“A Call To Love 2014”, Archdiocese of Anchorage, 18 August 2014

“A Call To Love 2014”, Archdiocese of Anchorage, 18 August 2014

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 is challenging at best.

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 a liar in the middle of the State of the Union Address?

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. Governor Nixon said in comments this weekend “… in those situations where folks are rolling up heavily armored and they’re pointing guns at folks, it’s impossible to have a dialogue.” It’s unfortunate that in this little town things have disintegrated to the point of the National Guard keeping the peace.

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.

Archbishop Schwietz Comments for AFACT event Aug 18 (.pdf)

Sursa :

http://www.archdioceseofanchorage.org/afact-a-call-to-love-2014/

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