Mercy Like the Father – Chapel of Mary, The Grotto Portland, Oregon
Photo (c) 2016 John M. Kingery
When I was in Chicago for the 30th Social Action Summer Institute in July 2016, I met Deacon Randy Clement from St. John – The Evangelist Catholic Church in Prairieville, Louisiana. He is a member of the cloud of witnesses to Christ’s love and mercy in this world. Randy shared the following at SASI and has given me permission to share it here.
“The Journey to Peace is about my journey that started on my senior trip. I was with my classmates from Cathedral Prep when I got the news my Uncle Alcide a priest was killed. Then my godchild (also my niece) years later was killed by her husband and then Jeremy my nephew was killed in a drug bust (he was a sheriff deputy). It is my reflection of how God has been with me helping me to become a nonviolent person.” Randy Clement, August 2016
Journey to Peace
Looking back I see the work of God in me
I see the Embrace of love in the midst of pain
I see the love of my friends a sacrament of Love
I see how this has become a journey of Peace.
I was hurting like I had never hurt before
May 7th, 1975 will always be etched in my soul
Once in my mind as the saddest day
Now in my soul as the onset of my journey to Peace.
The journey had me walk to see mercy from all sides
I saw the mercy of God reach into my soul
Praying a prayer that I didn’t start
A prayer that still resonates from by being.
Once again on June 11th, 2003 the pain appeared again
Mercy did too at the most inappropriate time
Reminding me it isn’t just for me
Calling me once again to pray for it’s grace.
It showed me the journey hadn’t ended
There was still more for me to do
The bleak sadness would become Joy
The Resurrection will flow as I spread the Gift of Mercy.
Then on the day of ashes it happened again
March 1, 2006 evil raised again its ugly head
Anger spewed from me in a moment of honest prayer
Mercy was nowhere to be found or so it appeared to me.
I prayed at the lifeless body of my flesh and blood
For Resurrection to manifest and save my sister from the pain
If nothing else give me some of her pain
Why oh why God have you allowed this again.
In my hermitage in silence I heard Jesus from the Cross
Enough is enough learn from me
Violence isn’t the way so pledge your life to my way
Forgive those who hurt you and let Mercy flow.
Oh this journey that I’m still on
Has taught me and moved me
To become a better person
To become an instrument of mercy and of love that wins.
I know I have work to do to become who I am called to be
I know now more than ever that forgiveness is the key
For holding on to hate and grudges only delays my movement
The steps away from the world into the Kingdom of Love.
Deacon Randy Clement