Clergy from left, Deacon Amy Schmuck, Deacon Cynthia Biddlecomb, retired, The Rev. Mary Ann Hill and The Rev. Lynn Finnegan. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com
By The Rev. Mary Ann Hill
Rector
Trinity on the Hill Episcopal Church
“Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?” “I will, with God’s help.”
This is one of the promises those being baptized make in the Episcopal church, and it’s by far the one that most people claim as their favorite. This Sunday, for many of us, the story of Christ’s own baptism will be our theme, and in my church we will be renewing those promises.
What does it mean to respect the dignity of every human being? Dignity comes from the Latin word “dignitas”, meaning worthiness. In human terms, worthiness is usually things like achievements, wealth, status, or birthright. People often spend lifetimes trying to prove their worthiness.
Christians believe that dignity or worthiness is something we have been given as a gift. It’s something every human has, regardless of age, or status, or mental capacity. No matter who we are, God made us, God loves us, and God has redeemed us, and therefore we have dignity. Sadly, I realize that not everyone behaves as if that were true.
Desmond Tutu, who passed away three years ago, was the Anglican Archbishop of Capetown. Along with Nelson Mandela, he lead the movement to end apartheid in South Africa. When he was a little boy, he had an encounter that profoundly changed his life.
Archbishop Tutu’s mother was a laundress – an extremely low position amongst already very downtrodden people. One day, he was walking along with his mother, when he saw a very tall, white clergyman coming towards them. Usually black South Africans were expected to move aside to let whites pass. But as the stranger drew closer something completely unexpected happened. Rather than waiting for Desmond’s mother to step out of the way, the clergyman doffed his hat to her. Desmond had never seen his mother treated with anything like that kind of respect before.
When he was older, Desmond found out who the man was. “No white person,” said Desmond Tutu, “did more to eradicate apartheid than Trevor Huddleston.” That small act of kindness and respect changed young Desmond’s perspective and the course of his life. After Apartheid fell, he was instrumental in setting up the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which sought restorative justice rather than retribution. Desmond Tutu understood that every human being is a beloved child of God, worthy of dignity and respect and that, just as Christ gave his life to reconcile us to God, we are called to be reconciled to one another.
O God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our humanity, your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Editor’s note: ‘All Shall Be Well’ is a column written by local women clergy including The Rev. Mary Ann Hill, Rector, Trinity on the Hill Episcopal Church (momaryannhill@gmail.com); The Rev. Lynn Finnegan, Associate Rector, The Episcopal Church of the Holy Faith, Santa Fe (rev.lynn@holyfaithchurchsf.org); Deacon Amy Schmuck, Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church (deaconamy@bethluth.com); and ELCA Deacon Cynthia Biddlecomb, M.Div., retired (czoebidd@gmail.com).