Scripture:
Reflection:
Recently, I spoke with a man who has lived his brief life in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Louisville. Murders, family and gang violence, drug and alcohol abuse, mental illness, prostitution, and homelessness can be found on every street in this section of our city. Early death by stabbings, gunfire, lack of timely and adequate medical care, or overdose are not uncommon.
“There are only two ways guys survive around here,” he told me. “Stealing and selling what you steal or selling drugs.” By grace, he does neither.
Life is not easy for him. He has had a steady diet of hopelessness, chaos, financial crises, and poor health care. It is a diet that kills creativity, dreams, and energy.
On the other end of town, the affluent seek security in what Pope Leo describes as “… technology, money, success, power, or pleasure.” These folks have generally been fed a steady diet of positive thinking, self-reliance and self-first. Often well educated, most have worked hard to build secure lives for themselves and their families. Yet, pastors, mental health professionals and sociologists tell us that inside many of the large homes with manicured lawns, all is not well. Depression, exhaustion, substance abuse, and a host of other First World symptoms of unhappiness cause much pain.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus is asking Peter to feed his lambs, tend his sheep. What does that directive mean in our postmodern, technology-driven culture?
Pope Leo has keenly observed that lack of faith can result in a “loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family and so many other wounds that afflict our society.” These are the strong words in his first homily to all the cardinals on the day after his election.
Pope Leo is already feeding and tending Christ’s lambs and sheep with this challenge of our faith. We are asked, as Peter was by Christ, to literally give our lives to the mission of nourishing one another with food that will satisfy every human’s deepest cravings in a world bombarding us with superficial cures for our maladies. Our task, according to our new pope, is to commit to a “daily journey of conversion” of “fidelity to the Lord and bringing Good News to all.”
Halting activity each day to reflect on who we are, what God is calling us to do, and to bask in God’s presence is essential for this journey of conversion.
We may be drawn to tend more closely to our spouse, children, friends, or coworkers. Prayer may lead to promoting racial, economic, or environmental justice. Some have the gift of listening to a lonely, sick or elderly person, counsel a young pregnant woman, be present to a grieving mother or child.
God wants some to stand up for immigrants, refugees, healthcare for all, housing for all, or to stand against war, preparations for war, the death penalty, trickle-down economics (as condemned by Pope Francis), or environmental destruction.
Let God make the “grocery list” of what you are to feed his lambs and sheep.
God will show the way, if we pay attention.
Jim Wayne is a board member of the Passionist Solidarity Network (PSN), and author of The Unfinished Man. He lives in Louisville, Kentucky.