GOSPEL MESSAGE & RECORDING
Racism, prejudice, and hatred: as a nation and global community, we have been speaking, posting, and protesting against such evils because the knee of a police officer murdered a black man. We all witnessed this horrifying incident on the news and social media. We were rightfully angry and disgusted. Many went to the streets in protest and others went to social media and expressed their feelings and emotions. We most likely sat down with our children and explained to them what was happening in the world and answered the question: “Who is George Floyd?” As a parish, we addressed the incident through our “Morning of Hope” and “Evening of Hope.” We continue to address the topic of racism, prejudice, and hatred through this homily. And will continue to address it in our parish through a Christ-centered focus. Addressing what has happened is very important. It is necessary! Being silent is not an option. How can we as Orthodox Christians, who participate in parish life and are active in the church, address these racial issues?
As a parish, diocese, and Church, we are guilty of racism, prejudice, and hatred! (Note: I know there are specific definitions to these three terms but I will use them interchangeably for the sake of this homily.) We may not have been overtly racist/prejudice toward others but many of us have covertly had negative thoughts about other races or ethnicities. In other words, we have false/negative ideas of how African Americans or other races behave or act because we grew up in an Asian Indian community that has covert racial tendencies and prejudices. This has spilled over in our church life.
We see in the Gospel Reading today that Jesus sent his apostles to preach the Gospel two-by-two by saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Why would Jesus say something like this? (St. Matthew 10: 5-16) This is in no way a prejudice statement because we have seen Jesus go into a Samaritan village and speak to a Samaritan woman, something that a Jew of his time would never do. (St. John 4: 1-26) Further, he wanted to lodge with Samaritans on the way to Jerusalem. (St. Luke 9: 51-56) Once again, something a Jew of that time would never do. So, then, we must examine the context as to why Jesus said what he said and what it means for us today.
In the context of the Gospel reading, Jesus is in effect instructing his apostles to deal with the problem that is in their own “house” before they venture to preach the gospel to the gentiles. Likewise, we must do the same. I do not mean that we shouldn’t engage in “peaceful” protest or be “respectfully” and “gracefully” active on social media. On the contrary, let us engage; however, let us also not forget about the prejudice that is in our hearts and active in some of our parishes, even if it is covert. This can be accomplished to some degree by the following:
Debunk prejudice thoughts and attitudes: Each parish must provide sensitivity training to their parishioners, debunking false ideas and prejudice attitudes toward those who are different races and ethnicities, especially regarding African Americans. We should teach our parishioners that all people are created in the image and likeness of God; and that no one is great than the other, due to race, ethnicity, gender, class, caste, or economic standing.
Stop judgmentalism: Judgmentalism is the idea that a person assumes that another person is different because of his or her race, ethnicity…etc. It also implies intention. That is, someone did something or is doing something because he or she is “probably” this or that kind of person. A judgmental attitude leads to dysfunction. Parishes must promote mutual understanding and Christian love to counter a spirit of judgmentalism.
The transition from welcome to become: In my experience most of our parishes, and I am sure there are exceptions, welcome people of different races and ethnicities. But that’s where we stop. We don’t go beyond welcome. As an Orthodox parish, we need to transition from welcome to become. That means we should pursue those families that visited and encourage them to become a part of the church-family by understanding and living out the Orthodox Christian faith. In the past and even now, a black family visiting one of our parishes would have been welcomed and treated with respect, but the idea that family could become a member of the parish; that is, become part-and-parcel of the Malankara Orthodox Community was and is still seen as taboo. St. Luke’s was started to break down such barriers and build bridges among races and ethnicities within the Orthodox faith. The belief of St. Luke (and I hope all Mission parishes of the I.O.C) is that families of different races and ethnicities are welcome but also sought after to become part-and-parcel of the church. In other words, we want them to become a part of the family here at St. Luke by receiving Christ through the faith and traditions of the Orthodox Church.