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In today’s Gospel reading, the initial apprenticeship of the Twelve is over (Mk 6:7-13). Jesus sends them forth. They are to preach and drive out demons. Donning sandals is a metaphor for accepting discipleship. The instructions for the Twelve as they go forth are important. They are to take no food, no sack, and no money. In other words, they are to depend upon hospitality. When they are rejected, they are to shake the dust from their feet and move on (Peacemakers sometimes have to do that!). Preaching repentance, they drove out demons and healed the sick. Continue reading →

Recently, I received a video—Proud to Be an American. I was appalled at the final slides in the video. Only the American soldier and Jesus have offered to die so that you might be free. Jesus died for your soul and the American soldier died for your freedom. Most of the slides were pictures of soldiers in action and soldiers in flag draped coffins. Yes, I pray for the troops. I also pray for the conversion of those who place them in harm’s way. Continue reading →

One quick look at the news will tell us that we live in a world that can be terrible and messed up. It is sometimes hard to find hope. As we approach the inauguration of a new president, we know there is hope. Martin Luther King and his nonviolent followers took down some barriers to equality 40 some years ago. The residual effects of racism still haunted our land as we went through the electoral process. Barack Obama removed more of the barriers to racial equality. We are not in the Promised Land, the New Eden yet, but we are inching closer. “We have seen the Promised Land.”
Amid wars, economic collapse, and the continued exploitation of the least among us, we hope for a better future. We know that no one man can ever deliver all that we need for a better world but, here again, we are inching ahead.
I found out today that President-elect Obama has written a letter to his two daughters. It brought hope to my heart.
I hope you will take time to read it and relish dreams of better days to come.
http://www.parade.com/export/sites/default/news/2009/01/barack-obama-letter-to-my-daughters.html

You may or may not know that I am privileged to serve on Pax Christi USA’s Anti Racism. A member of that team, who is a person of color, alerted me to this statement to help heal the wrongs brought about by slavery. The initial reaction of some may be to say, “That happened in the past and I am not responsible for it.” To the contrary, the vestiges of this terrible practice continue to plague our society. As white people we have benefitted from white privilege and a system that was initially capitalized on the backs of the slaves. The Indians we “discovered” also paid the ultimate price for what we enjoy. [My research on my genealogy also indicates that America was capitalized on the backs of indentured servants many of whom came from my country of origin–Ireland.]
The statement says this much better than I can and I encourage you to read it and sign it. Truth commissions in various countries have shown how facing the truth of situations and apologizing for past wrongs have promoted healing.
Incidentally, I am also becoming involved in the Order of St. Luke and Christian healing ministry. Initially, I thought healing was about personal healing. It is but it is also about healing things in our social structures which keep people from being whole in the sight of the Lord. In John 10:10, Jesus assures us that the Creator wants us to have the fullness of life. “I have come that you might have life and that you might have everything you need.”
Again, I encourage you to go to this web site, read the statement, and sign it.
http://www.massslaveryapology.org/