By Dorothy Stoner, osb

Jer 31:31-34 | Heb 5:7-9 | Jn 12:20-33

In a time when it has become necessary to organize "Stop the Hate" vigils throughout the United States, the Scripture readings for today cry out to be heard. When a bureaucracy that claims to be rooted in the Wisdom of God can write and teach that some people are "intrinsically disordered" because of their sexual orientation, thee readings need to be heard. Because we know that an extremely disproportionate number of young black males are incarcerated each year, we need to be attentive to these readings.

    As we remember faithful, reconciling ministers like Jeannine Gramick, SL and Bob Nugent, a Salvatorian priest, being forbidden to work with the gay and lesbian people they love because of what they hold within the privacy of their own consciences or because they don't use the precise words required by authorities, we know we need to listen to these readings.

    After reading and viewing countless news stories that report of angry, bitter crowds of people demanding the death penalty be imposed; of schools, churches, and individuals being targeted for acts of violence; of U.S. government policies being developed and implemented in such uneven ways; of ethnic and religious cleansing continuing day after day, in place after place, we are reminded that we need to learn from these readings....