It is not unusual for congregants or even the society at large to desire a timely word from spiritual leaders in the wake of a tragedy. That is perfectly reasonable. I still believe it is important even in an era of waning religiosity. If our faith has nothing to say at the extremis, what good is it? And if our religious leaders can't say something true and meaningful, what good are they?
So there is the latest mass shooting in Florida. It is unspeakably terrible. If this was an exception, an unusual tragedy, I would put everything else aside in pulpit and pen and address this and only this. I have done that before. But what if this is only one of many mass shootings in our country since January 1? What then? If I addressed every shooting in that chain of tragedies, would there be room to speak of anything else? And if I don't speak what takes its place? Stony resigned silence? A perpetual prayer vigil for the next and the next? Erect an altar for this distinct purpose? Make time for another moment of silence? I'm growing so weary of moments of silence. They are becoming banal, repetitive, hollow, sorry substitutes for actually solving a problem.
Our political leaders are immobilized. A rising tide of overwhelming public concern may or may not generate meaningful change. Religious communities stand silent, afraid to rock the boat. Pastors are tired of being lambasted for trying to speak a faithful word.
I am growing so weary of this sickness in our land and the growing resignation to a fate we believe is predetermined. This is like a fast-growing cancer and we remain frozen in pure denial and resistance. We don't want to face just how sick we are - emotionally, spiritually, and socially. And this malignancy, this addiction, this death wish is becoming fatal to our collective body.
I am by nature an optimist. But optimism is not enough for today. What is needed is courageous Christian hope. That hope is based on trusting the Spirit to move and move us. It will require a modern day miracle to accomplish this. The ways that we move toward healing in these plague years may elude us. But if we trust, if we take action where and how we can, if we move love toward justice, if we expect leaders to lead and pray for them to do so, we may find surprising answers in this present darkness.
