One Body of Many Parts

Dear Friend,

As we prepare for the feast of Pentecost this year, we face not only the disruptions brought on by COVID-19, but also the ravages of the deadly virus of racism. All the more painful for me, the flashpoint of this horrendous racial violence is Minneapolis, which happens to be my beloved hometown. (The charms of nostalgia are deceptive.)

With all that’s happened in Minneapolis and with the COVID pandemic, I’m pierced again by the stark reality that the road to healing is a long one. Whether we are aimed at fuller public health, or toward the healing of the past – with its long history of abuses of power and control – we, as disciples of Jesus Christ, will not get to our destination without the Holy Spirit’s power and guidance.

In fact, if we look at our own past here at the Mission, we can see that the dynamics of infection and disease, along with the abuse of power and cultural dominance, have played out over the centuries right here in our midst. We ourselves are on the road, dedicated to evangelization. Without deep commitment to the common good, the work of the Spirit among us will be wasted. This is a slow task and “quick-fix” approaches can have no part in our strategies. As a friend reminded me this week, St. Paul’s efforts in spreading the Gospel did not focus on teaching people what to think, but on how to think – the latter a more arduous endeavor.

A profound renewal of vision – of how we think about and see ourselves and others – is the promise offered by our risen Lord. Forgiveness of sin is at the heart of the matter, along with a commitment to seeing our lives as “one body” of many parts. Come Holy Spirit, shine within our hearts!

Gratefully,

Fr. Dan ofm, Pastor