What a week!
(01-24-2010)
This past week we continued to learn about the horrific events in Haiti that led to our call for compassionate care. I thank all of you who were able to donate as we sent funds to Catholic Relief Services to help the people of Haiti find some relief and comfort. There were also a few TV specials that served as a reminder that it has been only 36 years ago that our nation legislated integration and enacted civil rights, The Civil Rights Act of July 2, 1964 was a landmark piece of legislation in the United States that extended voting rights and outlawed racial segregation in schools, at the workplace and by facilities that served the general public ("public accommodations"). The official White House photo of the signing included President Lyndon B. Johnson and standing behind the President was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
As we commemorated the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. this past week, we know that there is still a long road to go. However, there is great progress in lowering racial barriers as we look at the historic event of the oath of the Presidency that took place one year ago on January 20.
This past week, on January 22 was also the 37th year of the ominous signing of the decision by the Supreme Court in the case of Roe vs. Wade, which legalized abortion up to the sixth month of pregnancy. We have so much to do in the work of overturning such a horrible denial of the right to life of the unborn. Is it any wonder why our Church has formulated a global Respect Life Program?
Yesterday (Saturday January 23) thousands marched in peaceful demonstrations throughout our nation to continue to advocate for an appeal of the Roe vs. Wade decision.
Life can be looked upon as so easily disposable—easy to trash. Cultures and races can be so easily dismissed as less than us—unworthy of respect and human rights.
However, there is great hope –good behavior far outnumbers evil behavior and the majority of people are good. Goodness takes place daily in our world and in our lives. I see such goodness in our faith family, the thousands of people I been blessed to have met here.
I see the goodness in your children, and your sacrifices out of love and commitment to Christ. The negative images so often portrayed by the media does not reflect the majority of who we truly are and our values. I don’t think it is an exaggeration to state that billions of people try to live good moral lives. Sadly, such good news is not media worthy. However, not being media worthy does not diminish our willingness to work for the good of others. Such work includes that of pro-life—the respect of all life from conception to natural death.
As we reflect on the monumental issues we face in our nation the right to life MUST BE PROTECTED BY OUR GOODNESS. Locally, we continue to offer options to the horrors of abortion along with other ways to support people in need through Birthright of Napa and Rainbow House, along with free prenatal care at Queen of the Valley. There is counseling and spiritual support and retreats for those who have participated in abortion. There are numerous other support services as well that uphold the dignity of life and its worthiness to protect.
Our readings for today reflect OUR WORTH. The people in the time of Nehemiah wept upon hearing the Word of God —the love—proclaiming holiness and joy in living the law of the Lord. Our oneness is brought out in St. Paul’s Letter as he declares that our different gifts make up the one Body of Christ. St. Paul tells us:
“The body is one and has many members, but all the members, many though they are, are one body, one Spirit, and you then are the body of Christ. Every one of you is a member. …Now the body is not a single part, but many. You are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it.”
God’s pluralism and abundance in creation is reflected in the many parts of the human family. As a part of the Body of Christ we are to share in the care of those that Jesus addresses in his gospel of Luke for today-people who are so easily shunned or forgotten:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor.He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind,to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.”
Hope is the entire mission of Jesus that challenges our lives if we want to live as one in Him. To do so we overcome the negativity in the world around us through our witness of goodness and care—living Jesus’ mission in hope by doing good. Like Jesus we want to eliminate economical, racial, cultural, and physical boundaries that divide us. We also need to make welcome and without judgment those who have sinned in moral decisions. For if we accept Jesus in our lives we must welcome all others as children of God—worthy of love. It is then that we witness our faith not only in words but in deeds.
We are one in Him, Fr. Gordon
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