“If there were love of neighbor there would be no terrorism, no repression, no selfishness, none of such cruel inequalities in society, no abductions, no crimes”– Archbishop Oscar Romero
What is harder to do? Love one’s neighbor or love one’s enemy? I wrote this poem in 2003. I wish I could say my struggle has lessened as I explore the answer to this question, but it really hasn’t.
An Act of Contrition
Who are you?
The refugee living on streets paved in pain, not gold?
The child crying, forgotten in favor of vodka or crack?
The retiree losing her water service
for paying one day late?
In these faces, I can find you.
But, where are you in the CEO who lives by quarterly profits?
Or in the crimson robes of the cardinal?
Or in old men who send the young to die for a flag?
How do I find you in these least of my brothers?
If I can find you in the marginalized,
why can’t I find you in the mighty?
If you create each person in your image, why can’t I see you
when you come dressed in Armani,
or with medals on your chest?
If I can see you in Eucharist, why can’t I see you
in the hands that consecrate bread and wine?
How large is the branch in my eye that I only see
the splinters that blind the strong?
Forgive my arrogance.
Forgive my indifference to the suffering of oppressors.
Forgive my disdain for the prosperous,
So different from your beloved dispossessed.
Forgive me, God, my many sins.
I resolve to convince the powerful.
Help me evangelize them
by demonstrating your compassion and peace.
Teach me to bring hope to the hopeless
and dignity to the despised.
Let me clearly see all of the people
Who are You.
