[Excerpt by Joe Rubio, National Co-Director, Industrial Areas Foundation]

Lament demands a response. In John’s gospel for this Sunday, we find the passage where collectively expressed grief makes such a claim. “Jesus wept” is often cited as the shortest biblical verse, but it may also be the most poignant. The scripture recounts the story just prior to Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem when he learns that his beloved friend Lazarus is ailing in Bethany.... 

Jesus is deeply affected by the mourners and enters into their grief. He is moved to intervene, but strikingly not on his own. This is not a moment of private suffering, so it also requires a communal response.

Jesus tells the crowd to “take away the stone” and then to “untie him and let him go.”

The crowd participates in moving the stone and unbinding Lazarus. This is a collective action in a moment of deep crisis, and it is hopeful, showing how things can change. It is public work and connected to power, as the priests and authorities look on.

I am reminded of a past community organizing effort in Arizona, where a notorious sheriff made international headlines by scapegoating and terrorizing immigrants…After some serious wrangling, leaders from Valley Interfaith Project, an affiliate of the Industrial Areas Foundation, impressed upon a reticent mayor to visit with immigrant families. In a corner of a parish hall, a group told him their stories…A few days later, Phoenix mayor Phil Gordon stood before a thousand-person annual luncheon. Startling the crowd, he sharply denounced the atrocities of Sheriff Joe Arpaio and initiated the steps leading to a federal investigation that led to indictments. In the mayor’s denunciation, he referred to the church stories repeatedly and apologized for not acting sooner. Many other politicians (bipartisan) followed suit within the week. (Arpaio eventually received a presidential pardon.) 

This was eighteen years ago. But the lessons are even more pertinent now

Today, there are emerging hopeful, courageous efforts bringing in voices from the margins. In Los Angeles, the organization One LA-IAF has called successfully for public hearings with congressional members and city officials to document the atrocities of last summer’s ICE incursion and subsequent occupation by the National Guard and Marines. In Chicago, the Coalition for Spirituality and Public Leadership has organized large acts of public witness to secure the right of religious workers to enter detention centers to bring pastoral care and the Eucharist to the detained. 

And many of our faith leaders are issuing prophetic responses. Last Sunday, Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso issued a pastoral letter on mass deportation and detention to his diocese (and to us all). He says,

“To those of you affected by hatred and discrimination and afraid of what comes next, know that the church stands with you.”

Let it be so.

Collective Mourning, Collective Action, Commonweal Magazine [pdf]