No doubt, all of us have watched multiple recaps of events at the U.S. Capitol on January 6th. Epiphany. Perhaps it was calendar coincidence that counting and certifying the electoral votes for the most recent presidential election happened on the day named by Christians as the “manifestation” of Jesus as Christ to the world. We learned by watching his life and heeding his teachings that change is hard. Those who most benefit from current systems are the most reluctant to new ideas and will sometimes resort to violence to protect their own interests. Herod tried to protect his family’s claim to the throne by killing all the children in Israel under two years old.
Though not on the cosmic level of Epiphany, something similar occurred yesterday. Beneficiaries of systems that privilege wealth and whiteness in this country provoked a futile attempt to stop progress. But at the end of the day, or more fittingly late in the night, progress resumed. Counting and certification occurred,”the rule of law” prevailed, and our nation will continue its steady march toward justice.
The “uneven ground [has not] become level, and the rough places [have not become] a plain” (Isaiah 40:4), but a grand sweep of this country’s previous 200+ years offers evidence that the arch is bending. While we must take seriously the events of January 6, 2021, they do not define who we are. “The light shines in the darkness . . .” (John 1:5).
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