Create in Us a New Heart

       James Martin, SJ is a favorite author of mine.  I receive an email meditation from him several times a week.  During this week, he again has expressed his thoughts and feelings so well in his prayer about the terrible gun violence our nation experienced within the last four days.

But he wrote this prayer in October 2017, after the horrible mass shooting in Las Vegas...

Almighty God, I come before you,
once again,
after another shooting.

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I am sad, God.

So I ask you
to receive into your loving care the souls of those who were killed,
to care for those who were wounded or hurt in any way,
to console the family members and friends of those who died or were wounded,
to strengthen the hands of the rescue workers, medical professionals and caregivers

I pray too for the shooter, as I must as a Christian.

All this makes me inexpressibly sad, God.
But I know that the sadness I feel is your sadness.
It is the same sadness your son expressed
when he wept over the death of
his friend Lazarus.

I am tired, God.
I’m tired of the unwillingness to see this as an important issue.
I’m tired of those in power who work to prevent any real change.
I’m tired of those who say that gun violence can’t be reduced.

All this makes me tired.
But I know that the tiredness I feel is your tiredness.
It’s the same tiredness that Jesus felt after his own struggles against injustice
that led him to fall asleep on the boat with his disciples.

I am angry, God.
I’m angry at the seeming powerlessness of our community to prevent this.
I’m angry at the selfish financial interests who block change.
I’m angry that these shootings happen at all.

But I know that this anger is your anger
It’s the same anger Jesus felt when he overturned the tables in the Temple,
angry that anyone would be taken advantage of in any way.

Help me see in these emotions your own desire for change.
Help me see in these feelings your moving me to act.
Help me see in these reactions your pushing me to do something.

Because I know this is the way you move people to action.

And I know that you desire action.
For Jesus did not stand by while people were being hurt.
He plunged into their lives.

So help me to answer these questions:
How can I help?
How can I fight against gun violence?
How can I urge my political leaders to enact change?
How can I help people understand that this is
an issue about life?

I am sad over the loss of life,
tired of excuses for the loss of life,
and angry that we are paralyzed by the loss of life.

So

Turn my sadness into compassion.
Turn my tiredness into advocacy.
Turn my paralysis into the freedom to act.

Help me
to be compassionate,
to advocate
and to act,
as your son did,
Almighty God.

      In true Jesuit fashion - and as we are all called to do - Martin asks the Mighty One to help us find God in these events too.  He asks God for strength and to help us imitate the empathy of Jesus.  Martin asks us to do more than pray but to let our prayer become action.  HERE is how we find "God in all things."  The very goodness of our Creator is found in each one of us; it is our birthright!  And we can choose to see God in the words and acts of mercy, love, compassion, understanding, and forgiveness that follow these horrendous acts that are NOT of God's doing or desire.

    I invite us to not so easily move on and then forget the souls that were taken from their families and friends.  I invite us to pray for the survivors who will experience repeated trauma, fear, and survivor's guilt.  I invite us to pray for the ones who are so lost and afraid that they feel compelled to take such unconscionable actions.

    And lastly, let's pray for one another that we don't lose hope.  Then despair wins.  Pray that we don't lose trust in one another.  Then fear wins.  Pray that we don't become numb.  Then hatred wins.  Let's pray for a change of heart in our leaders and in the people living within our nation.   💙

Midweek Meditation – What does your Heart Feel?

      This anonymous prayer was left by the body of a child that had died at Ravensbruck death camp and, to me, it perfectly exemplifies how we are made in God’s image.  For the mercy that God shows to us, we are then capable of showing to others.  It is only through God that we can do so, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  We are all children of the same loving and forgiving Creator; therefore, we are all capable of this same grace and mercy that is expressed in this prayer.

O Lord,

Remember not only the men and women

of good will, 

but also those of ill will.

But do not remember all the suffering they inflicted on us;

remember the fruits we have bought,

thanks to this suffering –

our comradeship, our loyalty,

our humility, our courage,

our generosity,

the greatness of heart which has grown out of all this;

and when they come to judgment

let all the fruits which we have borne

be their forgiveness.

Amen.

How do you feel while reading this prayer?  (When I read it for the first time, years ago, I had to read it twice to be sure I had read it correctly.)  How are you able, or not, to comprehend this ability to forgive?  Would you be able to let your heart be melted enough to say this kind of prayer - or would your heart become hardened to the people who caused this child's death?  

Knowing that "God is Love,"

may we grow in our understanding 

of God's boundless mercy.

💙

The Hearts of those Who Know Us

He came to his hometown and began to teach the people in their synagogue,

so that they were astounded and said,

 “Where did this man get this wisdom and these deeds of power? 

Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary?

. . . Where then did this man get all this?” And they took offense at him.

But Jesus said to them, “Prophets are not without honor except in their own country

 and in their own house.”  - From Matthew 13

          I have found over recent years that not everyone is happy for you when you change your life for the better.  Not everyone wants to hear that you’re a new believer or a more devout believer in God.  Not everyone wants to know that you’ve changed at all, in any way. 

The reactions from family and friends can come from fear that they’ll lose you, that they’ll lose the person they knew, that you won’t be the same (perhaps raucous) party lover that you’ve always been.  They may even be jealous that you’ve grown – and they have not.  Some may feel envious of your spiritual life, but they won’t use this feeling to change their own spiritual lives but to downplay and even insult yours.

The latter is how I see the hometown people of Jesus too, from the reading above.  Their remarks are hurtful and belittling.  Their disbelief in the capabilities of their neighbor, Jesus, goes to show that we never know what is going on within another person’s heart and life.  We never know the various gifts that others humbly possess, like Jesus had and offered to many.

So how do we get around these people who unwittingly try to tempt us away from growing in the knowledge and love of God?  The first thing I suggest is to pray for them.  Pray for a change of heart within them.  Our prayers may not visibly change them, but these kinds of prayers will certainly change us and give us strength when we’re around them.  And sometimes we just have to let go of some people.  With a deeper faith, we may find that some people, even family members, can be toxic for our souls as well as our minds.  But we don’t want to close the door on them, because I think when people are truly bothered by something important that we’re doing, it can possibly mean that they see a need in themselves.  Spiritually speaking they may feel they’re being nudged by God too and really don’t know what to do with those feelings.  We may be the impetus they need to step out in faith.  The Holy Spirit may be using us to reach them.

When I have faced this same type of situation more than once, unfortunately, I was hurt.  But I chose to remember that I am in good company.  I am in the BEST of company.  And that’s the heart of the matter.  💙

For Hurting Hearts – Ours and God’s

But to you who are listening I say: 

Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 
bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also.
If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 

Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you,

do not demand it back. 

Do to others as you would have them do to you. 

If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? 

Even sinners love those who love them. 

 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? 

Even sinners do that. 

And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, 

what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, 

expecting to be repaid in full. 

But love your enemies, do good to them, 

and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. 

Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, 

because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. - Luke 6:27-36 (NIV)

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        As we are made in the image and likeness of God, can we do any less? Yes, we can and we do - so much less - as the past 24-hours’ news reaches us on this beautiful summer Sunday morning.

But we are called to be more than our mere mortal selves. We are called to “Be merciful, just as” our heavenly Parent is merciful to us in all our flaws.  We are called to be as perfect as the One who created and loves us – ALL of us.

For those whose lives were lost, and for those whose lives are forever changed, may you find the Love of the Creator, the Peace of the Redeemer, and the Consolation of the Holy Spirit.  Amen. 

💙