regalia
i love graduations
I love graduations. The pomp of the caps, the hoods, the cords and tassels, the colors. There is nothing like it. After years of study, one finally is awarded a right of passage—the privilege of wearing those items reserved only for the few who have walked the same path.
I admit, my love for graduations and the history it brings to mind certainly is influenced by the locations I’ve graduated in—Moody Church in Chicago and Princeton University Chapel. Both of these buildings carry with them the history of their community. They’ve seen war and revival, destruction and celebration.
The history of these buildings, I think, only adds to what I find most beautiful about graduations—the collective sojourn of a graduating class into a larger community. students are welcomed as alumni, doctoral candidates are welcomed into the community of scholars.
This reminds me of the ancient practice of catechesis—a long season of learning the teachings and history of the church that concluded with the reception of a white gown, the sacrament of baptism, milk and honey, and a joyful welcome into the Body of Christ.
There’s something about this long, shared journey—this common life—that I find powerful.
In our society today, we find very little in common. We are defined by toxic polarization, division, violence, oppression, and marginalization.
As the church, however, this shouldn’t be so. Internally, we ought to recognize that we have the greatest commonality, a collective union with Jesus Christ and shared indwelling of the Holy Spirit. We are called to find unity in difference as we follow the movement of the Spirit in our world. Externally, we must emphasize practices of neighbor love over pronouncements of judgment. Truly, judgment merely sounds like the rest of the world. Radical love is what bears witness to Christ in our world today.
Reading:
Books to Read for Pride Month (Eerdmans)
On the Problem of Empathy: The Collected Works of Edith Stein
Watching:
Stranger Things - Season 4 (Netflix)
Listening:
Twelve Carat Toothache (Album) - Post Malone
I Don’t Want to Talk - Wallows