January 28, 2025

Disruption of government systems is one thing, but tearing people’s lives apart is another matter. There is wringing of hands, despair, tears, anger.  Even the angels despair at the chaos and injustice.  It is not just deportations but also the order to freeze payments, meaning rent unpaid, groceries out of reach. Some of us may only have our voices, and we need to learn to use them, to speak up without fear, for God is with us. Now solidarity is important above all.  We stand with our sisters and brothers, our fellow human beings.

Mark 3:31-35

In this reading, Jesus’ human family comes to see him.  Because of the crowds, they are standing outside the house. The crowd tells Jesus that his mother and his family are outside asking for him.  But Jesus replies, “Who are my mother and my brothers?”  Looking at those around him, he says, “Here are my mother and my brothers.  Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”

This is not a rejection of his human-born family, but rather an affirmation of the spiritual kinship of those who wish to listen to the word of God, and in fact the kinship of the entire human family. 

Amen, amen, amen.