“A Call To Love 2014”,
Archdiocese of Anchorage
AFACT: A Call To Love 2014
A
Call to Love: Denouncing Fear and Welcoming the Stranger
August
18, 2014 5:30PM
An
AFACT sponsored event at St. Anthony Catholic Parish
Thank you to all of you gathered here tonight. I
apologize that I am not able to be present. Wearing two hats and splitting my
time between the Archdiocese and the Diocese of Fairbanks
Tonight’s prayer service focuses on civility and how we treat
others in our discourse. Over the years,
what falls in the bounds of being acceptable seems to be disintegrating. Who
would have ever imagined a Congressman calling the President of the United States
In the past, name calling and mean spirited comments were
things witnessed on elementary school playgrounds by children who didn’t know
better. Now bullying happens at all levels,
often anonymously on the internet causing hate and pain that often leads to
suicide.
Over the last week, we have witnessed the challenges in Ferguson , Missouri
The crisis of the children at our border is another
example of things gone wrong. When the news reports that the children showing
up looking for refuge are sick, and Congressmen in Washington DC speculate that
they are arriving with swine flu, dengue fever, tuberculosis and now the Ebola
virus, the reality of the situation the children are running from is lost.
Comments such as these only contribute to the fear of the
other and detract from the fact that each and
every day, Jesus is walking across the border.
Those who fail to recognize him in the faces of the
children have forgotten the verses in the 25th chapter of Matthew: “For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I
was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you
invited Me in. Lord, when did we see you a stranger and welcome you? Whatever
you did for one of these least brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me”.
Maybe we as a society should consider returning to
kindergarten.
We need to learn the rules for treating each other with
respect.
We need to learn how to listen and how to dialogue with those
who hold different views on everything from religion to politics.
None of us are immune.
Each and every one of us are called to be peacemakers, to
work to help find solutions in often tenuous situations.
As Blessed Mother Theresa once said:
“If you judge
people, you have no time to love them.”
We need to approach each day filled with love for our
brothers and sisters, prepared to think about how our words and actions may be
received.
Then and only then will we enter a place where dialogue
can happen, where hate will be diminished and where love can flourish.
May the words and prayers spoken here tonight be a
blessing to all who hear them.
Sincerely yours in Christ and Mary,
†Roger L. Schwietz, OMI, Archbishop of Anchorage
The statement from the Archbishop was read by Fr. Fred Bugarin, Pastor
of St. Anthony’s Parish.
Sursa :
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Archdiocese-of-Anchorage/115048641846447
 |
| Our Lady of Medjugorje Queen of Peace Fecioara Maria de la Medjugorje Regina Pãcii http://www.medjugorje.org/olmpage.htm |
Niciun comentariu:
Trimiteți un comentariu