The Call of Our Common Ancestry

I was an observer at the Mount St. Scholastica Senate meeting on Saturday, when racism and cultural diversity were considered. One thing I learned was that all humans are very similar genetically; on average, only one of every thousand of the nucleotides that make up our DNA distinguish one human from another. And yet, although 999 of our nucleotides are the same, humans have chosen to focus on the one nucleotide that makes us different (resulting in, for example, different skin colors) and use it as the basis for judging the worth of people. Being part of the body of Christ, on the other hand, calls us to recognize our common ancestry as children of God and celebrate instead of stigmatize our differences.

The meeting also increased my awareness of institutional racism—the way in which our government and social institutions disproportionately channel wealth, power, and resources to white people, which is not only unjust but weakens our entire society through the waste of the potential of people of color. Because it is difficult to recognize any system of inequity in which we are the ones who are privileged, many of us are not even aware of the insidious effects of institutional racism. It is hard to believe that we can ever overcome a system that is so entrenched in our country and in our lives. However, I found comfort in our opening song at morning prayer today, Healer of Our Every Ill, by Marty Haugen:

Healer of our every ill, light of each tomorrow

Give us peace beyond our fear, and hope beyond our sorrow

In the pain and joy beholding, how your grace is still unfolding,

Give us all your vision, God of love

Give us strength to love each other, every sister, every brother,

Spirit of all kindness, be our guide

You who know each thought and feeling, teach us all your way of healing,

Spirit of compassion, fill each heart

We cannot overcome racism through our own efforts, but God can heal this wound, and God’s grace is still unfolding. Our role is to be open and responsive to that grace as it leads us to kindness and compassion in all our interactions with others.