There should be no way that we cannot give our attention to what is happening in the state of Minnesota in the city of Minneapolis. It does not matter where we are politically, but it does matter how we respond. As Christians we are called to respond in some way that is in keeping with the teachings of Jesus Christ. We have just celebrated the feast we call the Incarnation of Jesus Christ when Jesus through his life, death and resurrection revealed a kind and merciful God.
Where do we find God in all of the anger and hatred that is part of the conflict? When we depend on our human love, we find it very difficult. We do need to remember when God spoke us into existence he gave us his very spirit. We do not hear the second creation story often enough where it helps us understand who we are. The myth tells us that God formed the human out of earth and then “blew into his nostrils the breath of life and so the human became a living being.” We have the spark of the divine within us as do all humans regardless of the religion to which they belong.
When we are called to love as Jesus did, we cannot rely only on our human love, we have to rely on the divine love that comes from God of which we are a part. This kind of love will help us remember that all humans have within them the spark of the divine.
Our very human love causes us to hate as well as love. It judges others but it does not help us understand that the divine is a part of who we are. How do we show our love for others? Perhaps when we listen to some of the demonstrators in Minneapolis singing hymns we slowly begin to get the idea. Hate will bring about the very destruction that we fear. There are ways to be involved in bringing about change but hatred and violence cannot be a part. We need to go beyond our human love and tap into the divine love that is part of our DNA.
– Helen Ackermann
Yes, thank you.
Thank you Helen,If we are true followers of Jesus we need to love our neighbors as ourselves by treating all with dignity and respect and helping the least of our neighbors.
Helen, thanks for your beliefs and insights. S.Rose Grabowski
Phone calls, peaceful protests, holy hours as suggested by Pope Leo, letters, texts, emails could all be ways of expressing our love of others and calling for peace and justice in our world
I love the part of the second creation story that you cite. Thank you for reminding us about the spark of the divine in all of humanity.
Thank you Helen. The world (and me personally) needs so much more of this.
It is difficult to go about daily life as if things are normal. You remind us of our humanity rooted in the divine. We must remember this is in everyone
Thank you for this reminder to love. There is always this choice, always this chance to start again. If we don’t choose love, we cease to be even human.