Consolation & Desolation, April 2021

“I come that they might have life, and have it more abundantly.” – John 10:10

Desolation
Do Black Lives Matter? As an African American Catholic woman, I am disheartened every time I read or see a story which involves the police and a BIPOC person, or I hear a story of a friend, relative or acquaintance of color who is stopped by the police and treated harshly in a manner that may lead to physical harm and death. I pray, hoping that our Church officials, namely our Bishops, would speak out. I do understand that abortion is a “preeminent” life issue, but the unjust killing of BIPOC brothers and sisters is also a life issue. At the height of the protests this summer around the killing of George Floyd, I read a few and saw even fewer pictures of Bishops taking part in peaceful protests. Even on Inauguration Day, the US Bishops Conference released this letter to President Biden. A few Bishops did speak out about the timing and content of the letter, but I truly wonder if a group of them might consider connecting on Zoom or speaking with the President in person. That might help all parties involved to have more action for ALL life issues.

Consolation

This picture is from my parish’s prayerful remembrance this summer of the lives of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery. The title of the Prayer Service is Fury, Lamentation and Action. All of these words take energy, and I claim them all, but there is no movement for change without action. My parish, St. Francis Xavier in Manhattan, is participating in a Lenten Examen for Racial Justice with two other parishes who have a racially diverse community. Each Monday we meet together to discuss our prayer for the week and to speak about action steps for change. In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, “The time is always right to do what is right.”

This month’s reflection was provided by Boreta Singleton of St. Peter’s Prep HS in Jersey City, NJ . If you would like to volunteer to provide next month’s reflection, please contact Sean Toole, SJ: stoole@jesuits.org.