Greetings on this the Wednesday of the Third Week of Easter
Readings: Acts 8:1b-8; PS 66:1-3a, 4-5, 6-7a; Jn 6:35-40
Note: Current event, Derek Chauvin is convicted in the death of George Floyd.
The current events can never be ignored when encountering sacred Scripture. In fact, sacred scripture records many such institutionally violent events. We resist violence with the Good News.
Destroying
Devout men buried Stephen and made a loud lament over him.
Saul, meanwhile, was trying to destroy the Church;
entering house after house and dragging out men and women,
he handed them over for imprisonment.
Thriving
With one accord, the crowds paid attention to what was said by Philip
when they heard it and saw the signs he was doing.
For unclean spirits, crying out in a loud voice,
came out of many possessed people,
and many paralyzed and crippled people were cured.
There was great joy in that city.
Enduring
Jesus said to the crowds,
“I am the bread of life;
whoever comes to me will never hunger,
and whoever believes in me will never thirst.
Praise
Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
Verdict
Should we praise the verdict of guilty?
Perhaps, yes, but reservedly.
It is a tragedy, a loss of life, George Floyd, and a destroyed life, Officer Chauvin.
Should we lament the need for a verdict?
Most certainly. This event came about by a demonstrable lack of humanity by all officers involved.
Social Justice
The Church picks the majority of its social justice energy and emphasis on “Pelvis Issues“. It seems to preoccupy the leadership not by virtue but by obsession.
But minorities in the USA can relate quite completely with the early believers where the government institutions are entering house after house and dragging out men and women, handing them over for imprisonment.
Come Back
We need to come back to this:
With one accord, the crowds paid attention to what was said by Philip
when they heard it and saw the signs he was doing.
For unclean spirits, crying out in a loud voice,
came out of many possessed people,
and many paralyzed and crippled people were cured.
There was great joy in that city.
So we can offer this:
Jesus said to the crowds,
“I am the bread of life;
whoever comes to me will never hunger,
and whoever believes in me will never thirst.
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry
Deacon Gerry Palermo 