two years later I was working at a Bingo Hall where my family was responsible for the concessions. My brother and I (ages 8 and 10 ) walked among the players selling soft drinks, snacks, and beer (that’s right-beer.) Some young adults volunteered to change cards and call bingos back to check for accuracy. One of the young men was black and came to tell me good-by because it was his last night. Gentleman that he was, he extended his hand and I gave him mine, not because someone told me to but because I knew it was the right thing to do. At that moment, I became determined to overcome  my prejudice --easier said than done.

           I clearly remember that my family would not attend a movie in Cincinnati because we might need to sit next to a black person. Black people were not welcome in movies or restaurants in Kentucky until 1953. Even then, I told myself that we avoided blacks  by choice, not because we were prejudiced

           Years later when I attended Catholic University for my masters degree, there were several black sisters in attendance. My opportunity had come. I found it easy to chat with them and even made a couple friends. Then one evening a black friend asked me to go swimming with her in the  University pool. I found it easy to agree. That evening I got in the pool first. To my amazement,  when my friend dove in, my stomach did another flip and the water around her dive seemed to turn chocolate. When I got out of the pool and met my friend, I knew in my heart that the illusion of chocolate water  was an end to my prejudice.  It is such a blessing. Color is no longer an issue for me when meeting anyone. Praise God!

                                    Sr. Victoria Eisenman, OSB

Prayer for Change

      Over seventy years ago, when I was about five years old and at my grandfather’s house, some children from across the way were playing jump rope in the street.They were having a lot of fun and invited me to play with them.  Happily, I did.  Before long, my grandfather called me inside.  “If you play with those n……, you’ll turn black just like them!’  I was young, but old enough to know better.

        Confused and sad, I stayed inside. This is my earliest memory of racism. Still, today, the sadness overflows – even after all the efforts, suffering and progress toward civil and human rights. 

        Let us unite in prayer for those who continue to struggle for justice.

                                                

                                                  Prayer for Change

God of All,

   Bless and protect those uniting for the sake of needed change.  Bring us together, as a nation, with a new vision that respects the dignity of every human being, that protects the vulnerable, and that upholds human and civil rights.  Give us courage and the grace to love one another as you love us.  Comfort those who mourn. Remove all fear and let us know true peace and justice in our time.  We praise you and we thank you for your sustaining us

 Amen

                    Sr. Sharon Portwood, OSB

“Keep death daily before your eyes.” RB: 4, 47

       Looking out my bedroom window this morning, I watched the healthy, bright green leaves on the hillside trees sway and bend in the breeze. Within a moment, I called to mind the pandemic coronavirus that is causing so much death and sorrow for all of us. Neither do the leaves keep me from hearing Benedict’s words in Chapter 4: “Keep death daily before your eyes.” The number of cases, deaths and sorrow increase daily.

       As some of you may remember, our property sits above the muddy Ohio river and is large enough to give us some protection. We have isolated ourselves, but are able to let walkers and runners use our main drive around the Academy buildings. We can walk to our cemetery and beg those sisters to do something: Enlighten those seeking a vaccine. Keep safe those who care for the sick and dying. Protect our employees whose personal circumstances allow them to come to continue to work. Console those who have lost family and friends.

       Keep yourselves and your families safe. 

           Sr. Mary Catherine Wenstrup, OSB

Oh no, not yet

The word abide is prominent in the Easter readings. Like the early disciples and his followers today, we desire Jesus to remain with us, be with us, and not leave us.  The uncertainty existing in the hearts and minds of the early disciples for Jesus to physically remain has been matched through the years in crisis after crisis impacting the world. Today is no exception.
          The virus continues lurking, ready to raise its ugly head and is not going away soon enough. Throughout the Easter season the Paschal candle has been such a hopeful reminder of Jesus’ presence. There it has stood stately and beautiful by the ambo, a visible sign and a source of comfort during these unusual and scary times, a reminder of Christ’s abiding presence. On Pentecost, at the close of evening prayer the candle will be extinguished and removed. This year the anticipated loss intensifies.

Yet in our continued sequestered monastery, I can hear the same promise of Jesus’ words, words that speak comfort and promise: “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go I will send him to you.” John 16:7

In this time of pandemic and social isolation the promise of the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, the one who advocates, comforts and assures us of continuing presence until the end of time renews hope. The Spirit of God will come and abide with us. The Spirit bring gifts that aid the world with wisdom, knowledge, understanding, fortitude, piety, counsel, and fear of the Lord. These gifts offer healing to our whole suffering world. Hopefully the wisdom and knowledge gifts will lead to a vaccine for COVID-19.

The oh no, not yet, transforms into Come Holy Spirit fill our hearts with the fire of your love and the countenance of your peace. 

Sr. Aileen Bankemper, OSB