Have you ever had to deal with someone who just seemed to have it out for you? Maybe it was a family member or a work colleague or someone in school. But they just seemed to look for any opportunity to put you down, sabotage you, talk behind your back or bring negativity upon your life somehow.
It feels terrible.
That’s where Jesus finds himself today – taking back roads and keeping a low profile because he’s heard that there are groups out to hurt him.
Jesus’ situation echoes the situation that many people have faced here in the United States.
I think about Black people who utilized the “Green Book” (a travel book by the Black community itself in the 1930’s – 1960’s) that listed safe places to stay throughout the South (and which “sundown towns” to avoid). I think about people from the gay, queer and trans communities who had to meet in secret in so many cities across the country for fear of harassment or violence from police and other people. I think about many Muslims (or Sikhs) in the months after 9/11. And we could come up with many more examples.
We’re told that Jesus “cried out” in the temple area while he was speaking and was clearly frustrated – frustrated that people were plotting against him. Frustrated by the threat of violence. Frustrated that people act this way. But he continued on as best he could – as many try to do – in an unjust and unfair world.
March 24th is also the anniversary of the killing of Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador – one of our modern saints. Romero started as a rather conservative, status quo priest whose dramatic conversion began after his good friend, Fr. Rutilio Grande, was gunned down in 1977. Following Rutilio’s death, Romero became more involved in the plight of the poor and became more outspoken against the actions of the military. He, too, had people plotting against him and was killed while saying daytime mass in 1980.
Romero remains for me a Christ-like figure and highlights one of the significant themes of today’s gospel. We are invited to align ourselves with the lives of the poor and marginalized, and the powers that be will not look favorably upon that. In fact, they will soon consider and treat us as they consider and treat those with whom we are in solidarity. Thus, it will be risky.
Discipleship might bring emotional risk. It might bring financial risk. It might bring social risk or even physical risk. Yet these very risks are already being taken by the most marginalized as they try to merely live and exist.
For today, perhaps we pause and mourn the hate that is in our world – hate that might be directed at us and hate that is directed at others. May we work to counter that hate in our own lives and in the world.
And perhaps we pause and pray for the courage and boldness to keep moving forward and not let that hate deter us from doing what we are called to do, being who we are called to be and speaking truth to power.
9 Comments
Marie Peterson
Thankyou Thankyou for this
Margaret
Amen
Diane Lee
Mike, your Lenten words have made me see this world with all its divisions clearer and have given me a path to follow. Thank you.
Diane Lee ( North Anderson Community Church, SC)
Jean M
One can push through the hate, it’s the betrayals that leave one fragmented.
Barbara Simmons
Thank you, Mike, for bringing the topic of hate to the forefront and for encouraging us to pause and pray for the courage to move forward and address this issue. Hate is one of the most toxic emotions people feel. Let’s pray for the fear that fuels hate to be tamed in our world and in our personal lives and for more peaceful emotions like love and acceptance to become the norm.
Sharon H
Amen.
Claire Benesch
Thank you, Mike, for bringing the subject of “hate” to the forefront today. I want to live a life of love and yet I’m surrounded by all the hate in our world. War, anger, prejudice, intolerance, road rage, need for retribution, lack of forgiveness, and I could go on and on. I’m discouraged every time I read a newspaper or watch a newscast. Deliver me, my God, from the hate in my own self and help me work in my small way for a peaceful, loving world.
Peter Veitch
Thank you for this reflection. We celebrated Oscar Romero today with a special communion service, a guest speaker and wonderful lunch. I wish you had been with us to give this reflection instead of the last minute Robert Ellsberg reflection I read during the homily because Beatriz went to the wrong church and arrived too late to be guest homilist, lol.
For queer people of my generation meeting in secret was both a blessing and a curse. Out of necessity we developed a rich subculture, our own spaces, a coded language. For gay teens entering that subculture was like walking through the looking glass, or landing in Oz.
One of the giants of that era will be celebrated tomorrow at Spiritus. Liza (Wayne) is a hero of my teen years, a person who traveled to the beat of a different drummer, unabashedly gay.
The hate you’ve described destroyed a lot of people, but for many of us it allowed us to develop a strength no one else possesses and an empathy for those who are ‘othered’.
Sharon H
I did not expect to be one of the marginalized, but have been dealing with the hatred of the local healthcare system as I struggle cancer survivor post-surgical issues. Jesus has been working with me these last 16 years. Prayerfully I have allowed him to transform me. All in God’s time, he seemed to say. I recently was insulted and treated cruelly by my “new doctor” that decided to join the Good ole’ Boys club. When I was in need this Doctor ignored my request. In the silences of my isolation, Jesus guided me….He said,”I’ve got this, follow me.” In the morning, I heeded his urgings….I knew what I needed to do. Put your need in writing in MyChart for all to see, “for evil deeds cannot live in the light,”He said. I followed and my request was answered. Jesus’ Blessing upon all of You who suffer.
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