Memorial of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, Virgin
Scripture:
Exodus 1:8-14, 22
Matthew 10:34-11:1
Reflection:
The Enduring Shadow of Cruelty
When we look back at history, as far back as the oldest writings of the Old Testament, the patterns of human cruelty are stark and undeniable. From the ancient Egyptians’ subjugation of the Jewish people to the systematic genocide perpetrated by the Germans in the last century, the echoes of injustice reverberate. We see it in the brutal enslavement of Africans by 17th and 18th-century plantation owners in the Americas, and in the genocide inflicted upon indigenous peoples by settlers across the continent. Today is no exception. Tyrants and the people who support them unleash invasions and bombs, indiscriminately murdering innocent civilians.
A Call to Action: Choosing Compassion
Given this enduring legacy of cruelty, how can each of us contribute to nudging human behavior away from it, starting within our own families and communities? Is it truly so difficult to love both our neighbors and our enemies?
Every moment presents a choice. When we have a stressful thought or when someone causes us stress, what can we do to transform our thinking into positive thoughts and action? Or when we feel offended, don’t we have an opportunity to transform that offense into deeper understanding? We can choose compassion over contempt, and empathy over animosity. By making these conscious choices, we begin to dismantle the roots of cruelty, one interaction at a time.
.Jack Dermody is President of Share Our Gifts, Inc., a Passionist alumni organization dedicated to assisting those who live in poverty; he is also editor of CrossRoads, the Passionist Alumni Association’s newsletter.