It’s hard to read the paper or watch the news with so much
oppressive suffering in our world, and growing divisiveness and violence in our
own land. I understood when a friend
mourned: “This is not the country I know.” What are we becoming? What can we do?
With the psalmist, we can cry out
with and for our brothers and sisters:
“Awake! Why do you sleep, O
Lord? Rise up! Do not reject us forever. Why do you hide your face, why forget our
pain and misery? We are bowed down to
the ground; our bodies are pressed to the ground. Rise up, help us! Redeem us as your love demands.*(Ps. 44) Let not the oppressed turn back in shame;
may the poor and needy praise your name. (Ps. 74) (from the New American Bible c. 1981)
We can address these words to ourselves: Do not hide in your comfort. Rise up!
Open your eyes. Listen with the
ears of your heart. Remember, the pain
and misery of others - the oppressed, the poor. Do something for which others
will praise God. Remember, love is the
only thing that lasts.
What are
we becoming? Only God knows, but if you
believe there is much, much more good than evil in our world, and I’m convinced
there is, we live in hope.
P.S. Recently I saw the film, “Pope Francis: A Man
of His Word.” It is well worth seeing, a
vision-expanding experience. Pope
Francis is urging us, through word and example, to enlarge our hearts, to widen
our view, to heed the cry of the poor, to work for peace, to seek justice, to
bless and care for the earth, and to reach out to others in love, acceptance
and reverence. He radiates the love of
God.
Sr. Sharon Portwood, OSB
Dear sister thank you for the good advice, to remember the pain and misery of others, the oppressed, the poor. Help us Lord to do something kind and loving for others. Pope Francis taught that we must go against the current of the world. To do something for others is the only way to heal the world. God bless OSB, amen
ReplyDeleteThank you for your reminder of hope. i too feel the heavy burden of pain and human misery that we as a nation are creating. Many days it feels that the impulse for good has taken a permanent vacation, Thanks again for the reminder of hope and of all the good that you and the community of Benedictine women stand for.
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