In her All Saints Day sermon, Dr. Arrington of the Bishop Walker School highlighted the importance of inheritance. She reminded St. Luke’s that we are the recipients of all that has come before us, and encouraged us to remember and honor those who have gone before by becoming everyday saints. 

Sometimes, everyday saints change the cycles of harm that we inherit in our families and communities. In families, this might mean learning new ways of communicating to more fully express love for each other. In communities, this might mean learning about past wrongs (like enslavement and redlining, or land theft and boarding schools) – and then making amends to those today who are still impacted.

Breaking cycles of harm is one way to understand reparations, especially for those who have been beneficiaries of historic wrongs. We learn about our past, ask the Spirit to accompany us, and embark on a journey toward new relationship. Adam Greene, the Emissary of the Great Tayac of the Piscataway Indian Nation, invited St. Luke’s into such a journey when he extended the hand of friendship and shared the hopes of the Piscataway. St. Luke’s, as many of you know, inherited the history of St. John’s Norwood (read about others here) and has participated in this work through parish presentations and diocesan discussions. Last January, St. Luke’s delegates voted for resolutions to explore amends and repair. A committee appointed by the Bishop has undertaken the task of reparations for the diocese.*

Reparations is a big word, and it can be a difficult one to absorb. Progress, as Dr. Arrington reminded us, is “a collection of small faithful steps.” Small faithful steps toward reparations – to learn our history, to understand current harm, to make amends – can bring us to new and (perhaps) unimaginable freedoms. What steps are the everyday saints of St. Luke’s called to?

* Read more about EDOW’s journey toward reparations at edow.org/reparations,