As often happens, Sunday Mass renews my perspective. Over the last week, I’ve been struggling with how things are going, especially here in the US.
Today’s readings and homily reminded me of what my response should be in the face of upset and violence: gentleness.
The now-retired long-time pastor of my former parish was filling in at church this morning. Along with Scripture passages, the homily referenced the Aesop fable of the wind and the sun competing to get a man to take off his coat. No matter how violently the wind blew, it could not remove the man’s coat, but the gentle rays of the sun soon warmed the man to the point that he removed his coat.
It was a reminder to me that however upset I am with the disrespect and violence in our culture, my response must be gentleness and understanding. I am not generally one to fight fire with fire, but the reminder was welcome. Don’t despair or fear, but keep on gently speaking and abiding in truth and peace.
Joanne Corey 