Inasmuch

By Susan Russell

As I write this on Palm Sunday – the portal from Lent to Holy Week – I am deeply aware of all that remains “done and left undone” on my “to do list” for Lent 2004. The VCR of my life seems to be stuck on fast forward so I'm not exactly sure where these 40 days have gone – but I'm sure I haven't done with them what I'd hoped to when I left the sanctuary on Ash Wednesday with a smudge on my forehead and the resolve to observe a Holy Lent in my heart.

Somehow the details of life once again have gotten in the way. What I've heard described as “the tyranny of the urgent” has once again managed to capture my calendar and conscript my energy – leaving me not-enough-hours-in-the-day and a sense of frustration at all those things that if there were world enough and time I might have managed to accomplish.

I know from conversations with both colleagues and congregants that I am not alone in feeling often overwhelmed at all there is to do . . . sometimes immobilized by the needs that surround me . . . occasionally despairing that there's anything I can do to really make a difference. Lord knows there are days when I can't even manage to READ everything in my “inbox” – much less respond to it all. But every once in awhile something comes across my desk – implodes into my awareness – in a way that leaves me no choice but to stop in my ever-so-busy tracks and (even though I don't think I have the time or the energy to make a difference) to do something anyway. And the something is the plight of the Our Little Roses ministry in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

The two-and-a-half acre facility for abandoned and abused girls – located in San Pedro Sula, Honduras – includes a bilingual school and a clinic that also serves the surrounding community. Founded in 1988 by Diana Frade – wife of Leo Frade (Bishop of Southeast Florida) – Our Little Roses currently cares for 71 girls, ranging from newborns to those in their late teens. I first became aware of Our Little Roses when I served on the Episcopal Women's Caucus national board and have a been a great admirer of their work and witness among the poorest-of-the-poor in Honduras.

Sadly, according to news reports this week, that mission has “taken a big financial hit” resulting from the withdrawal of financial support for the program by some in retaliation against Bishop Frade for voting to confirm Gene Robinson's election as Bishop of New Hampshire. Since September 2003, the mission has lost $30,000 in donations, which is about 12 percent of its revenues, according to Diana Frade.

“One person wrote a letter saying he would continue to pray for the child but would not send any more money,” said Diana Frade. “As if the child could eat the prayers. It was shocking that someone who was supposedly praying and supporting a child would then withdraw their support out of retaliation and anger, without really thinking of the consequences.”

I commend Phil LaPadula's article in its entirety, but this is the quote that got me: “One person wrote a letter saying he would continue to pray for the child but would not send any more money,” said Diana Frade. “As if the child could eat the prayers. It was shocking that someone who was supposedly praying and supporting a child would then withdraw their support out of retaliation and anger, without really thinking of the consequences.”

And all I could think about were the words of our Lord: “Inasmuch as you have done it unto the least of these, you have done it to me.” And if it breaks my heart to think of what is being done to those children I can only imagine what it's doing to Jesus's – that in this holiest of weeks of the Christian year children are suffering because of the infighting of those who have vowed to proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ Jesus – to respect the dignity every human being.

“Inasmuch as you have done it unto the least of these. . .” Jesus said. Not “inasmuch as you have reached theological consensus on issues of human sexuality.” Not “inasmuch as you have preserved the historic polity of the institutional church.” Not “inasmuch as you have won the debate or passed the resolution or swayed the media to your side.” Nope – “inasmuch as you have done it unto the least of these” – and THESE are the least – these helpless children in such need that their very lives may hang in the balance because of ecclesial power struggles that have nothing to do with them.

At this morning's Palm Sunday liturgy we waved palm branches in the air and then cried “Crucify him” – reminding ourselves and each other that we, too, are part of that crowd that betrayed the one who loved us enough to become one of us every time we fail to love our neighbors as ourselves. As we journey into Holy Week, the cry for help from these orphans in Honduras – “the least of these” – is in danger of being drowned out by an angry crowd too busy arguing about theology to feed the hungry – of being neglected by those of us too busy preparing Holy Week liturgies to clothe the naked. I hear their cry today as the sound of the cock crowing in the courtyard – a first and then a second time.

Before the cock crows a third time – before it's too late to do anything but weep like Peter did at once again denying our Lord by missing a chance to minister to “the least of these” -- let's commit ourselves to making a difference. Financial support can be offered by making checks payable to “Our Little Roses” and sent to P.O. Box 464, Somerset, VA 22972. My check is in the mail: one small thing thankfully NOT “left undone” this Lent. Won't you join me?

The Rev. Susan Russell is executive director of the Claiming the Blessing coalition, and president of Integrity . She also writes a regular online Blog on EveryVoice.net, and is a long-time board member of the Episcopal Women's Caucus . Susan may be reached by email at revsusanrussell@earthlink.net .