Last weekend marked a number of special occasions. On May 1 as the Catholic Church celebrated the feast of Saint Joseph the Worker and remembered all workers and those looking for work, an estimated half a million people took up the tradition of political activism on May Day and came out for protests, demonstrations, and prayer vigils around the country in opposition to Arizona’s recent passage of SB1070 and to call for comprehensive immigration reform. There is no question that our immigration system is broken and one can’t help but wonder if our political system is broken too when politicians prefer to use important issues for their own political gain at the expense of the entire nation. It seems that our leaders are most concerned about how to get or remain in power and in the process have so divided and polarized the country that what is really best for the people has become only an afterthought. Many politicians have become so consumed with the power struggle that they’ve nearly forgotten the job they were sent to do.
But it is important for us as Christians to remember that we do not put our hope in the government nor in any of the other powers of this world. We put our hope in Christ alone, knowing that in Him the battle has already been won. He tells us “In the world you will have trouble but take courage, I have conquered the world.” (Jn 16:33) And on Sunday we heard the promise: “Behold, I make all things new.” (Rev 21:5)recalling the Resurrection, as the Church continues to celebrate Easter. And so with great expectation we long to experience the fulfillment of God’s promise, and as we continue on our journey as “aliens and sojourners” (1Pt 2:11) we strive to bring about the Kingdom of God among us, regardless of the worldly kingdom that we find ourselves residing in.
May 1 is also the anniversary the Catholic Worker newspaper (in 1933) and with it, the birth of a new movement as Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin encouraged people to join them in looking not to the government for solutions, but to their faith in God lived out in radical and authentic ways. I pray that we would do the same – that while we continue to work for peace and justice in our communities and beyond, we would always keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and keep our hope in the Lord, trusting that he will indeed make all things new!
Monday, May 3, 2010
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Great post! I think we live in a world of so much "grey". When I consider SB 1070 I think of all the injustice on both sides. On one side we have the poor who are often exploited by citizens and very often even by their own race. On the other side we have those gracious hosts who are victimized by crime. Then we have politicians... Lest I say more. But, we can't blame them for everything that is wrong. Ultimately, we the voter are also responsible for how things are in government. Afterall, politics is somewhat a market driven "economy". Politicians tend to give the public what the public demands. So, the voters need to also take a hard look at themselves. Ultimately, it all comes down to humanity's sinful nature. Let us joyfully surrender so the Lord may make all things new.
Post a Comment