"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 we encounter God. How is it then that such great injustices, racism, bigotry and misogyny, are so prevalent in our “Christian” society? Racism, bigotry and misogyny are outright sins and need to be called 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 are committed more and more frequently and without appropriate consequences.
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 their society….and Jesus defends this unacceptable 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 uphold the laws that created a patriarchal society that clearly valued men over women. 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 or dishonored the dignity of a person.
Jesus reached out to the poor and the marginalized and commanded that his disciples do the same and in doing so they would be recognized as his followers. We simply cannot stand by in silence as our government continues to separate immigrant children from their parents, housing them in inhumane and heartless conditions, turning away legitimate asylum seekers and immigrants fleeing violence, poverty, seeking a better life for themselves and their families. As disciples we have to ask ourselves what are we doing in the face of the racism, bigotry and misogyny that plagues our nation? How can we work to build justice, to call out the racism, bigotry and misogyny in all its forms whether in our schools, our neighborhoods, our places of work or the highest offices of our government? How will I “do justice” this week, how will I live out my discipleship of Jesus Christ?
Blessings,
Fr Tim
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 their society….and Jesus defends this unacceptable 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 uphold the laws that created a patriarchal society that clearly valued men over women. 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 or dishonored the dignity of a person.
Jesus reached out to the poor and the marginalized and commanded that his disciples do the same and in doing so they would be recognized as his followers. We simply cannot stand by in silence as our government continues to separate immigrant children from their parents, housing them in inhumane and heartless conditions, turning away legitimate asylum seekers and immigrants fleeing violence, poverty, seeking a better life for themselves and their families. As disciples we have to ask ourselves what are we doing in the face of the racism, bigotry and misogyny that plagues our nation? How can we work to build justice, to call out the racism, bigotry and misogyny in all its forms whether in our schools, our neighborhoods, our places of work or the highest offices of our government? How will I “do justice” this week, how will I live out my discipleship of Jesus Christ?
Blessings,
Fr Tim
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