“They who do justice will live in the presence of the Lord.” The responsorial psalm this weekend tells us that it is by doing justice that we live in the presence of God…it is in and through building justice that we co-create the Reign of God.
How is it then that such great injustices like racism, bigotry and misogyny, are so prevalent in our “Christian” society? Racism, bigotry and misogyny are outright sins and need to be called out for what they are.
Justice demands that we look at the very structure of our society that claims to be built on the ideal of “justice for all persons,” and yet, clearly acts contradictory to our notion of all women and men being equal. Actions in outright violation of people’s civil rights are committed more and more frequently and without appropriate consequences, especially to people of color, women, immigrants, refugees and migrants and those seeking asylum!
The reality of “inequality” is seen in the Gospel this weekend. Mary chooses to sit at the feet of Jesus “as a disciple” -- a decidedly male role, clearly breaking the norms of her society --and Jesus defends this unorthodox behavior.
Mary is drawn to Jesus’ words like other women of Jerusalem who broke with tradition and traveled with Jesus to support him in his mission. Jesus did not up-hold the laws that supported a patriarchal society that clearly valued men and devalued women and children.
This attitude of inclusion that Jesus demonstrates over and over again -- by eating with sinners, tax collectors and prostitutes -- shows his willingness to stand up to societal conventions that degraded, dishonored and ignored the dignity of people on the margins.
Jesus reached out to the poor and the marginalized and commanded that his disciples do the same and in doing so they would come to be recognized as his followers.
We simply cannot stand by in silence as our government continues to disrespect and degrade immigrants and refugees, housing them in inhumane and heartless conditions and turning away legitimate asylum seekers and immigrants fleeing violence and poverty; those seeking a better life for themselves and their families.
We cannot stand by in silence while our government freely choses to deport people to foreign countries, other than from where they came, as a form of crulty and revenge for them having come here without proper documentation. This practice is nothing other than vidictive and meant to traumatize these immigrants and their families. This is more than morally wrong. It is evil.
As disciples we have to ask ourselves what are we doing in the face of the sin of institutionalized racism, bigotry and misogyny and hate crimes that plagues our nation?
How can we work together to build true justice for all people -- to call out racism, bigotry, white supremacy, misogyny and anti LGBTQ+ rhetoric and actions, whether in our schools, our neighborhoods, our places of work or the highest offices of our government?
Filled with the Holy Spirit let us go forth emboldened to build up the Reign of God and be builders of peace and justice. To do as Jesus commanded us to do by continuing to welcome the stranger, feed the hungry and shelter the unhoused, clothe the naked and loving God with our whole being and our neighbor as ourselves. This is who we are called to be as disciples of Jesus Christ and this will be our response to the manufactured, intended chaos being created by this administration in Washington D.C.
Let us continue to be the face of Mercy with words and actions that stand against the chaos and lies, and stand with the most vulnerable and at risk in our communities and our nation -- letting them know that they are not alone, that we see them, love them and will stand with them against all that is dark, against all that is unjust, immoral, corrupt and violates their human rights. To let them know that we see them, we recognize them; that they are our neighbor! Let us continue to act out, to write, to call and to march. To make our call for justice and peace heard in the halls of
Congress and beyond. And in doing so, we will be living out our discipleship of Jesus Christ.
God’s Blessings,
Fr. Tim
How is it then that such great injustices like racism, bigotry and misogyny, are so prevalent in our “Christian” society? Racism, bigotry and misogyny are outright sins and need to be called out for what they are.
Justice demands that we look at the very structure of our society that claims to be built on the ideal of “justice for all persons,” and yet, clearly acts contradictory to our notion of all women and men being equal. Actions in outright violation of people’s civil rights are committed more and more frequently and without appropriate consequences, especially to people of color, women, immigrants, refugees and migrants and those seeking asylum!
The reality of “inequality” is seen in the Gospel this weekend. Mary chooses to sit at the feet of Jesus “as a disciple” -- a decidedly male role, clearly breaking the norms of her society --and Jesus defends this unorthodox behavior.
Mary is drawn to Jesus’ words like other women of Jerusalem who broke with tradition and traveled with Jesus to support him in his mission. Jesus did not up-hold the laws that supported a patriarchal society that clearly valued men and devalued women and children.
This attitude of inclusion that Jesus demonstrates over and over again -- by eating with sinners, tax collectors and prostitutes -- shows his willingness to stand up to societal conventions that degraded, dishonored and ignored the dignity of people on the margins.
Jesus reached out to the poor and the marginalized and commanded that his disciples do the same and in doing so they would come to be recognized as his followers.
We simply cannot stand by in silence as our government continues to disrespect and degrade immigrants and refugees, housing them in inhumane and heartless conditions and turning away legitimate asylum seekers and immigrants fleeing violence and poverty; those seeking a better life for themselves and their families.
We cannot stand by in silence while our government freely choses to deport people to foreign countries, other than from where they came, as a form of crulty and revenge for them having come here without proper documentation. This practice is nothing other than vidictive and meant to traumatize these immigrants and their families. This is more than morally wrong. It is evil.
As disciples we have to ask ourselves what are we doing in the face of the sin of institutionalized racism, bigotry and misogyny and hate crimes that plagues our nation?
How can we work together to build true justice for all people -- to call out racism, bigotry, white supremacy, misogyny and anti LGBTQ+ rhetoric and actions, whether in our schools, our neighborhoods, our places of work or the highest offices of our government?
Filled with the Holy Spirit let us go forth emboldened to build up the Reign of God and be builders of peace and justice. To do as Jesus commanded us to do by continuing to welcome the stranger, feed the hungry and shelter the unhoused, clothe the naked and loving God with our whole being and our neighbor as ourselves. This is who we are called to be as disciples of Jesus Christ and this will be our response to the manufactured, intended chaos being created by this administration in Washington D.C.
Let us continue to be the face of Mercy with words and actions that stand against the chaos and lies, and stand with the most vulnerable and at risk in our communities and our nation -- letting them know that they are not alone, that we see them, love them and will stand with them against all that is dark, against all that is unjust, immoral, corrupt and violates their human rights. To let them know that we see them, we recognize them; that they are our neighbor! Let us continue to act out, to write, to call and to march. To make our call for justice and peace heard in the halls of
Congress and beyond. And in doing so, we will be living out our discipleship of Jesus Christ.
God’s Blessings,
Fr. Tim
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