Active Silence and Listening to Others

Text: Mark 15:16-41
 
I want to say something.  I want to say a lot of things.  Responses and scriptures overflow my mind, just as fear and rage threaten to flood my heart.  And I find this torrent of emotional and mental activity is met with a bevy of outlets, places I can speak openly, and I have no trouble giving it form and expression. 
 
I want to say something.  And I will, I’m sure.  But not yet.
 
Right now, especially now, I need to be silent and just listen – and not with passive ears or a mind preoccupied with how I will respond.  I need to practice active silence.

Active silence is stepping to the back of the line and creating space and opportunity for others to speak, especially those who don’t look like me or experience life as I do – those voices that I don’t normally hear. 
 
And so, Northside Church, I invite you to join me in hearing the words of an African American pastor and brother in the faith, Dr. D.J. Coleman.  He was classmate of mine at Emory, and his brief, yet compelling, response the day after George Floyd’s murder both challenges and encourages reflection:
 
 
Again. Another day of mourning. As yet another video of the unjust murder of a black life circulates online, I am overwhelmed with many feelings. In that video, a police officer is shown with his knee on a black man’s neck, but there are also others present: three other police officers and bystanders- both pleading and silent. I reflected on who I most identified with in that video; what would I have done? 
 
As a theologian, I can’t help but think about the unjust murder of Jesus. I wonder if Jesus’ murder had been recorded and available for me to watch, how would it make me feel? Who would I be in that video? Am I the Roman soldier who nailed Jesus to the cross? Am I the police officer with his knee on George Floyd’s neck? Am I Mary watching my son die? Am I Floyd crying out for mama? Am I a helpless and scared disciple? Am I a helpless bystander pleading with the police to relent? Am I recording a narrative of Jesus’ death? Am I the person holding the camera? What do I make of these unjust deaths? 
 
The death of Jesus has surely directed my life. George Floyd is not Jesus, but perhaps his death can help direct me, direct us -our nation- as we work toward creating a more just society. Will his legacy be a hashtag and a horrific video that sparked outrage on social media? Or will his unjust death motivate us to stand up for the oppressed?
 
Do we hear these words?  Do we know the answer to these questions for ourselves and our church?
 
Let’s sit with them awhile – and continue to listen.