Rector’s Note: The world I want- 11.5.26

As the dust continues to settle on this week’s elections, I’m still sorting through my own emotions and my hopes for the future or our community, state and country. This might seem like political or civic work, but as we’ve acknowledged over and over again in these past years, it is the spiritual work of a disciple, following the prompting of Jesus to shape the world we are in.

                I realized that I’m feeling many things right now: great relief, a bit of peace, a good measure of anger at the injustices still before us, and concern at what might get lost in the redistribution of power that is at hand. But the one emotion that I’m working to lift above the others right now is gratitude – at all who worked so hard to ensure that our elections this week went smoothly, ran fairly, and reflected integrity. Many of you were at those polls, volunteering, poll-watching, voting. Protecting the integrity of our elections was one of the goals of the Time for Action efforts led by Mark and Linda Evans. As part of those efforts, many members of our faith community worked to ensure that people were properly registered to vote and encouraged to make a plan to cast their vote.

                On Tuesday, the polls at St. Peter’s saw a steady stream of voters, more than usual, I was told. The spirit was peaceful, cordial, civil. As I came and went on Tuesday, I was touched to hear the two volunteers handing out partisan voting information chatting amicably throughout the day, despite their political differences. Given the anxiety and the noise and the threat that preceded this vital act of democracy, I was so moved to learn that a spirit of peace and earnest goodwill marked the day. I was among several clergy prepared to be sent to the polls to provide a peaceful presence and be de-escalators if we were needed. I was happy not to be needed.

                The results of the election were a profound statement about what the American people want and don’t want. And as I sort through my own hopes for our civil society, I want to keep in front of me what I want for our country, both in the short term and the long term. Because that is spiritual-civic work that must be done no matter who is in power.

                The book of Isaiah is a helpful text in helping me to consider what I want for my community and country as a citizen and follower of Christ. God’s desires echo through these Hebrew Scriptures and help form the desires of Jesus and his followers in the Christian Scriptures.  In the 58^th chapter of Isaiah, God describes the divine longing for lives that are just over ones steeped in religious sacrifice. It’s a good wish list for this moment as well.

Is not this the fast that I choose: 

    to loose the bonds of injustice,   

 to undo the straps of the yoke,

to let the oppressed go free,     and to break every yoke?

⁷ Is it not to share your bread with the hungry    

and bring the homeless poor into your house;

when you see the naked, to cover them

    and not to hide yourself from your own kin? (Isaiah 58: 6-7, 9-12)

… if you remove the yoke from among you,

    the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil,

¹⁰ if you offer your food to the hungry

    and satisfy the needs of the afflicted,

then your light shall rise in the darkness    

and your gloom be like the noonday…

… Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;

    you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;

you shall be called the repairer of the breach,

    the restorer of streets to live in.

I’ve always loved that image of the breach being repaired and the streets restored. That well describes the work that is at hand for us as well. And so guided by Isaiah, this is the country that I want:

One where people are not forced to comply with unjust practices, such as the elimination of institutional programs that protect people from harm based on the color of their skin, their sexual orientation,  their physical abilities, their gender identity.

One that does not yoke people to employment that does not pay a living wage. One that does not deny food assistance, or housing or health care to people who can’t afford it or aren’t in systems that provide it. One that does not scapegoat vulnerable people for precarities caused by huge imbalances of wealth. One that cherishes the earth, safeguards its environment and stops practices that create weather patterns and climate that no one can live in.

The work at hand involves repairing the breach and restoring our streets, as Isaiah would put it. It is joyful work, loving work and hopeful work, especially when it happens across difference and expands our sense of neighbor.

As we walk together as church into this post-election time, we shall continue to listen and look for the world that God wants, and to prepare ourselves to bring it about in this moment. And that’s maybe my greatest source of gratitude – that you are already so committed to God’s vision, and that I get to do this work with you.