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When I looked at past reflections I had given on this day I found that there was only one for the same “Year A” readings as today. That was in 2017 days after Trump’s first inauguration. I was lamenting that politics had become so divided that we were breaking down into factions like St. Paul warns against in the 2nd reading. As I listened to it again for the first time last night I thought, well… I could just repost this. Nothing is better. It’s actually gotten way worse.
As I recorded this week’s reflection, we have just learned of another deadly confrontation in the streets of Minneapolis. I have tried to stay out of this mess as much as possible and focus on things I can actually influence. So much of what I see going on leaves me feeling sad, angry, but also helpless. This Sunday is one on which we as a Catholic Church celebrate the “Sunday of the Word of God” as instituted by Pope Francis. Words are powerful, they are creative, so I thought I would try to put some thoughts into words.
I’m not coming from any place of authority or pretending that I have the answers. But I tried to find one thing that I could focus on. Here it is: We’re treating politics like sports. We have divided into teams, basically two teams. It’s like the University of Kansas vs. the University of Missouri. The one thing we know is that the other is the enemy and we don’t like them. It’s sort of fun and playful when it’s just sports and you’re a fan rooting for “your” team. Letting this thinking take over the real life world outside of sports has now become deadly.
In today’s reflection I walk through my experience of learning about the first (now there’s a second… how many more?) shooting in Minneapolis. I don’t have any conclusion. But what I do know is that I started out with my own bias, wanting to support the police. Then I saw video that made me quickly abandon that assumption. I thought the government would retract statements that this was “clearly self-defense.” Then I saw different video that changed my mind again. And then again. What I came to see very clearly was that all of the video and discussion was coming from 1 of 2 teams and depending on who was telling the story. They each only showed the evidence that supported their “team” and misrepresented or hid contrary evidence. Claims were made that contradicted what I thought I was seeing with my own eyes.
I don’t like to be lied to and I don’t like to be manipulated. I became frustrated that I couldn’t seem to find any source that actually wanted to give me a nuanced and full understanding without being on some team that had to win. I still don’t think I can say what ultimately happened, but I know it’s not black and white. There don’t seem to be any heroes and it’s really all a mess.
So don’t try to force me onto some team where I have to accept everything and hate everyone on the other team. There’s only one team that is all good and worth fighting for with your life. That is to be on God’s team. The battle of good vs. evil is very real and we must fight. But right now we’re breaking down into two ridiculous worldly teams fighting each other, and I don’t see God playing for either of them.