April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
PERSPECTIVE
Beware of identity theft: a lesson from Orlando
Beware of identity theft: a lesson from Orlando
Several years ago, at an ordination service for new deacons, the bishop, priests and deacons were lined up on the sidewalk in liturgical vestments for the opening procession.
Suddenly, a young man wove through the line, interrupting our chitchat with a question: "Do you know who you are?" He repeated that several times before disappearing as quickly as he had arrived.
His question made some uneasy, but I thought it was provocative and profound. From the moment we are born and at every new stage in life, we struggle to discover our identity. Psychologist Eric Erikson coined the term "identity crisis," asserting: "It is a time of intensive analysis and exploration of different ways of looking at oneself."
Life transitions can spark an identity crisis. Graduation, the death of a spouse, a church closing or retirement may disrupt our sense of who we are. The so-called midlife crisis is a crisis of identity.
Typically, we define ourselves by the work we do, the degree we earned, a professional title or a role we play (mother, father, grandparent). Sometimes, we even choose our clothes, car or home to reflect our identity. Facebook pages revealing private information testify to this need to establish a personal identity that makes us unique or connects us with a group or cause.
Understanding who we are is essential to make sense of our lives and our world. It is a lifelong process.
In the Gospels, we hear people question Jesus about His identity. Jesus asks the crowds and His disciples if they know who He is. They have seen Jesus heal the sick, feed the hungry and restore the identity of those who have been cast aside, robbed of their identity -- but Jesus has no degree or position in the Jewish religious establishment. He does not come from a prominent family and has no worldly power or status.
Jesus has no credentials. He has revealed His identity by what He says and does.
Some think He is a prophet, because He challenges the religious authorities and calls people to change their hearts. Peter identifies Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah, but Jesus makes it clear He is not the Messiah that Israel is waiting for. They expected a warrior-king Messiah, whose army would free Israel from Roman rule.
Jesus says He will be rejected by the religious authorities, be killed and rise from the dead. He tells His followers that all who dare to follow Him must be ready to suffer rejection and persecution. It's not what we want to hear -- and it's a poor way to recruit new followers!
Jesus knows His identity not because, as God, he came prepackaged with it; Jesus discovered His identity through His prayer life and in His family. Deep in His heart, He experienced that He was the beloved Son of a loving God He affectionately called "Abba" - "Daddy." He learned the most important lessons in life from His mother, Mary, and foster father, Joseph.
Identity theft -- stealing another person's personal information --- is a fast-growing crime, but a much more dangerous problem is the theft of our God-given identity.
In his letter to the Galatians, Paul warns the early Christians to guard against identity theft, telling them that socially-imposed labels or roles such as "slave," "free," "Jew," "Greek," "male" or "female" do not define their true identity (Gal. 3:28). In the same way, labels such as "Muslim," "Jew," "Hispanic," "Middle Eastern," "gay" or "straight" do not totally define anyone.
We are redefined by baptism into Jesus Christ. In Jesus, we experience our authentic identity: You and I and every person on this planet are beloved sons and daughters of God. We must not let any person or any group steal that identity from us.
Unfortunately, it is easy to mistake the true identities of others. When we focus on the differences we see -- skin color, clothing or religious practices -- our vision is blurred.
The violence in Orlando at a gay nightclub was the tragic result of mistaken identity. One very disturbed man, obsessed with differences and blinded by homophobia, failed to see the true identity of the people he killed and maimed. He did not understand that those 49 people were sons and daughters of Allah, just like him.
Miles away at Orlando Regional Medical Center, another Muslim - Dr. Joseph Ibrahim, a surgeon and immigrant from Egypt -- spent hours trying to save the lives of the mostly gay Latinos injured in the attack. Dr. Ibrahim understood the identity of these women and men. They were his brothers and sisters, and he responded, as Jesus does, with love and compassion.
The question Jesus and the young man at the cathedral asked is one to ponder in the aftermath of Orlando. Do we know who we are? Who is Jesus for us? What might others say if we asked them: "Who do you say that I am?"
Like Jesus, the most powerful way to reveal our true identity to others is by what we say and do.
Many in our world long to know who they are. They are waiting to hear the good news that, despite the false identities other may impose on us, God never forgets our true identity. Whenever we gather as community for Eucharist, we recognize our deepest identity in the breaking of the bread and sharing the cup.
We are God's beloved daughters and sons. That's something to remember the next time we encounter someone who is "different!"[[In-content Ad]]
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