There is a sentence in the vision statement for our
Congregation that gives me hope in times like this:
“Our mission is to be a prophetic witness for the
renewal of the Church and the transformation of the
world.” The teachings of the Church are vitally impor-
tant in our world today and are not in dispute. Nor is
the ministry of the bishops. Yet the unjust environ-
ment that is created through the varied interpretation
of tradition must be challenged.
So where do we go from here? As Precious Blood
people, in order to live out our calling to be prophetic
witnesses, we must stand with these lay men and
women who find themselves on the margins of the
Church and have often faced unjust treatment. We
need to help create safe spaces, so lay staff people can
speak honestly about their experiences without fear
of retribution. We need to create safe spaces where
honest dialogue can occur between lay staff and those
in institutional Church leadership. There are more
and more empty spaces in churches and in church of-
fices because many have seen their friends and family
experience these injustices and are reticent to encour-
age others to step forward in service. There are many
wounds that have been experienced in the stories of
the lay men and women who have faced these injus-
tices. While the journey is full of twists and turns, our
spirituality calls us to journey with everyone in the
spirit of reconciliation and renewal.
Pope Paul vi wrote, “Liturgy is like a strong tree
whose beauty is derived from the continuous renewal
of its leaves, but whose strength comes from the old
trunk, with solid roots in the ground.” I believe that
he would say the same thing about the institutional
Church. May we continue to help grow new leaves
that will offer an environment of peace and justice for
everyone today. It will be then that we can say we truly
were prophetic witnesses.
Editor, continued from page 2
of popularity as a (sometimes covert) protest song
during the Civil Rights Movement in the U.S. It takes
on greater power and a new level of meaning when
you picture an African-American person in the 1960 s
singing the words, “No, I won’t be afraid.” I am re-
minded of Martin Luther King’s words in the speech
he gave on the night before he was murdered: “I just
want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up
to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen
the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But
I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will
get to the Promised Land. So, I'm happy tonight. I'm
not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man”
[italics mine].
In hindsight, what held the entire service together
for me was the sermon by Bishop Michael Curry,
which was preached just before the song and vows.
Near the conclusion, he proclaimed:
Think and imagine a world where love is the way.
Imagine our homes and families where love is the
way.Imagine neighborhoods and communities where
love is the way. Imagine governments and nations
where love is the way. Imagine business and com-
merce
where this love is the way. Imagine this tired old
world where love is the way. When love is the way—
unselfish, sacrificial, redemptive.
When love is the way, then no child will go to bed
hungry in this world ever again. When love is the
way, we will let justice roll down like a mighty stream
and righteousness like an ever-flowing brook. When
love is the way, poverty will become history. When
love is the way, the earth will be a sanctuary. When
love is the way, we will lay down our swords and
shields, down by the riverside, to study war no more.
When love is the way, there's plenty good room—
plenty good room—for all of God's children. Because
when love is the way, we actually treat each other,
well... like we are actually family.
Ultimately, it’s all about being family. And that
means standing with one another, letting our little
lights shine against the darkness, and letting unselfish,
sacrificial, redemptive love be “the way.”
In the words of Pope Francis, quoted elsewhere in
this issue, “We are all called to be holy by living our
lives with love and by bearing witness in everything we
do, wherever we find ourselves…. Be holy by living out
your commitment with joy.”
June 2018 • The New Wine Press • 7