imago dei

Premise: Let us make man in our image.

We have lost our eyes to see each other. In a world where we turn a blind eye (cross the street, scroll away) from those who do not share the same experience as we do, imago dei is the counter liturgy to bring us back to what we were made for.

We don’t know how to stand across from someone who doesn’t agree with what we believe and let them believe it without wanting to change their mind.

The ideas that are hurtful, that infringe on my circle of rights to be who I want to be, are not welcomed here. You with those thoughts are not welcomed here.

Imago dei in the neighbor next door — grumpy, undocumented, kind, different, strange, not what we’re used to.

Imago dei in our political opponents, those who would fight against us, and deprive us of our very rights.

Imago dei in those who would persecute you, who would intend harm towards you, who would curse you — bless them.

We feel so entitled to our rights, our idols of rightness and wrongess we become Pharisees of law and order. This isn’t how it should be done and because it’s not done in the right way (the way I think is right), and so you are other, not even human, starving (not our problem), dying (not my problem) (I’m only trying to survive myself).

Imago dei from womb to tomb — not a balancing of rights, but a holding of them not from utility but from declared conferred dignity.

Imago dei in the person who believes they are doing their best to fight for a better world, even if the world isn’t one you want to live in.

You exist because you exist. You deserve to exist because you are here.

The Creation of Adam, a panel of the painted ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican City, Rome by the Italian Renaissance artist Michelangelo (1475–1564 CE). Made 1508–12 CE.