Dear Friends,
These are difficult and unsettling times for all of us living in the United States. They are especially challenging times for our brothers and sisters who are recent immigrants. We are hearing more stories in the parish office of people placed in ICE custody and removed from the country leaving children and spouse behind. The political rhetoric says that all those being removed are the worst criminals but the reality around us in Omaha is that they may have simply had a traffic issue or some other small offense that put their name into a database for removal.
In addition to this suffering, protests in Minneapolis have resulted in the deaths of protestors at the hands of federal agents causing even greater fear among the wider community. Many of you have expressed to me feelings of frustration and helplessness because the social systems we normally rely on do not seem to be working. Powerlessness is not a common feeling in a democracy. We can encourage our elected representatives to try to fix the systems but even they appear silent or helpless.
Into that reality we bring our discipleship. Into that reality we strive to be church. Into that reality we bring the truth of Jesus. Just like the saints who have gone before us who lived in challenging times, we take the power of the Holy Spirit with us as we engage a world on a different path.
I find comfort in the words of Jesus during trying times. Words like, “Do not let your hearts be troubled, you have faith in God, have faith in me as well….If the world hates you, realize it hated me first…I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you for it…the Father loves you…they do not belong to the world anymore than I belong to the world…consecrate them in truth…I speak this now so that they may know my joy…that they may be one…I give them the glory you gave to me…I in them and you in me…brought to perfection as one…they are your gift to me…that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them.”
Living as followers of Jesus we are in the world but not of the world, following the truth of Jesus not the “truth” the world has chosen to follow. That is what Jesus invites us to do and to be. We may find that a difficult task and be tempted to surrender to the ways of the world where self-centeredness, greed and violence rule the day. Still, Jesus gives us the gift of his Spirit to help us live like Jesus despite the challenges and temptations.
To help you live your call as a disciple, our upcoming season with Cabrini and Magdalene Communities will focus on what Jesus taught us about the world and what Christians have learned over the centuries about maintaining your discipleship in the midst of this world. If you are not participating in a community and would like to form one or join one, please call Deacon Doug or Ann Lenz at the parish office and they can get you started.
Peace,
Fr. Damian