The readings for this weekend offer a challenge. What to emphasize? The week opens today (Sunday) with the observance of the Week of Prayer for Church Unity. This ritual has a rich history of 100 years of prayer for the fulfillment of Jesus’ prayer at the Last Supper “that all may be one.”
Prince of peace, we cry out for Your divine intervention in Israel and the surrounding regions. We earnestly petition You to bestow tranquility upon this land. May prosperity flourish, and may Your unwavering peace reign over the hearts of all people.
Tomorrow (Monday) our nation takes time to contemplate the impact of Martin Luther King on the course of history. It may be tempting to treat this day like any other. Many of us, however, cannot forget that we grew up in a segregated society. Most of us remember attending – or for that matter teaching in – racially segregated schools. We can remember “whites only” water fountains, lunch counters and seats on the bus. The name of Martin Luther King, Jr. stands for the blood, sweat and tears of many, many people. Praise God for people who live by the courage of their convictions.
Now, if that doesn’t offer us enough to pray about, let’s turn to the three readings in our liturgy. They are, I believe, an example of a woven piece of God’s mysterious message-giving. They create a colorful piece with threads that weave the way from Isaiah, through Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, into the Gospel of John, laced with verses from the Responsorial Psalm 96.
From Isaiah (in the first reading) we hear: “I will not be silent; I will not be quiet.” (Mmm – Didn’t Martin Luther King echo that same message?) Now slip in a line from the Responsorial Psalm: “Announce God’s salvation day by day.” (sentiments of Unity Week). Some years this leads us right into a touching Gospel story of a son’s response to an implied request of His mom. Mary could not resist the impulse, the urge to encourage her Son to come to the rescue of a wedding couple’s embarrassment. She’d raised this man/child. She knew he’d take her hint. Turning toward the wine-servers, she says simply: “Do what he tells you.” And they did just that.
A question to ponder: Who could have observed that quiet exchange? Scriptural Scholars tell us it was the beloved John, the only one of Christ’s original disciples who lived into old age and was not martyred for the faith. He can tell that story from an old man’s perspective laced with the wisdom and vision that is a gift of the elderly. We know so well that stories are a gift given by older members to the newer ones. The elders are the torch bearers; the younger are the keepers of the torch. It is they who are responsible for coaxing the sparks that keep the embers glowing. They breathe new life into our legacy. Stories of the “good ole days” may wear old but consider what we’d miss if John and the other evangelists had kept secret their experiences with Jesus.
In today’s world, much like the days of early Christianity, people are facing crises of migration, prejudice, hunger for food, companionship, health care services, violence and indifference. How can we show “unusual kindness” exemplified in Mary’s keen insight and Jesus’ quick response to her tip: “Do what He tells you.” As Benedict advises: “Be the first to … (anticipate) Pass-it-on-Kindness” or “Pay it Forward Kindness” that is a witness to God’s loving providence for all people. When we invite people to “come and see” they are looking for more than a tour of our monastery building and a list of volunteer ministries. Our spirit of hospitality will have a ripple effect (positive or negative) that makes visible (or not) Jesus’ love in today’s world. We pray that we and all peoples of diverse backgrounds, cultures and religions, are enlightened to accept each other with open hands and hearts and that world peace will prevail in our lifetime.
~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB
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