 Grace in the Moment
Putting our differences into perspective
By Mary van Balen
"Before the Lord, the whole universe is as a grain from a balance or a drop of morning dew come down upon the earth."
These words from last Sunday’s first reading from the Book of Wisdom brought to mind an image from a movie I have recently seen: “Agora.” The movie is based on historical events and characters (primarily Hypatia, the great woman philosopher, mathematician, and keeper of the library at Alexandria, Egypt, in the fifth century), though as most such movies, it contained fabrication and conflation as well. It depended on Edward Gibbon’s 18th-century account in the “Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire” of the destruction of the ancient library, which blamed Christians, rather than on ancient sources, which point fingers at a few possible culprits in much earlier times.
The image that came to mind as I listened to the reading was one that recurred throughout the movie: In the midst of murderous mob violence between pagans and Christians, Christians and Jews, and various combinations of the above, the camera pulled away from the immediate scene, giving the audience first a view of the entire city, then surrounding countries, then continents and, finally, a view of Earth as seen from some distant point in the universe. All the while, sounds of fierce fighting continued.
The effect put human sin and violence in perspective. What seems monumental to humankind shrinks almost to insignificance in the “big picture.” Wars and violence engendered by differences of faith and fought to defend the “truth” of the Living God of Love are stripped of pretense and stand naked before the eyes of those watching: Fanatic self-righteousness that demands the death of all who disagree is not only tragic; it is an affront to the Creator. It is sin.
But you have mercy on all, because you can do all things; and you overlook people’s sins that they might repent. For you love all things that are and loathe nothing that you have made; for what you hated, you would not have fashioned. And how could a thing remain, unless you willed it; or be preserved, had it not been called forth by you? But you spare all things, because they are yours, O Lord and lover of souls, for your imperishable spirit is in all things!
The reading from Wisdom continues with a description of God as one who cannot help but hold all that is created with patient love, giving everyone time to grow into repentance and conversion. We are God’s, all of us. Who would guess that reality when looking at current headlines or conditions in the world today? Not much changes, as “Agora” attests: Today, religious fanatics of every faith seethe with intolerance and desire eradication of the “other.” Depending on the radical fringes affiliation, “other” can mean “Christian,” “Muslim,” or “Jew.”
Religious fanaticism is not the only type of extremism that breeds intolerance. As a friend commented, “If it weren’t religion, it would be something else.” Evidence is abundant that she is correct. “Others” targeted by hate groups include those of various nationalities, races and tribes throughout history and to this day: Native Americans, Armenians, Black Americans, Tutsi, Hutu, and Kurds. “Others” can include homosexuals and those whose gender identity does not conform to what is considered “normal.” “Others” can be anyone unlike ourselves.
As I sat in the theater watching movie credits scroll along the screen, I thought of how easily human beings fixate on differences and how often we need to “be right.” The stakes are not always life and death. Sometimes, they are rights to jobs and housing, or even respect. Focusing on differences is taught to the young, who inherit prejudices. Even political races use demonization of the “other” to win votes and power.
Last Sunday’s gospel reading told of Jesus inviting himself into the home of Zacchaeus. When those who witnessed Jesus’ welcoming of the despised tax collector grumbled about it, Jesus answered them: “…this man, too, is a descendant of Abraham.”
The long view of earth in “Agora” and the Scripture readings implore us to move humanity forward, away from hatred and intolerance and closer to the vision of God, seeing in one another the Divine Spirit and responding with love.
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