My friends, I wrote this homily on Friday morning, a very cold day that, as you know, stopped school, and forced many inside to keep warm and protect themselves from harm, me included.  And except for the sun peeking out, trying to address the cold, the day laid heavy on my heart. So, I apologize right off for the negative beginning here, but I promise a more positive ending.  I must also add that I struggled over even giving this, but realized that truth-telling is important, even as we try to sort out what being our best really means, and this was before the 2^nd murder of Alex in Minneapolis on Saturday.   

   What I described above initially, was about material manifestations of the weather, but it added to what I was already feeling on a more spiritual/emotional level, and again, before Saturday’s most recent murder by our federal government.  These spiritual/emotional feelings, as you might well guess, were swirling around the overall, day-in, day-out mean, arrogant, and selfish tone, lacking truth of most of what is coming out of our nation’s capital, and the present administration there – now.

   The rhetoric from there adds to my feelings of disbelief that so-called leaders, both religious and political, can be so lacking in kindness, truth, and spouting one-sided statements, with every ill perceived as someone else’s fault, taking no personal responsibility for their own actions.  The lack of moral actions disguised as law in our beautiful state of Minnesota, and with no repercussions to those dealing out this pain and suffering to those unfortunate ones among us with dark skin, or to those supporting them, is something that simply breaks one’s heart –those with a heart yet to break.  This is why I had us sing the psalm response today, as music addresses the pain we feel better than words at times.

   And into this sadness, we hear the prophet Isaiah say, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.”

   So, my friends, what are we to make of this?  I think sadness, at least for me, comes when those who should know better speak lies, when truth is needed. This past week gave us two examples of this: First, our local bishop offered his plan to ease tensions  in Minneapolis, and I will paraphrase: He said, perhaps if the ICE agents would take a pause and only arrest the worst criminals… Now, in my mind, that should be their mission at all times, and it begs the question – after this pause, bishop, ICE should go back to arresting everyone with dark skin, whether a criminal or not as they are presently doing? I would expect more from a spiritual leader, Bishop Barron, than this!

   Also, this past week, our Vice President from Washington visited our city to say: “All would be better with just a little cooperation from the officials in Minneapolis.”  And to Mr. Vance I would say, “Are you really asking Minneapolis officials to stand by and affirm a pack of thugs beating down the doors of U.S. citizens, most law-abiding, with no warrants to do so, showing no respect for individuals’ rights, to appease the hurt feelings of their commander-in-chief? And to that we add yet, another murder.

   And yet, we hear the prophet speaking additionally today, through Matthew, again quoting Isaiah’s words, “on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.” Matthew’s gospel today goes on to relate how the brothers Peter and Andrew, James and John, future apostles, were called by our brother Jesus, and each set, Scriptures say, immediately answered his call leaving their boats behind. 

   I believe in the midst of the sad times in which we are presently living, we need to hear and truly understand this story.  These men, and if Scripture told the full story, women too – wives, mothers, and so on followed this man, Jesus. The story doesn’t say, “they told Jesus that they would think about it, and get back to him,” but, immediately!  …they said “yes” and followed.

   One does have to wonder at how Jesus presented himself so that people left all that they knew, to follow him, remembering that one’s name and job, their way to make a living meant everything to them. We call that quality, “charismatic,” but unfortunately, people can be “charismatic” in evil ways as well, but for our purposes today, let us concentrate on the charismatic goodness of Jesus.

   We hear from Paul today in his letter to the Corinthians as he tries to help those who are quarreling with each other: “Remember who you follow, in whose name you were baptized.” Wouldn’t it be good if our bishop remembered Paul’s words, and V.P. Vance who claims to be a Catholic? 

   The times in which we are living are calling forth the very best from each of us.  We need to “shine our own particular lights” in whatever way that we can, as we spoke of last week. 

   This past Friday – a national women’s group was calling for work to shut down, schools to close, and buying to stop, to simply say, we are watching, we know what is going on, and we want change!

   This may sound like I am not aware of what many of you are doing and that is truly not the case:

·      Many, if not all of us are praying every day for those downtrodden and persecuted in our world and for God to show us how to make a difference, perhaps give us the strength to make a differenc.

·      Many are writing letters, postcards and making calls to legislators demanding that they address the needs of all in our country, reminding them that no one is above the law.

·      Many are demonstrating in very cold weather on Mondays, Saturdays, in Winona, our state’s capital, and our nation’s capital, along with cities around our country. 

·      Many are talking with friends/family members, trying to listen, and also speaking their truth with as much strength as possible and encouraging peace-filled responses to the evil being presented, keeping in mind that there needs to be a balance between law and love, and when love is violated, law must change. 

   And my dear friends, at the end of the day we must simply hold onto hope that good eventually wins out over hate.  Hate destroys us all from within, love’s warmth can melt the coldness of evil actions.  And we must remember that our brother Jesus walks with us – don’t forget to ask him for the help you need to stand strong, to remain hopeful, to make a call, demanding change.

   In today’s gospel we hear about fisher people leaving their boats to become “fishers of humans” so I think the words of Jim Wallis, founder and editor of Sojourner Magazine are fitting today – “Let Jesus into your boat,”  [if he isn’t already there]when all of what we are called to do seems too great.  Jesus truly is a strength for these times, and won’t fail to help us, if we ask, to shine the light that our world needs now!

   When I began this homily, as I said, my heart was heavy, and my spirit sad as I struggled to address so much that we all feel is wrong – how much to say, how little to say, to strike a balance between addressing the problem, without wallowing in it, and moving on in hope, believing – never doubting that the good will win out in the end. 

   I have to admit that I was slugging my way through on Friday trying to give you the hope that generally “springs eternal” within me, and feeling somewhat “hopeless.”

   So, rather than spend overly much time reading “about the darkness, Robert and I have been trying to concentrate on the “light,” that I spoke of earlier … and more.  And we gain hope from each of you, knowing all that you are doing to make a difference – testament I believe of the good of folks gathering in community – to support each other and be strength when some are down, so that they can be the hope when others are down.

   And finally, I have called to mind those greater than me, such as Gandhi who said, “The way of truth and love has always won. There are tyrants but in the end, they always fall. Think of it …  Always.”

And our brother Jesus who promised that he would be with us – always – so that we should not be afraid.  Amen? Amen!

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