Heart for the City

Last Easter I drove up to my mom’s house in the suburbs of Philadelphia. Plans for Easter can be a challenge. On one hand, I want to see my family, most of whom live about a 90-mile drive away. On the other hand, it comes after a usually exhausting day. Staff had to be at Nativity for a 6:45 am meeting to pray and prepare for the crowds of people coming that day for our slate of Masses. Then we worked until about 2 pm, cleaning up. So often on Easter Sunday I just want to take a nap and not get in a car and drive two hours. This year we decided to go up and spend the night because my oldest son Max was home from the Marine Corps. He not only wanted to see my family but check out some sites in Philadelphia and go to a Phillies game.

Blessedly, I didn’t feel too tired after the Easter Masses and we had a very good time with the family in the evening, which included throwing a baseball around and watching old family videos.  Then on Monday afternoon, we drove into the city to go see a memorial maker for Tun Tavern where the Marine Corps was started in a bar, the Liberty bell and of course the Rocky statue.

As we drove into the city, we saw some dilapidated buildings, graffiti, and litter. Even my 11-year-old son Caleb commented, “There is trash everywhere.” My son Max reacted with disgust at the corruption and the brokenness of the situation. And I get it. It’s a natural response when we see our cities in disarray. On a regular basis I drive into the city of Baltimore and see a similar scene.

Disgust can be a natural response not only at the physical decay we see in the cities but the spiritual corruption that leads to the decay. But I think as Christians, we are called to something different.

God is a God of redemption. And I think he is calling us to love our cities and work for their redemption. The purpose of the Church is not just hang out in our holy huddles but to be a force for redemption in our world and the cities represent and incredible opportunity for the light of Christ to shine. I think sometimes we think of cities as evil because there are the problems of drug abuse and violence and other corruptions. There is a feeling that the pastoral areas are God’s but the cities are man-made Babel.

But we must reject that thinking. The earth belongs to the Lord and there is a beauty to the city that must be loved. St. John talks about a heavenly Jerusalem. Similarly, I believe there will be a heavenly Philadelphia and a heavenly Baltimore and other heavenly expressions of other cities. Not only are there heavenly cities, but we are to bring heaven to earthly cities right now.

In the book of Jeremiah, God says to the Israelites who are living in exile, way from their homeland:

Seek the welfare of the city to which I have exiled you; pray for it, for upon its welfare your own depends…For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope.  Jeremiah 29: 7, 11

God tells his people to seek the welfare of the city. He tells them to work for its good. He tells them to pray for the city and he even links the welfare of his people with the health and well-being of the city in which they live. This is the truth about our cities. They have a great impact on our own welfare. God doesn’t tell us to criticize or complain about our cities but to work for their well-being for our own welfare.

Whatever develops in the city tends to have profound effect on the suburbs and surrounding area and even the nation. Influence tends to move from the city outward. Think about popular music. The popular music of jazz, rock n roll, rap, hip hop - all started in the city. Even the classical music that has been played for centuries was composted and conducted in cities.

Cities are culture and knowledge development centers, bringing together diverse groups of people and human talent. The concentration of talent coupled with competition and collaboration produce greater, art, science, technology and business. It's why as a church we must take interest in our city – it has such a huge influence on people’s thoughts and behaviors.

So God tells us to seek the welfare of our cities. Then we see Jesus modeled for us a concern for the cities in his love for Jerusalem. Jesus grew up way, way outside the city in the town of Nazareth. Yet, he knew the importance of the city and how much it affected the thought and culture of the surrounding areas. It was the seat of political power and culture and arts just as our cities are today.

Here’s how the Gospel of Luke describes Jesus’ heart as he drew near to the city of Jerusalem for the last time:

He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If this day you only knew what makes for peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.”  Luke 19:41-42

Jesus wept over the city and over its people. His heart broke and he wanted something better for them. This is the heart of God. He still loves people and has plans for our cities that are good. If Jesus can redeem the whole world, than he has the power to redeem our cities. He wants to use us as his hands and feet and our resources to bring his redemption and healing.

There are two major ways in which I am connected to efforts to bring healing and help to my adopted city of Baltimore. (Philadelphia will always be my home.)

One is through prayer circles. Two friends of mine have started prayer circles for the city. Small groups of people from different sectors of society get together to pray for God’s blessing on the city. We are beginning to see powerful results.

Second, through our parish’s efforts to serve our city. We continue to work to change and transform areas of the city, especially through the Poppleton Rec center that our parish worked to open.

As Christians, God calls us to love and not despise our cities. Out of that love to pray and work for their well-being. Be open to the ways God is calling you and your parish to be a force of redemption for your city.

Rooting for you, 
Tom