from the Editor
Dear reader ,
How is this already the last letter I ’ m writing as Editor-in-Chief of Cornerstone ? I don ’ t even know how to begin . So much has happened in my life , in this country , in this world , since the day I led my first meeting . So much has happened in this year alone .
Where do we even start ? COVID-19 . Racial injustice . Campus shutdowns . Economic uncertainty . California fires . Rampant conspiracy theories . Our newspaper headlines and social media feeds make it starkly apparent that we are in terrible need of healing — not just from the pandemic and its socio-economic impacts , but also from racism , partisan politics , misinformation . The list is endless .
So what do we do ? We lament . Socially distance . Vote . Wear masks . Protest . Pray . And here at Cornerstone , we have also tried to create : to write , to make art , to build a community as best we can . Our efforts over the past few months , by God ’ s grace , have culminated in this Spring 2021 issue , “ Healing .”
Healing . I am not Catholic , but that word always reminds me of a line from Catholic liturgy that I have always found deeply moving . Lord , I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof , but only say the word and my soul shall be healed . These words remind us that we need healing , and they remind us that we have a healer who freely offers an unmerited balm of love and grace .
The words themselves are drawn from Matthew 8 , in which Jesus heals a Roman centurion ’ s servant . Jesus was certainly no stranger to sickness or sorrow or suffering during His life and ministry . So many of the Gospel stories tell of Jesus healing the sick , and He himself endured not only the pain of crucifixion but also the sting of betrayal . But through His death and resurrection , He heals us of the stain of sin and gives us new life . And in this broken world , we are called to participate in God ’ s healing work — to confront sins both personal and collective , to love our neighbors as ourselves , to do justice and love mercy and walk humbly .
In the following pages , our writers have responded to the theme of “ healing ” in a number of ways . Claire Lin uses the lens of medical anthropology to reflect upon Jesus as the Great Physician . Karis Ryu draws on the story of the martyr Stephen to urge us toward love and justice . Melanie Kim reminds us that God ’ s assurances are a salve to an unsettled , unhappy heart . Reader , I hope you ’ ll join me in thanking the staff for their hard work ! And to all our Cornerstone members , old and new : I cannot tell you how important you all have been to my college experience . Thank you for your fellowship and for all the good times . Thank you for always orienting me back to our wounded healer .
Lord , we are not worthy that you should enter under our roofs , yet you sent us the Word to dwell among us , and by His wounds , we are healed .
One last time , yours truly ,
Naomi Kim is a senior at Brown studying English .
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