Here Is My Brother, My Sister

Memorial of Saint Thomas Aquinas

By Beth DeCristofaro

And looking around at those seated in the circle he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers.  For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3: 34-35)

Piety

Grant me, O Lord my God,
a mind to know you,
a heart to seek you,
wisdom to find you,
conduct pleasing to you,
faithful perseverance in waiting for you,
and a hope of finally embracing you.   Amen.

        (St Thomas Aquinas)

Study

Two weeks ago, three-year-old “Coco” Campolongo was killed along with his grandfather in a Mafia assassination carried out because the older man had not repaid a debt.  In his address Sunday before the Angelus, Pope Francis prayed not only for the murdered innocent but also for his killers.  In part he said:  “Let us pray with Cocò, who is surely in heaven with Jesus, for the people who committed this crime that they repent and convert to the Lord” (www.Zenit.org).  The Holy Father denounced the awful crime yet also held out hope that God’s grace and mercy will soften the hearts of the criminals and, essentially, welcome them back into Jesus’ family.

Perhaps Jesus’ words to his followers and Pope Francis’ words to us can induce us to pause and consider who is called.  Pope Francis also reminded his audience that Jesus’ Word is for everyone and that salvation is withheld from no one.  He challenges us to leave our places of comfort and spread the Word to everyone, everywhere.  Jesus is not just for those we are comfortable being around or with whom we agree.

Action

I find it difficult to believe that the shooters at Columbia Mall, VA Tech, Columbine, Aurora, Sandy Hook, etc., etc., etc., might be Jesus’ brothers.   But indeed they might.  Instead of hardening our protective perimeters and tightening restrictions on those with mental illness we might look closely and with love at those who are lonely, hurting, marginalized and angry.  Perhaps this is the time to beat our guns into plowshares and evangelize our environments in such a way that people no longer choose violence to express how isolated they are from fellow humans and from God.   Jesus lived in a violent age of oppression.  He shunned violence.  What can I do?  Consider http://momsdemandaction.org/