Krista Tippett, in her presentation at the January Series last week and in her book Einstein’s God, said, “Science cannot mobilize human consciousness or human passion. We need simultaneous resources of story, ritual, relationship, and service that spiritual traditions have the capacity to nurture at their core.” Today, Father Greg Boyle offered these resources of story, ritual and relationship that have been based in his Christian faith to the January Series audience, in a heartwarming style different from the majority of the series lecturers thus far. Instead of a sterile intellectual conversation, Fr. Boyle shared his experiences of “kinship” with various gang members in Los Angeles, which ultimately mobilized the awareness and compassion of his audience.
The refreshing style of Father Boyle incorporated elements of humour, inspiration, and pain as he described snippets of his life experience serving Christ in the poverty and crime stricken neighborhoods of LA. He frequently used the colloquial slang of the gang culture and delighted the audience with his text-messaging abbreviations, Spanish phrases, and vibrant curse words. The authenticity of his elocution awoke in me a fascination for Hispanic culture and language, and opened my eyes to an American subculture which I have not, as of yet, experienced first-hand. His love and commitment to the organization Homeboy Industries and, primarily, to people it helps, were inspiring to me personally, and I can only assume, to the audience in general.
I felt especially challenged by Fr. Boyle’s willingness to live among the people he serves. The area in which he makes his home is Los Angeles is the same locale that is affected by gang violence, drugs, and prostitution. In my upbringing such a residence was considered foolish, and most church members I was aware of remained outside of the areas of great crime and poverty to which they attempted to minister. After hearing Fr. Boyle speak, this practice seems fundamentally flawed. Kinship, the value that Fr. Boyle emphasized, involves standing beside one another and eliminating class, ethnic or social boundaries that divide people. As Christians, we should be at the forefront of this kinship which was so famously promoted by Jesus himself, and yet it seems as if Christians hide away behind newly renovated sanctuaries and self-serving programs. As I picture my future, I find it difficult to imagine myself living in the poorest areas of a city, putting my life and my social status at risk. Upon reflection, however, it is evident that Jesus would do exactly that. I will continue to struggle with this immense challenge and responsibility to kinship, no doubt, for as long as I live. I am thankful to Father Boyle for his example, witness, and ministry, and hope to follow his leadership in sharing story, ritual, and relationship with all of the people I may encounter.
The refreshing style of Father Boyle incorporated elements of humour, inspiration, and pain as he described snippets of his life experience serving Christ in the poverty and crime stricken neighborhoods of LA. He frequently used the colloquial slang of the gang culture and delighted the audience with his text-messaging abbreviations, Spanish phrases, and vibrant curse words. The authenticity of his elocution awoke in me a fascination for Hispanic culture and language, and opened my eyes to an American subculture which I have not, as of yet, experienced first-hand. His love and commitment to the organization Homeboy Industries and, primarily, to people it helps, were inspiring to me personally, and I can only assume, to the audience in general.
I felt especially challenged by Fr. Boyle’s willingness to live among the people he serves. The area in which he makes his home is Los Angeles is the same locale that is affected by gang violence, drugs, and prostitution. In my upbringing such a residence was considered foolish, and most church members I was aware of remained outside of the areas of great crime and poverty to which they attempted to minister. After hearing Fr. Boyle speak, this practice seems fundamentally flawed. Kinship, the value that Fr. Boyle emphasized, involves standing beside one another and eliminating class, ethnic or social boundaries that divide people. As Christians, we should be at the forefront of this kinship which was so famously promoted by Jesus himself, and yet it seems as if Christians hide away behind newly renovated sanctuaries and self-serving programs. As I picture my future, I find it difficult to imagine myself living in the poorest areas of a city, putting my life and my social status at risk. Upon reflection, however, it is evident that Jesus would do exactly that. I will continue to struggle with this immense challenge and responsibility to kinship, no doubt, for as long as I live. I am thankful to Father Boyle for his example, witness, and ministry, and hope to follow his leadership in sharing story, ritual, and relationship with all of the people I may encounter.
Well said, Gill!
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