Last week, the chaplains and staff of Campus Ministry held an interfaith prayer service, “Renewing Our Community,” to help raise our community up to the work of truth, justice, and service for the common good (you can watch a recording of the service here). The gathering reflected Georgetown’s commitment to Interreligious Understanding, with chaplaincy directors offering reflections and wisdom from across a diversity of religious traditions.
In addition to supporting the community as it embarks on a new semester, the interfaith service challenged and inspired a renewed commitment to the shared work of justice in response to recent events. In the face of the insurrectionist violence at the U.S. Capitol and a climate of disinformation that inspired it, the reverberating reality of racial injustice in our community and society, and the continued distress caused by the global pandemic, our interfaith chaplains summoned us to answer these challenges with hopefulness, humility, perseverance, and a spirit of mutual support.
Fr. Greg Schenden, S.J., director of Campus Ministry, led off the service with an invitation to take to heart the presupposition of St. Ignatius to assume the best of each other’s intentions. Sometimes this requires, in a spirit of humility, that we correct one another’s errors. This is a difficult invitation but it is required if we desire to realize the deepest aspirations of our university mission.
Brahmachari Vrajvihari Sharan, director for Dharmic Life and Hindu spiritual advisor, reminded us that words have power and we need to be intentional about choosing words that reflect the path of harmony and light, not division and darkness. Rabbi Rachel Gartner, director for Jewish Life, challenged the community to connect with those with whom we disagree. While honest conversations are not always easy, reflected Rabbi Gartner, generative disagreements lead to a culture of authentic encounter.
Imam Yahya Hendi, director for Muslim Life, called for healing in the nation, especially for those harmed by bigotry and injustice. We all have a role to play, prayed Imam Hendi, in uniting the nation around the values of peace, justice, and love, but it takes courage to tell the truth to those in power. Rev. Ebony Grisom, interim director of Protestant Christian Ministry, picked up on this theme in her stirring invitation to reform our hearts and minds in order to renew our community. With so much in need of repair in our university community and in our nation, we can be tempted, reflected Rev. Grisom, to continue using the old forms and patterns. New patterns are possible and we are challenged to take on “big work” to affirm our commitment to the Magis, the choice that leads to more generosity, more justice. Changing our community requires changing our behavior and renewing our minds, Rev. Grisom shared.
Please take a little time to experience this moving service. As you do, I invite you to reflect on how you desire to renew community in this new semester. How can you answer the call to justice, truth, and the common good? And if you are interested in exploring the resources of Georgetown’s interfaith chaplaincies, please visit the Campus Ministry homepage.