Outside the Locked Doors of the Cathedral, A Call for Justice

They came, hundreds strong, standing in the spring sunshine. They were young and old, working class and middle class, union and nonunion, white and black and brown. There were Muslims and Jews, Christians and nonbelievers, Unitarians and Baptists and Lutherans. There was a sprinkling of Episcopalians, the usual suspects: the Chair of the HIV/AIDS Ministry, some folks from the Cange, Haiti outreach, an old hippie or two. They clapped and cheered and called upon our elected leaders to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly before our God. They prayed for the Governor and the Legislature.

But I'm not proud of my denomination today. Because 500 yards away stood the historic Trinity Cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina.

And its doors were locked.

We missed a chance to witness to the leaders of this State that their heart and treasure are not in the Kingdom of God. Because we're still so captivated by the culture that we don't understand that doing justice means more than opening a soup kitchen or donating some food to the food bank. We're still so sound asleep that we haven't heard the knocking at our door and the quiet voice of our Lord imploring us to wake up. We're still so contorted by our debate over sexuality that we've forgotten that the whole Law and Prophets hang on two commandments: Love God and love your neighbor. We blew it. Again.

That God can raise up the Children of Abraham from rocks is small comfort. But at least the rocks were there, praying. Maybe next time, the Episcopal Church can show up.