Reflection on the Readings:
June 27, 2010 & July 4, 2010: The Thirteenth and Fourteenth Sundays in Ordinary Time
Our gospel reading for June 27th tells us both of those who say to Jesus, "I will follow you wherever you go" and those to whom Jesus calls "Follow me....and proclaim the kingdom of God". What is it that we, as disciples, as followers of Christ are called to? This week's readings invite us to consider our call. In Paul's letter to the Galatians, we are told, "serve one another through love. For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement, namely, You shall love your neighbor as yourself" and in the Psalms, we hear that "You will show me the path to life" and "I set the LORD ever before me; with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed." What an abundant and rich inheritance we have, in our full tradition and history. The path is shown to us through our relationship with God. How appropriate, for us, as Franciscans, who are called to imitate Francis and Clare's examples of continued "yes" to God. For Francis, this in part, was shown in how he deeply reverenced and respected all beings that he encountered, from the beggar, to the leper, to Mount Subasio and the creation that was all around him. Writing of Clare, Murray Bodo reminds us, "As she grew in experience and understanding of her commitment, she had to say yes again and again to a way of life that was not exactly the life she had expected at the beginning" (Clare, A light in the garden, p. 44). Our following of Jesus' invitation to follow him is realized in our serving one another through love, which upon first glance might seem easy. How often though, do we find that we are called to realize this call, this yes, in a new and challenging way? More importantly, do we respond to it?
Our readings for July 4th continue this conversation, encouraging us to "cry out to God with joy" (Ps. 66) and sing God's praises, much like Francis, rejoicing, sang the Canticle of the Creatures. In Galatians, hear Paul's message, to follow the rule of the cross, for only "the new creation" means anything. Isaiah's images are of an abundance of God's love and gifts "as a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you", and "nurse with delight at her abundant breasts!" These maternal images draw to mind the generosity that parents offer their children. God too, has poured out God's love abundantly upon us. With our foundation in Christ, the grace we receive has an opportunity to overflow from our lives, splashing onto all of those we encounter. In the Gospel, Jesus invites his seventy-two disciples to a life of faith and freedom, a life of sharing the good news of God's abundance for all and the new creation! We too, like Francis and Clare, like Blessed Junipero Serra, whom we remember on July 1st , and like Mother Mary Francis Bachmann, remembered on June 29th, are called to share this good message of joy, abundance, renewal, and grace with all that we encounter. We share the message by becoming the message, transformed by the fire of God's love. How are we integrating the new creation into our lives? Where are we proclaiming God's abundant love for all?
Clare and Francis in-spirited both Blessed Junipero Serra and Mother Mary Francis Bachmann in their work and vocation. Father Serra worked with the native populations in much of California, founding nine missions which grew into twenty-one missions throughout the region. He tirelessly strove to build relationships with the Native Americans and tried to fight against some of the injustices inflicted on them by the Spanish soldiers. In pursuit of these, Serra walked thousands of miles. Mother Mary Francis Bachmann, co-foundress of the Sisters of St. Francis, worked with German immigrant women in Philadelphia; other sisters in her order worked with German and Irish immigrants in New York. Today three congregations trace their roots back to her.
In The Testament, Clare says, "Be kind so that others may approach you". More recently, Pope Benedict has told us in Caritas in Veritate that "Charity always manifests God's love in human relationships as well; it gives theological and salvific value to all commitment for justice in the world." (no. 6). Read on to learn of ways that Franciscans around the country have been manifesting God's love in their relationships with immigrants.
|
Speak Out:
At our monthly Heart of Texas Fellowship meeting, Third Order Society of St. Francis members agreed to sign a group letter to President Barrack Obama requesting action on immigration reform. (I had downloaded the letter from the Franciscan Action Network and edited it before our meeting.) What a wonderful surprise it was to receive a personal letter back from Obama with links to information about what he is planning to do! I encourage all Franciscans to write to him. Pace e bene, Francesca Wigle, TSSF
Connect:
On May 22, 2010 thirty women gathered with their children for a day of rest and rejuvenation. Between volunteers and children, there were about fifty people in attendance. This event has been held for the last 5 years and was motivated by the sisters' desire to provide an opportunity for the Hispanic women to have some time off; during the day, the children are cared for by others who come just for that purpose. The mothers are able to eat breakfast and hear a talk. This talk is given by Sr. Carmen deBarros (there is also a scholarship available to 8th grade Hispanic students who will be attending Catholic high school that is awarded in Sr. Carmen's honor). The day also included art, massage, prayer and a discussion forum. This year, the women also discussed a letter to the editor that was sent by Sister Marge Wissman, OSF, on behalf of the Hispanic committee in Hillandale, in response to an earlier letter to the editor. Both can be seen here. The participants shared with the sisters that their biggest fears and needs revolve around health care. The day ended with prayer and each family took home several items: the women received toiletry bags, a geranium, and a religious item while the children all received a toy.
Hear their stories:
"Aren't I human? My blood is red; I imagine yours is too," said the woman through desperate tears before members of Congress at the June 11th ad hoc hearing. Beside her were others, women and children who have been affected by Arizona's controversial senate bill 1070 requiring police to ask for documentation from those whom they suspect to have entered illegally in the United States. While SB 1070 does not officially enter into effect until July 28th, Arizona's undocumented immigrants are already feeling the backlash of this controversial law. This law, as the women pointed out, will allow racial profiling to take place and exacerbate the culture of hatred that already exists between citizens and immigrants. Katherine Figueroa, now ten years old, shared her story with Congressman Grijalva of Arizona, recounting the day when she came home from school to find her house empty. Both her parents had been taken during a workplace raid while she was at school. Katherine, who now lives with relatives, says she continues to have nightmares of the event and fears that the sheriff will come to take away all her loves ones. Sadly, Katherine is not the first or the last child to be left behind. Silvia Rodriguez, a recent college graduate, was left homeless when the news of SB 1070 drove her family out of Arizona for fear of deportation. Sylvia shared a poem with those present. These stories represent just a few of the countless tragedies that have already taken place, despite the law not even being active as of yet. The women and children represented in the hearing will face even more turbulence in the months ahead. We can only hope Congress' plea to the President will bring about the necessary changes to bring compassion and peace into the lives of our immigrant brothers and sisters.
To follow Sylvia's story, check out her blog
|
|
Did someone forward this message to you? If you like what you see, click below to be added to our mailing list and receive updates like this directly to your inbox!
|
Did you miss our recent web conference on Civil Dialogue from a Franciscan perspective? You can still hear it! Click here to go to the FAN page and hear it. Sunday resources for July 4, 2010 around Civil Dialogue from a Franciscan Perspective are also available for free download. |
| Donate Franciscan Sourcebooks
The FAN Office is looking for donations of new or lightly used copies of sourcebooks and storybooks from the Franciscan tradition for our office reference library.
We are especially looking for copies of the 4 volume Francis of Assisi sourcebooks edited by Regis Armstrong (including the index!)
If you or your communities have these or other Franciscan sourcebooks and are not using them, please consider donating them to FAN!
Please contact Marc DelMonico at the FAN Office for more information or to make a donation. |
We need your help to prepare for key educational and civic engagement activities around! Please consider a tax-deductible donation today!
|
|
