Dear Pomp Processors:

Well, another Presidential Inauguration is in the books, as yesterday we witnessed the rites of the transfer of presidential power for the sixtieth time in American history. And while some of the proceedings may have been perceived as unorthodox, the pomp and regalia (think Village People) occurred, and the illusion of continuity was upheld – God bless America! The echoing “oyez!” stir an inner peace, calling the faithful to reverent submission. That’s the great thing about ritual; it spackles over the cracks of dissociation and conveys a smoothness of transition, no matter how large the underlying gaps.

Certainly, with this introduction, it’s easy to discern that I’m not happy with what the new administration portends for our national identity, but that’s also part of the problem. I think I know which direction the arc of justice should bend, so when my preferred narrative is disrupted, I’ll be the first to cry “hypocrites!”; but that’s what everyone does when they lose. To one, the pomp and circumstance portends restoration; to another, devastation. It all depends on where you think we’ve been and where you believe we’re headed. Which is why liturgy, political or religious, is dangerous.

The Hebrew prophets frequently warned against the false comfort of ritual. Wither it was festivals, sacrifices, temple rites or recited prayer, prophets have always challenged us to perform a reality check with a good look behind the curtain, even more so when the stage show is to our liking. Part of the danger is how ceremonial custom dazzles us into believing we are tapping forces beyond our time and place. If we have hidden behind the symbols and tokens of power when our favored ones proved fallible, then we’ve succumbed. It was never about integrity; it’s always been about control. As Chicago’s former prophet Mike Royko used to say, “All reform means is this: ‘our guys are in, your guys are out’”.

For those who noticed, yesterday was also Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday observance, and I am reminded of another story shared with me by my old chaplaincy supervisor and keeper of Chicago lore, Fr. James Creighton S.J. You may remember the historic meeting between Dr. King and Chicago’s mayor, Richard J. Daley, in August of 1966. In that meeting Daley agreed to changes in public housing and to convince the Mortgage Brokers Association to drop racial identity as a consideration for housing loans. What was not reported was Daley’s appointment immediately following his meeting with Dr. King. When Fr. Creighton came into Daley’s office, the mayor immediately expressed his exasperation, freely admitting that he didn’t understand what the Reverend wanted. “I offered city jobs, remodeled schools and housing improvement,” Jim remembered the mayor saying, “and he keeps talking about justice. What’s that about?” Amused by the message mismatch, Fr. Creighton told me it was hard for those who hold official power to understand any concern above their office.

Not surprisingly, in a press conference about Chicago housing on March 24, 1967, Dr. King said, “It appears that for all intents and purposes, the public agencies have [reneged] on the agreement and have, in fact given credence to [those] who proclaim the housing agreement a sham and a batch of false promises.”

Given that backdrop, it has become even clearer to me why Dr. King often quoted the words of the Hebrew prophet, Amos (5.21-24), who wrote:

I hate, I despise your festivals,
    and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.
Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,
    I will not accept them,
and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals
    I will not look upon.
Take away from me the noise of your songs;
    I will not listen to the melody of your harps.
 But let justice roll down like water
    and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

Musing that maybe it’s never been about the party, I remain,

With Love,
Jonathan Krogh
Your Pastor