Reaping a Great Harvest

In this republican country, amid the fluctuating waves of our social life, somebody is always at the drowning-point.

Nathaniel Hawthorne, The House of the Seven Gables 

If you fall to pieces in a crisis,
    there wasn’t much to you in the first place.

Rescue the perishing;
    don’t hesitate to step in and help.
If you say, “Hey, that’s none of my business,”
    will that get you off the hook?
Someone is watching you closely, you know—
    Someone not impressed with weak excuses.

Proverbs 24:10-12 (The Message)

Hello everyone.

Yesterday we celebrated Christ the King Sunday which marks the end of the liturgical year. But it is more than just a date on the calendar. It is a reminder that God is ruler of the cosmos. Kings, princes, despots, and presidents reign for only a short time. But God’s rule is eternal.

For me this reminder could not have come at a better time. In light of the divisions in our country I believe that our democracy is hanging by a thread. Being reminded that God is in control eases my anxiety while giving me hope for the future.

It is tempting to try and ignore the chaos and anger that is swirling around us, but that is not what God calls us to do. We exist to serve others, to care for and protect the most vulnerable members of our society, and I have a feeling that there are about to be many people who need our help. In order to face what’s ahead we will need a big dose of moral courage.

Which is why I can’t help but think of Oscar Romero.

Chosen by those in power to be the Bishop of San Salvador because he was mild-mannered, conservative and thought to be easily manipulated, the powers were wrong on every count. Well, they weren’t wrong; it’s just that his faith led him down a new path, the path of being the voice for the voiceless. And it was a very dark path at times. Murders and suffering were the order of the day. He knew full well that his work on behalf of the gospel could bring about his own death.

The conditions in which Romero found himself were far worse than those any of us will encounter.  And yet, his faith allowed him to remain positive; he wrote:

I don’t want to be an anti, against anybody. I simply want to be the builder of a great affirmation: the affirmation of God, who loves us and who wants to save us.

Tragically, but unsurprisingly, Romero was martyred during a communion service as he elevated the host.  Romero had moral courage, the courage to do the right thing no matter the personal cost.  And he did it not by carrying a gun, but by sacrificing his life. I admire him more than I can say.

In today’s heated climate it’s easy to forget that we are all on the same side and tasked with the same concerns. We are the hands and feet of Christ and regardless of political affiliation we are called to fight for the poor, the homeless, the sick, the marginalized and the oppressed. And we are to do everything in the spirit of love and humility.

This Thanksgiving I would encourage you to stay positive and remember these words from Oscar Romero:

If you give your life out of love for others, as I give mine for all, you will reap a great harvest.

Blessings!