A publication of the INTERCOMMUNITY PEACE & JUSTICE CENTER
NO. 128 / FALL 2020
In March, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus a global pandemic, turning the world on its head. “Out of an abundance of caution,” masking, and social distancing have shaped the “new normal,” or our current reality. Throughout it all, we have had to reimagine virtually (no pun intended) every facet of our lives from how we educate, to how we conduct business, to how we worship. For relatives, friends, and partners who have not quarantined together, expressions of love have been reimagined as positive touch diminishes due to the recommended safety precautions. On the surface, it seems like everything has darkened. However, perhaps this time is not a time of darkness, but rather of awakening. In this issue of A Matter of Spirit (AMOS), we reflect on what has been exposed during this time of COVID. Travis Russell, SJ reminds us to care for those in our own backyard. Tricia Wittmann-Todd invites us to reimagine our church. Rev. Dr. Kelle Brown invites the faithful to uphold the dignity of Black lives. We revisit a compelling piece on white privilege (Spring 2019) by Jacqueline Battalora. Kelly Hickman shares her personal account of living through COVID. Vince Heberholt shares an example of how ordinary citizens can organize for incredible change. Finally, Gretchen Gundrum reminds us that God is ever-present in all of this. May we be inspired to hold fast to hope and work to create a better future. Future issues will address the call to make our systems equitable for all, including Earth: economic, education and public health and safety.
Kelly Latimore, Dorothy Day with Homless Christ
COVID-19
BEFORE WE RUSH TO SAVE THE WORLD,
Don’t Step Over the People in Our Backyard BY TRAVIS RUSSELL, SJ
I have an icon on my wall that I pray with. It is written by the iconographer Kelly Latimore1 and titled “Don’t Call Me a Saint,” an obvious play on Dorothy Day’s famous quip, “Don’t call me a saint, I don’t want to be dismissed that easily.” The icon depicts Dorothy seated with a man who is homeless; a small wooden table is placed between them. On the tabletop sits a bowl of warm soup and a torn-off piece of crusty bread. Dorothy looks directly at the man as she rests her arm on his shoulder, bridging the small space between them. The man appears disheveled with a graying beard and a cup of coffee in his hand. A gold halo surrounding the man’s head, however, reveals it is Christ seated with Dorothy, although one wonders whether anyone besides her has