Accountability

February 26

Readings – EZ 18:21-28; MT 5:20-26

While both readings of the day speak to “the law,” my sense is that what they are talking about is what we call “accountability” today.  For me I have often heard the term accountability used in a punitive sense, as in, “I’m going to hold you accountable!”  And, as a result, I can’t say I was all that attracted to it!

Jesus did not seem so concerned about following the letter of the law so much as being accountable to the spirit of the law.  He knew that following the “law” does not guarantee that we will treat each other right. I often think of the quote, “Apartheid was legal. The Holocaust was legal. Slavery was legal. Colonialism was legal. Legality is a matter of power, not justice.” (Jose Antonio Vargas)

Jesus breaks down some of the common sayings of the time (that were associated with the law) and unpacks them a bit (and in some cases contradicts them).  His famous series of statements, “You have heard it said…, but I say…” are meant to expand our consciousness and speak to our hearts.

He goes on to suggest that harm has often happened way before the noticeable act occurs and says that when there are unreconciled parts of relationships, there’s already a problem.

Mia Mingus has done some extraordinary work related to accountability and has helped to reshape my understandings.  She says that “true accountability, by its very nature, should push us to grow and change, to transform…[and it] requires a death and a birth, an ending and a beginning. True accountability requires vulnerability and courage [and that] accountability is generative, not punitive.”

Mingus goes on to say that accountability should be “proactive…[and] accountability for our actions is an important way we can build trust with the people in our lives…It is a practice of interdependence, a way to care for those we love and our selves, and shows that we have done our own internal work to take responsibility for our actions.”

I can’t think of a better Lenten frame and this seems so in line with the heart of Jesus’ message.  If we know something is wrong, address it.  And Mingus offers 4 simple (but not easy) steps to do so: Self-Reflection, Apologizing, Repair and Behavior Change.  These are all challenging in their own way and are even more complex when applied to collective situations.

The bottom line is that we don’t engage in Lenten repentance because God’s angry with us or is going to punish us.  We do this because we are in interdependent relationships that require trust building – in our primary relationships and in the wider society.  Taking account for our actions sends the message that we care and are committed to another way of being in the world – one that does not hurt or harm.  And that is everyone’s job.

I would encourage anyone who is interested to check out Mia Mingus’ work at https://leavingevidence.wordpress.com/2019/12/18/how-to-give-a-good-apology-part-1-the-four-parts-of-accountability/?fbclid=IwAR2L2gdWrqN49F9YhSf0bNUTVhXIeuG6rodseYcCaDEtgnhSXh5mttTRlrA