Monday, July 25, 2016

Show Me What Theology Looks Like

Show me what Theology looks like
This is what Theology looks like

Theology looks like
Out of the pews and into the streets

Theology looks like
Reclaiming Holy Week
Black Lives Matter
And the community gathered
In protest and lament
To say not one more
Not one more
Death
Not one more
Young man or woman
Locked up
Behind bars
Separated from their family

Theology looks like
Discomfort

Theology looks like
Witnessing black rage
And not backing away
Not trying to calm it down
But taking it all in
And naming it Holy

Theology looks like
Me and you
Arm in arm
Taking back the streets

Theology looks like
Whose streets?
Our streets!

Theology looks like
My Christ, my brother saying
I can’t breathe
Me saying
Now I’m in the struggle
And I can’t leave
My God saying
I’m not gonna stop
Until all people are free

Theology looks like
Clergy asking for forgiveness
For the silence of the Church
And the people granting them
That forgiveness
And challenging them
To do better
To show up

Theology looks like
Friends joining the crowd
Who didn’t plan
To march and chant
On their Holy Saturday

Theology looks like
Public lament
The cries and tears
Of mothers who have lost their children
Who know all too well
The pain of Mary
The pain of the women at the cross
Who lost their
Friend
Son
Brother

Theology looks like
Community coming together
And denouncing the violence
Denouncing the racism
Denouncing the divides
And lamenting our complicity
In it all

Theology looks like
Holding those in mourning
Creating space for that mourning
And never saying when it should be done
Allowing that mourning to spill over
Into day to day life

Theology looks like
Interrupting a lovely afternoon
On the patio
Because people are dying
People are dead
And you need to know about it

Theology looks like
Solidarity with those who struggle
Every day
Just to live

Theology looks like
Being criticized by good, white
Well-meaning Christians

Theology looks like
Faith in action

Theology looks like
A La Pieta march
On Good Friday
And
A mourning march
On Holy Saturday

Show me what Theology looks like?
This is what Theology looks like. 

© Jennifer Reyes Lay


This stream of consciousness poem was written on April 4,2015 after attending 2 events for #ReclaimHolyWeek (Good Friday and Holy Saturday).  One of the chants we shouted as we marched was "Show me what Theology looks like! - This is what Theology looks like!"

No comments:

Post a Comment