I see power as often contextual. An individual or group that has more power in one situation may have less power in another. To the extent that being part of a majority leads to some sort of power (which is sometimes the case and sometimes not), even that can be contextual—for example, as a Catholic I am part of a majority faith in America when looking at Christianity as a whole but a minority when looking at the number of Catholics as compared to Protestants.
When I think of power in the Christian context, what comes to mind are the words of St. Paul that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Often I feel so much weaker and inadequate compared to the problems of the world and the healing they seem to require. Sometimes I feel inadequate to the tasks in my own life. Yet God tells us that we don’t need to be powerful; rather, we need to be channels and mechanisms through which His power of love and grace can touch others.
The Church also continually talks about ‘the preferential option for the poor’—that those who have less and are struggling deserve special care and support from those who have more. Jesus told us through His parables that to whom much is given, much is expected, and that whatever we do to ‘the least’ of His children, we do to Him. Whatever our situation in life, we always have some power to help others. A kind smile or a compassionate word do not require high social position or finances. Love is a gift God freely gives to us and which He wants us to freely give to others.
I first became active in interfaith engagement after 9/11, a life-changing trauma which spurred me to enter the field of peacebuilding and to work for greater understanding and friendship—and dismantling of negative misperceptions—between Americans and people in Middle Eastern and Muslim-majority countries. While I subsequently spent much time in the Middle East, I also realized that there is much we can do to promote interfaith friendship and understanding here in our own diverse American backyard as well. I helped to found the Interfaith Committee at my church, and for about 7 years, we hosted an iftar (dinner to break the Muslim fast during Ramadan) at our church for our Muslim neighbors, our own parishioners, and some guests of other faiths. I saw the iftars as a way not only to extend hospitality to our Muslim neighbors, but to support them on their own walk with God by providing a space for them to pray and practice their own faith traditions (while also providing a wonderful opportunity for mutual learning). Many wonderful friends and memories came out of these events, and I felt they provided a way for me to more deeply live out my Catholic faith through this way of expressing love for our neighbor.
Having done a lot of work in Pakistan, I heard a story once of a Pakistani Muslim man who saw a news broadcast about an American church which provided space for local Muslims who did not have a mosque to worship. He said he was so inspired by this that he went out, gathered other Muslims in the community, and went to visit and help repair a church in his community in Pakistan. Each such act of love like this can have a ripple effect of inspiring other acts of love, even far across the world, and how much that must please God.
1 comment
I hope we get the chance to chat in Ireland! I would love to hear more about your experiences. I grew up in Cairo, but have been pretty far removed from the inter-faith experiences that were so normal, for a while now, and I miss it. It honestly was more safe and beautiful and normal than what I feel now- embroiled in the implosion of the American church. I love how you used 9/11 and its trauma to spur you towards this work.