 |
"Here and there
an individual or group dares to love, and rises
to the majestic heights
of moral maturity."
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
Creator of all our days,
we gather in the
promising dawn
of a new year,
but also in the shadows
of the tragic shootings
in Tucson last weekend.
God of compassion,
bring comfort to those
who mourn;
grant healing to all
who were wounded.
We pray now for the
safety of all who serve
the public in this city....
May they serve
without fear of violence
at the hands
of those they serve.
This week, O God,
we prepare to honor
the life and legacy of
Martin Luther King, Jr.
May this holiday
fill us with hope
that oppression
can be defeated,
that justice will prevail,
that nonviolence can
overcome all violence,
and that every person
can live in freedom and
be accorded dignity.
Now we turn to our
business, O God,
drawn forward by
Dr. King's bright dream
of hope.
God of wisdom
and justice, help these
public servants
to deliberate wisely,
and to deal fairly
with one another
and with all who
come before them.
God of abundant
blessings, shower
blessings upon
the City of San Antonio
and all its people.
Amen.
Bill's Invocation
San Antonio City Council
January 13, 2011
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Culture of Violence
A couple of weeks ago, I was invited to deliver the invocation for the San Antonio City Council meeting on January 13 (see box). At the time, I never imagined I would feel compelled to pray for the safety of the council members. After the tragedy in Tucson on January 8, that is just what I did.
It has been interesting to observe the arc of political commentary about the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and others. Many commentators first blamed the inflammatory political rhetoric of recent years. Soon, wiser heads pointed out that much of the finger-pointing blaming certain individuals or groups amounted to little more than another example of inflammatory rhetoric.
I then heard a panel discussion about the inadequacies of our system for treating the mentally ill. Next up was an interview about the gun control laws (or lack thereof) that let the accused gunman, despite all the warning signs, legally purchase a semi-automatic handgun and legally carry the concealed weapon to Rep. Giffords' event.
All these topics are worthy of consideration, but it was New York Times columnist Bob Herbert who got to the heart of the matter: We live in "a culture that glorifies and embraces violenc e as entertainment, and views violence as an appropriate and effective response to the things that bother us." So far in the 21st century, over 150,000 Americans have been murdered - not counting the victims of the terror attacks of September 11, 2001. The Children's Defense Fund reports that every day eight children or teenagers in this country are victims of gun violence. Despite all this, Herbert sadly concludes, "The two most common responses to violence in the U.S. are to ignore it or be entertained by it."
I have no easy answers, but you and I can at least stop ignoring the violence and start by fervently praying - and living- the Prayer of St Francis:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love,,,,
- Bill | | |
|
Shadows- by Jan
Our morning prayer, Lauds, on this day opened with Psalm 36: "Sin speaks to the wicked in the depths of their hearts." In our minds still stings the stormy memory of the recent shootings in Tucson and the media commentators bickering about vitriol between political parties and opposing demagogues. The climate of violence brings flooding rains of sadness and torrents of unhappiness.
Psalm 36 goes on to say: "To both human and beast you give salvation. How precious is your love. The children of this earth take refuge in the shadow of your wings." How can we amplify the climate of salvation in our world? The answer, of course, is clearly in the Psalm. Take refuge in God's precious love, in the shadow of God's wings.
When we come to the end of the day, when sunshine fades and silence falls, the shadows become longer, and we can see the grand breadth of God's wings. When the darkening shadow brings an end to our day, in our evening prayer, Vespers, we might consider in our Examen of Consciousness*: What are the ways I have contributed to the collective sin of the heart? How have I engaged in vitriolic conversation, grudges, prejudices, and acerbities? Have I taken delight in gossip and calumny?
When we come to the end of ourselves, when we finally come to the end of ourselves, there remains only one question: How have I engaged with God's precious love - peacefully in the shadow of God's wings?
*View a Jesuit video on the Examen of Consciousness. Follow a simple 5-step method of the Examen of Consciousness. Read George Aschenbrenner's classic 1972 article on the Examen of Consciousness.
|
Please share Reflection freely by forwarding any issue (click "Forward email" below), but remember to respect copyright laws by not altering, copying, or reproducing Reflection, whole or in part, without written permission.
Copyright (c) 2011 Soul Windows Ministries
|
Soul Windows Greeting Cards
Fill someone's heart with inspiration. Soul Windows Cards combine Bill's stunning photography with words of blessing and hope. |
|
|
|
|
