Easter Season has come and gone, we are ready to celebrate Pentecost, we are in our third month of living in pandemic times, with perhaps a slow opening promised somewhere on a near horizon…
We are forced to confront our human realities still in ordinary time.
Our country is in turmoil yet again, over another example of brutality over the death of our brother George Floyd. Jesus’ words to the leaders of his day seem particularly poignant to me: “Are you not mislead because you do not know scripture or the power of God?” (Wed. 6/3 readings for daily Mass)
If we take a moment to be honest with ourselves, let those words sink in, isn’t this the root of all our human suffering still today? We don’t know who God is, or trust God’s ability to lead us to life and wholeness.
We are indeed misled, heck, we’re lost, if we are not rooted in God’s word.
We can get sucked into all sorts of nonsensical arguments like “whose wife will she be in paradise” or if wearing a face covering infringes on my civil rights, or how oppressed people react when pushed too far…
Should we not rather be concentrating on the truth-
If we believe that the Holy Spirit brings gifts of truth and wisdom and courage … and we hear St Paul’s words that we must let the grace of God burn like a flame in our hearts …
Why are we, at times, ashamed of this grace, and of this faith that we have been given…
As people of faith, what are we called to do in this moment of unrest? How are we called to stand with our brothers and sisters who are beaten down, having the very breath of life choked out of them, because of the color of their skin?
Honestly, I don’t know the answer for me, let alone, for anyone else. What I do know, is that I can’t be afraid to enter into the conversation.
I have to ask questions and listen to other points of view. I have to be willing to learn from others who have a different experience and perspective from my own. I have to be open to where the challenge may come from, be it a conversation in a faith sharing group, my young niece, or a comment on facebook that makes me uncomfortable.
I’m starting to understand that the things that make me uncomfortable are the clues God gives me to see where I need to grow a bit more. Can you acknowledge what part of these horrible stories make you uneasy?
The disciples and friends of Jesus spent 50 days secluded pretty much in that upper room…doing who knows what…waiting for the courage to go out and begin to share the story of who Jesus was and how he changed their lives. When the re entered their society, their words and actions changed the world!
We have spent something like 90 days in our homes…and as we begin to open our doors and enter into society again…something as terrible as the murder of Mr Floyd occurs. What is wrong with us? And, honestly my sisters and brothers, what is wrong with us if we are not heartbroken by this tragedy? After 90 days of solitude, time we could have used for growth and prayer…are we ready to change our world? Don't we want our world to be better?
I know we are not all given to public displays, or civil action, but still…?
If we are not all somehow saddened by the death of our brother, than I do think our hearts are hardened. We are indeed misled, we do not know a thing about our God, who weeps at the death of another one of his children.
So, maybe the thing is, we need to be honest with ourselves. In our heart of hearts, where is God in the midst of all of this, and where are we? Do we believe that all persons are loved by God regardless of the color of their skin? If we say we believe that, than what, really, in God’s name, are we doing?
All I know for sure, is that we need to keep talking to one another, asking the Holy Spirit to guide our minds and hearts to ways of peace and understanding. Eternal rest grant George Floyd and our hearts and prayers for his family.
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