Aug. 20, 2017: 20th Sunday in Ordinary Tine A
Aug. 20, 2017: 20th Sunday in Ordinary Tine A
Click to hear Audio Homily
About 250 students, faculty, and staff gathered on the evening of August 13 for a prayer vigil at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, the parish church of the University of Virginia, as a response to the aftermath of the violent clash at the white supremacist rally. After the death of one person and injury of many others, students and faculty who attend St. Thomas Aquinas thought that in order to respond to this tragedy, they had to start with a prayer. Fr. Joseph Barranger, the pastor of St. Aquinas stated, “These terrible events show us how far we still are from the kingdom of God. So much work still needs to be done in advancing the kingdom through prayer, personal example and corporate witness in our parish that defends the unborn, the poor, the elderly, the infirm, those on the margins of society and all who are different from us.”
A few days later, the world witnessed yet another tragedy of hate in action as a van plowed through a busy tourist-filled street in Barcelona. The Spanish bishops condemned “every demonstration of terrorism” as “an intrinsically perverse practice, completely incompatible with a just, reasonable, and moral view of life. Terrorism not only gravely infringes on the right to life and liberty, but is also an example of the most terrible form of intolerance and totalitarianism.” We can’t imagine how the lives of the family of the injured and the dead are impacted by this heinous act of violence.
It’s difficult for many to bring up the issues of racism, terrorism or any oppression of people, most likely because we don’t want to get involved or be disliked for an opposing view. However, as Bishop Muench wrote: “ We cannot remain silent in the face of such blatant hatred, which denies the dignity of each human person created in the image and likeness of God, regardless of race, ethnicity, language, religion or way of life.” I have heard the cry of many who have been discriminated against or mistreated because of their race. Not to diminish the evil or pain of the events in Charlottesville, I personally have felt the pain of racism for being an Asian in America -- and that is very difficult to overcome. We cannot know another person’s pain unless we too have walked in his shoes. When will we recognize that no matter the race, religion or station in life - whether, caucasian, african-american, asian, middle eastern, christian, jew, muslim, buddhist, homeless, employed, unemployed - that we are all brothers and sisters in the eyes of God?
How we wish that God’s words spoken through Prophet Isaiah would be fulfilled now, “Thus says the LORD: Observe what is right, do what is just; for my salvation is about to come, my justice, about to be revealed.” During this week of sorrow, we cry out from the depths of our hearts, what the psalmist wrote, “May God have pity on us and bless us; may he let his face shine upon us. So may your way be known upon earth; among all nations, your salvation.”
What can we do while we see much divisiveness in America and elsewhere? One thing we need do is to ask God to give us the courage to be His presence in the world. Individually, we do not have to solve the race issue or terrorist issue, but we can begin to turn the tide by starting with intentional acts of kindness toward our family members, friends, neighbor and strangers. Do our acts of kindness have to be extravagant? No! As Mother Teresa said: “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” When we are at a store, we could let someone ahead of us at the checkout line: when in traffic, maneuver through without getting angry and without cursing the fellow who cut us off. When we are in a hurry to be somewhere, exercise patience with others and smile at strangers.
Our baptismal promises and the privilege of receiving our living Lord in the Eucharist demands that we live out our Christian life with courage. Therefore, we cannot afford to sit idly by and allow the darkness of racism and terrorism to rule the day. Each of us can cooperate with the grace of the Holy Spirit to find ways to allow respect and compassion to overcome hatred. We must remember that only love can overcome hate and fear. As we continue through this liturgy, let us ask Our Lord how we can be instrument of peace and mercy.
Click to hear Audio Homily
About 250 students, faculty, and staff gathered on the evening of August 13 for a prayer vigil at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, the parish church of the University of Virginia, as a response to the aftermath of the violent clash at the white supremacist rally. After the death of one person and injury of many others, students and faculty who attend St. Thomas Aquinas thought that in order to respond to this tragedy, they had to start with a prayer. Fr. Joseph Barranger, the pastor of St. Aquinas stated, “These terrible events show us how far we still are from the kingdom of God. So much work still needs to be done in advancing the kingdom through prayer, personal example and corporate witness in our parish that defends the unborn, the poor, the elderly, the infirm, those on the margins of society and all who are different from us.”
It’s difficult for many to bring up the issues of racism, terrorism or any oppression of people, most likely because we don’t want to get involved or be disliked for an opposing view. However, as Bishop Muench wrote: “ We cannot remain silent in the face of such blatant hatred, which denies the dignity of each human person created in the image and likeness of God, regardless of race, ethnicity, language, religion or way of life.” I have heard the cry of many who have been discriminated against or mistreated because of their race. Not to diminish the evil or pain of the events in Charlottesville, I personally have felt the pain of racism for being an Asian in America -- and that is very difficult to overcome. We cannot know another person’s pain unless we too have walked in his shoes. When will we recognize that no matter the race, religion or station in life - whether, caucasian, african-american, asian, middle eastern, christian, jew, muslim, buddhist, homeless, employed, unemployed - that we are all brothers and sisters in the eyes of God?
How we wish that God’s words spoken through Prophet Isaiah would be fulfilled now, “Thus says the LORD: Observe what is right, do what is just; for my salvation is about to come, my justice, about to be revealed.” During this week of sorrow, we cry out from the depths of our hearts, what the psalmist wrote, “May God have pity on us and bless us; may he let his face shine upon us. So may your way be known upon earth; among all nations, your salvation.”
What can we do while we see much divisiveness in America and elsewhere? One thing we need do is to ask God to give us the courage to be His presence in the world. Individually, we do not have to solve the race issue or terrorist issue, but we can begin to turn the tide by starting with intentional acts of kindness toward our family members, friends, neighbor and strangers. Do our acts of kindness have to be extravagant? No! As Mother Teresa said: “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” When we are at a store, we could let someone ahead of us at the checkout line: when in traffic, maneuver through without getting angry and without cursing the fellow who cut us off. When we are in a hurry to be somewhere, exercise patience with others and smile at strangers.
Our baptismal promises and the privilege of receiving our living Lord in the Eucharist demands that we live out our Christian life with courage. Therefore, we cannot afford to sit idly by and allow the darkness of racism and terrorism to rule the day. Each of us can cooperate with the grace of the Holy Spirit to find ways to allow respect and compassion to overcome hatred. We must remember that only love can overcome hate and fear. As we continue through this liturgy, let us ask Our Lord how we can be instrument of peace and mercy.
