A statement on the darkness of our nation
How sadly ironic that Epiphany—the date on the Christian calendar celebrating the revelation of Jesus as the light of the world—this year should fall on one of the darkest dates in U.S. history.
No matter how old you are, Jan. 6, 2021, surely hovers as one of the most infamous, reprehensible and horrific days in memory. Maybe you recall Dec. 7, 1941, or maybe Nov. 22, 1963, and certainly Sept. 11, 2001. This date ranks among them.
Tragically, the sight of domestic terrorists marauding the U.S. Capitol should not have surprised anyone. After four years of conspiracy theories, disembowelment of truth and disrespect for the rule of law, thousands of insurrectionists traveled to Washington intent on undermining democracy. After nine weeks of efforts to overturn the U.S. electoral system, with the nation’s most visible person fanning the flames of hate, prejudice and division, bands of thugs showed up to implement his evil intent. After incessant escalation of systemic racism and Christian nationalism, bigots arrived to invoke their superiority and deny others’ basic freedom.
Make no mistake: The United States has conducted a fair and transparent presidential election, as certified by bipartisan commissions and judges. The people who stormed the Capitol were not protestors but insurrectionist who sought to subvert the rule of law. And while they captured the world’s attention, they do not represent our nation’s majority.
In the darkness of this hour, we must look to the light of Jesus. He, not our nation, is our Savior. His command to love all people and to place others before self compels us to rise above division and to seek reconciliation. His example is a light to follow.
So, we must pray and work. We pray for causes larger than we can accomplish, and we work for those that require our efforts. We must pray for restoration of kindness and civility and aspiration for the common good. And we must work to put feet to our prayers by endeavoring for righteousness, decency and kindness.
