Unity And The Power Of Reading

Scroll down to the bottom not only to see today’s video interview with Melissa Parrish, but also to make comments and to see a suggested reading list posted in a previous blog entry.

 In today’s first reading, from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, Paul proclaims a message of unity. And although he is talking to the Jews and the Gentiles, one could imagine Paul urging us today to unify in this manner, as we work toward racial justice. 

George Floyd’s recent death was a tipping point for many; we can no longer ignore the conversations about racial justice that we need to have.  We are called to try to understand racial injustice, and we begin this process by listening and learning.  We need to do what Paul told the Jews and Gentiles to do — to be “no longer strangers and sojourners,” but instead, “fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God…”  

Fr. Stephen A. Privett, S.J., a prominent Jesuit priest and former president of the University of San Francisco, told a story years ago of a rabbi who asked his students “how one knows when night has ended and day has begun.”   

One student said that “it was when there was sufficient light to distinguish a sheep from a dog; another said it was when enough light fell on the tree leaves to tell whether it was a palm or fig tree. The rabbi said, ‘Those are good answers but not my answer. When you look into the eyes of another human being and see only your brother or sister you know that night has ended and daylight begun. If you cannot see your sister or brother in every human being, it will always be night.’” (Mass of the Holy Spirit, Sept. 30, 2009, St. Ignatius Church, campus of University of San Francisco). 

In the interest of building mutual understanding, today’s blog features a video in which Melissa Parrish, educator, racial justice trainer, member of Spiritus Christi, and member of the Spiritus Anti-Racism Coalition, talks about reading as a means of affirmation for some and as a window into understanding for others.   A lifelong lover of books, Melissa specifically addresses the importance of reading the literature of black- and brown-skinned people. Fair warning:  You’ll need to set aside time; it’s 45 minutes long. Thanks, Aaron Lynch and Davis Craig, for production.