BUILDING GOOD BRIDGES

Michael Wolfe

This past Sunday, Pope Francis wrapped up his visit to the United States. The whirlwind tour was full of many firsts: not only was it the first time that he had ever visited the country, but during his days in Washington DC, he addressed Congress during a joint session, the first pope ever to do so. Recognizing the significance of Pope Francis’ visit to the Unites States as a whole, and especially the historical event of his address to Congress, I’d like to share with you some of what I consider the salient points of that address in relation to our readings from Mass this past Sunday[1](which was the last day Pope Francis’ celebrated Mass in the U.S.). I do so in large part because Francis himself made it very clear that he was not only addressing the legislators present, but the entire people of the United States. And of course, his content is applicable to all people of faith.

Pope Francis structured his address around four important figures from the history of the United States as a country and society. He first used the figure of Abraham Lincoln to discuss the importance of true liberty, free of “unjust structures and actions.” Then, he referred to Martin Luther King, Jr. in order to enter into an extension of that liberty to all in a non-exclusive way. Next, he presented Dorothy Day to then show that liberty must lead to working for social justice and the rights of all persons, freeing them from the cycles of poverty. Finally, he closed with Thomas Merton, as an example of the capacity for dialogue, a reaching out to others in a spirit of openness to God.

The pope’s use of these important American figures – one who was ambiguous with regard to religion, another who was a non-Catholic Christian, and then two converts to Catholicism – shows in many ways how important it is to be able to appreciate the Good found wherever it may be and to call it forth. Furthermore, as we see as through these figures, by entering into dialogue with others in whom there is some good found, not only can it be further promoted, but an openness to that Good can be amplified.

Yet, in many areas of our life, we can easily fall into what Pope Francis called a “simplistic reductionism,”[2] a black and white view of the world. In terms of community and relationships, this dangerous outlook takes the shape of “us vs. them.” This is what seems to happen to John in our Gospel reading from this past Sunday, as he complains to Jesus that there is a man driving out demons who “does not follow us” (Mk 9:38). Indeed, he and others had gone so far as to try to stop the man in question.

What is curious about John’s concern is that he specifies that the outsider does not follow “us” – he has become so concerned with his inside group that he has confused the source of their power to heal and to drive out demons. As we know, Jesus instructs John not to stop man, and assures him (and us today) that what good is done in his name, is worthy of reward. Indeed, he lays out a basic starting point for an appreciation of the work done by those outside the inner group: “whoever is not against us is for us” (Mk 9:40). Such a standard seems to open many doors for the appreciation of good being done by others.

Since very early on in his papacy, Pope Francis has taken his role as “Pontifex maximus” (Supreme Pontiff, meaning greatest bridge-builder) seriously, and clearly has made it a priority within his pastoral and apostolic work. And with this, he is pushing for the Church to follow suit, not just as an entire institution, but as individuals of faith. As early as May 2013, already over two years ago, he went as far as to say “Christians who are afraid to build bridges and prefer to build walls are Christians who are not sure of their faith, are not sure of Jesus Christ.”[3] Thus, it should come as not surprise to us that Francis say to Congress: “It is my duty to build bridges, and to help all men and women, in any way possible, to do the same.”

The beginning point of this building of bridges is an appreciation of the good that is being done, regardless of the person or group. Furthermore, if we truly believe that God is the source of all that is Good and is he who is Love, then it must follow that we see him in all that is good and done out of love, even if others do not. Thus we can then help that seedling of God’s grace in the world grow and grow; if we set up walls, falling into the temptation of a jealous protection of what is “ours” we not only fail to tend bridges, but can heed the growth of that seedling.

Reaching outside of ourselves and our in-groups to appreciate the good that others are doing and building up in the world can be a trying task, especially if we disagree with the “other” on fundamental principals. However, Pope Francis warns us that “we know that in the attempt to be freed of the enemy without, we can be tempted to feed the enemy within.”[4]

Furthermore, I wish to clarify here that this is not an attempt to shy away from recognizing that there is evil in the world. Indeed, it is sad to say that there remains much of it, so long after Jesus’ time on this earth. We only need to turn on our TVs, radios or ipads to see this, taking such forms as the many “new global forms of slavery.”[5]But, we can better face these evils by building up a strong network that links the good to be found in the world, instead of quartering it off into independent pockets.

This leads us, finally, into the discussion as to where we are to begin, you and I as followers of Jesus? This transformative attitude of true liberty for all, fighting for those most in need, in a spirit of dialogue and openness to God’s work within the world is not only for great figures, nor only the institutions of our Church or communities. It begins with each and every one of us and how we live out lives, especially as members of the Body of Christ.

This transformative attitude begins with avoiding jealousies that lead to dismissing others and what they do, as John did, simply because they are not one of “us,” not of “my group,” or perhaps worse yet, “not me.” This includes avoiding cynicisms that so quickly break the fragile connections that may have just begun to be established. By entering into real dialogue with others, we can thus tend bridges based on the goodwill that we may share in common. This is ultimately not just a matter of “being nice,” but a matter of true justice, of giving God and our neighbor their due, recognizing God’s works of grace wherever they may be.

I must admit that when I heard Pope Francis remind Congress of the Golden Rule, I at first laughed that they needed to return to the basics. But as he continued, I was reminded that we all need to regularly return to this principle, of doing onto others as we would like to have done unto us. The Golden Rule helps us to go beyond ourselves and our in-groups to reach out to the other, the stranger, the foreigner, the outsider, both in acts of charity towards them, as well as an appreciation of what is good in them. And this is important, as ultimately “the yardstick we use for others will be the yardstick which time will use for us.”[6]

True evangelization and true change in the world begins with each and every one of us – with how we live our lives and how interact with others. Some people or groups may challenge us, make us uncomfortable, or even hold views with which we fundamentally disagree. Yet as the followers of Jesus, we are called not to build up walls, but to build bridges, actively “restoring hope, righting wrongs, maintaining commitments, and thus promoting the well-being of individuals and of peoples. We must move forward together, as one, in a renewed spirit of fraternity and solidarity, cooperating generously for the common good.”[7]