Jesus Wept--A Meditation on Mr. Sessions and Dreams Deferred

photo by Alan Creech / flickr

I have been wondering if, during the Congressional recess, Mr. Sessions went back home to Alabama. Knowing he is a devout Methodist I have mused that perhaps like most of us Southern Christians, he put on his suit, picked up his Bible and headed for church. Sitting there, surrounded by so many so proud of him, I wonder if he looked up at the strained glass window over the pulpit. Jesus praying in the Garden. I wonder if he looked to one side where the Shepherd Jesus cares for his sheep. 

And then I wondered how he squares those pictures he has known all his life--with his strong anti-immigrant bias. He called turning away all those Dreamers an act of compassion. Compassion? I wonder if he even thought of those 800,000 who long for a better life. 

Stilll, maybe I have forgotten the Deacons that stood at the front doors and would not let blacks in. "You would be more comfortable in your own church." Maybe I should remember Baptist school board members determined that separate but equal schools were best for their community.  Or the Deacons that wanted whites only at their restaurant counters. Or the preachers that played round after round of golf in those white-only country clubs. We have had a disconnect for a long time with the Jesus who prayed for all in the garden and the reality of our mean streets. We compartmentalize it so well.  Religion has nothing to do, after all, with politics. So we evangelicals really can sing our hymns and bow our heads and forget justice,kindness and compassion when it comes to all those 800,000 who simply want to reach up and claim their dreams. 

Maybe, Mr. Sessions that stained glass-Good-Shepherd-Jesus is just that: a stained glass figure from way back there. Maybe scared, frightened immigrants have nothing to do with the faith once delivered to the saints. Maybe the cruelty of people has nothing to do with religion after all. 

But I remember that the shortest verse in the Bible may be one of the most important. Jesus wept. He wept. For Lazarus and for his sisters. And for the disciples so wrong-headed. And for dear Jerusalem that did not know what really could make for peace. He wept for Rome and the poor and the dispossessed and the women so beat down and wherever people hurt--he wept. And today when cruelty and lies and deceit are front and center--I wonder, Mr. Sessions if he weeps for us all. 

--Roger Lovette / rogerlovette.blogspot.com