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We process the Gospel Stories through whatever is going on in our life when we hear or read them. Today’s is no exception. This week Pope Francis sent a letter to the American Bishops. In it he refers to “the major crisis that is taking place in the United States with the initiation of a program of mass deportations”. .  .  “This is not a minor issue: an authentic rule of law is verified precisely in the dignified treatment that all people deserve, especially the poorest and most marginalized”, and, “The true ordo amoris that must be promoted is that which we discover by meditating constantly on the parable of the “Good Samaritan” that is, by meditating on the love that builds a fraternity open to all, without exception”. Today’s Gospel Story paints a picture that truly reflects what is going on around us today, and how we are called to respond to it all.

As we look at all this it’s important that we remember who we are – which comes before nationality, religion, political party, whatever. Each of us as we are is a person created in God’s image. This is our basic identity. And this is how we need to look at the Gospel Stories. As we look at this, or any, Gospel Story there is a lot going on all around us. People are being hurt, many people are justifiably afraid. The common initial reaction, regardless of which side of any of the questions we are on, is an emotional one. It usually involves finger pointing, accusing, judging, and so forth. And so the chaos continues. We need to remember that, whether we like it or not, God loves every one of us, and has compassion for every one of us. And every one of us is a sinner. As we look at the Beatitudes and the Woes, we have to keep this in mind. It is no simple thing. If the god we worship doesn’t like the same people we don’t like, we can be sure it is not the same God who creates us, but the god we create to make ourselves feel strong and secure.

It is clear to all of us on every side of the questions that there is something very wrong happening. We just don’t agree on what it is. We need to go to the Gospels and ask what they are saying to us. We have to be careful that we don’t decide what we want the scriptures to say to us. Jesus meant it when he said “the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I told you”. In other words The Spirit helps us understand what it means for us to live as Jesus’ disciples in our own particular circumstances. This is important, and it is real. We are called to struggle for the kingdom now. What this means is that each of us needs to be open to the Spirit telling us, sometimes kicking and screaming, what it means to be Jesus’ disciple. There is also the order executive action stating that the U.S. government will now recognize only two sexes – male and female. Bishops responded in support of the order “as recognizing the truth about each human person as male or female”. Both simply deny the existence of many of our brothers and sisters because of how they see themselves. Can we even imagine how they feel, or how they even get up every morning and go through their day? We might ask what is the Spirit calling us to do?

Whatever we feel we are being called to do, it cannot be just an emotional response. Abba’s kingdom is now. Again Pope Francis: “The journey from slavery to freedom that the People of Israel traveled, as narrated in the Book of Exodus, invites us to look at the reality of our time, so clearly marked by the phenomenon of migration, as a decisive moment in history to reaffirm not only our faith in a God who is always close, incarnate, migrant and refugee, but also the infinite and transcendent dignity of every human person”. Our current situation reflects Germany in the 1930s.

How can I be in solidarity with my brothers and sisters who, for any number of reasons, are suffering from the current government actions? How can I support the migrants and their families, my LGBTQ+ brothers, sisters, and friends. No doubt more suffering is to come. My circle of activity is increasingly limited, but I believe Abba is offering me something, but I have no idea what it might be. Guess I need to keep looking. “Thoughts and prayers“ just doesn’t cut it. Neither do judging and finger pointing. People are hurting. Jesus was very firm in how he dealt with systems and institutions, whether government or religious, that were causing people to suffer. With too few exceptions we don’t see much of his style today. Over the years I have learned in many ways and situations, that if I do my best to be wholly one to Abba I will b moved to do something, often something totally unexpected, such as going on active duty twice, and some of the stuff I got involved in there, a lot of it basically unbelievable. All that is going on these days is so serious that we cannot deal with it without being totally open to Abba in our everyday life, and going where this takes us. Each of us as we are is exactly where we need to be for Divine Providence to work through us. We might pray along the lines of Mychal’s Prayer, “Take me where you want me to go, let me meet who you want me to meet, let me say what you want me to say and do what you want me to do, and keep me out of your way; and if I move in a direction that is not of you, please stop me”. We just might learn that this is what happens for us.