Daily Scripture, May 25, 2022
Scripture:
Acts 17:15, 22—18:1
John 16:12-25
Reflection:
“Jesus said to his disciples:
“I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.
But when he comes, the Spirit of truth,
he will guide you to all truth.” John 16:12-13
O Holy Spirit, guide us to truth.
According the USDA, more than 38 million people including 12 million children in the United States are food insecure. Hunger in African American, Latino and Native American communities is higher because of systemic racial injustice.
O Holy Spirit, guide us to truth.
In 2020, the most recent year for which complete data is available, 45,222 people died from gun-related injuries in the U.S., according to the CDC. Though they tend to get less public attention than gun-related murders, suicides have long accounted for the majority of U.S. gun deaths. In 2020, 54% of all gun-related deaths in the U.S. were suicides (24,292), while 43% were murders (19,384), according to the CDC. The remaining gun deaths that year were unintentional (535), involved law enforcement (611) or had undetermined circumstances (400).
The 45,222 total gun deaths in 2020 were by far the most on record, representing a 14% increase from the year before, a 25% increase from five years earlier and a 43% increase from a decade prior.
-Pew Research Center
O Holy Spirit, guide us to truth.
Climate change is a global problem with grave implications: environmental, social, economic, political and for the distribution of goods. It represents one of the principal challenges facing humanity in our day. Its worst impact will probably be felt by developing countries in coming decades. Many of the poor live in areas particularly affected by phenomena related to warming, and their means of subsistence are largely dependent on natural reserves and ecosystemic services such as agriculture, fishing and forestry. They have no other financial activities or resources which can enable them to adapt to climate change or to face natural disasters, and their access to social services and protection is very limited.
-Pope Francis, Laudato Sí’ 25
O Holy Spirit, guide us to truth.
There are so many truths that feel unbearable in today’s world. Yet, as Pope Francis urges us, “Our goal is not to amass information or to satisfy curiosity, but rather to become painfully aware, to dare to turn what is happening to the world into our own personal suffering and thus to discover what each of us can do about it” (LS 19). How else can we participate in the Passion of Jesus, “the greatest and most overwhelming work of God’s love”?
Lissa Romell is the Administrator at St. Vincent Strambi Community in Chicago, Illinois.
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