Martin Luther King Jr. writes in Strength to Love; “Only through an inner spiritual transformation do we gain the strength to fight vigorously the evils of the world in a humble and loving spirit. He recognizes that social change will not come overnight, yet he works as though it is an imminent possibility.” We have to build up an inner strength in Christ to be able to fully live into Christ’s ministry of reconciliation.

Jesus is the Good Samaritan. He’s the hero. Which means we don’t get to be the hero. Ever. Our over zealous applications of the Good Samaritan parable have led the Church to embrace the role of hero. We have played God for others and encouraged a type of dependence on us that should be reserved for God alone. We have refused to receive help and learn from those in distress, trumping their skills and hopes with our resources and plans. Our efforts have led to a toxic codependence, which has resulted in tragic cases of burnout, resentment, and shame.

May your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. May your new humanity invade our world here and now as you reconcile your church across color, class and culture. May we capture your heart for righteousness and justice here and now as you reconcile as back to you and to each other.

We are a part of this system that did this, particularly the white majority culture. Like pollution, we have inherited something. None of us caused pollution, but we are affected by it by what happened before. We now know that trauma carries over generations and those of us from the majority white culture have to enter into this trauma.