You are my pastor, gracious hosts, friends and uncle. When you were first ordained, you were called by Jesus to ‘feed my lambs’ and ‘tend my sheep’ just as Simon Peter was called to do.
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
He then said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” (Jesus) said to him, “Feed my sheep.
John 21:15-17 NAB
That call still exists today.
You have been entrusted with the feeding and tending of your parish flock and the wider community. This flock and community include the widow, orphan and the alien – those who have no voice. The current activity in Washington D.C has the real potential to adversely affect the poor. I work for Outside-In downtown Portland providing medical and social services to homeless youth and the poor. We receive over 1 million dollars in Federal funding. If that funding is cut for community health centers, we will have to close our clinic. This would only be repeated around our country. Who will serve the poor?
On this Wednesday, I humbly ask you, your fellow priests and congregations to
- Praise God for the many blessing we have received.
- Pray that you and your congregation can be the voice for the poor.
- Phone our elected officials and make the voice of the poor heard in the places of power. You can use 1-866-456-3949 or 1-800-826-3688, just follow the instructions
The Glorious Mysteries of the rosary are generally prayed and meditated upon on Wednesday. A copy of the rosary scriptures and reflections can be found in the pray section. Offer up those prayers for the poor and our nation. I hope to have gathering in the parking lot of the old Chili’s restaurant at Bethany and Cornell at 6:00 am to pray the rosary and then phone our elected officials. The sun has risen and the congressional offices have opened in Washington D.C.
The Lord has eyes for the just, and ears for their cry.’ Psalm 34:16 NAB
In Christ and Peace,
John M. Kingery