The New Wine Press vol 26 no 2 October 2017 | Page 7

part of the Charlottesville march disturbs the soul. It
is very distressing to see the poison of racism, anti-
Semitism, homophobia take over the lives of these
young men at such a youthful age. Which is why those
of us entrusted with the ministry of the Word and the
charism of reconciliation through the blood of Christ
bear the responsibility to name and condemn evil
when we hear it and see it. We cannot and must not
remain silent.
Hurricane Harvey cleanup in Houston
drowning. They are pressed up hard against their lim-
its. They are barely holding on—and we need to learn
to see them and to give a damn and to do something.
We should save people more often. We should find
value in life around us, to realize how dire the situation
is for so many people, and to figure out how to lock
arms with others in order to bring rescue to them. It
doesn’t mean we compromise our convictions or deny
our differences or refuse to see injustice. It means we
remember that life is inherently worth saving, and that
sometimes we can do that saving work with people we
don’t agree with—or even like.”
I choose to be inspired and motivated by the vast
majority of people of goodwill and compassion that
make up our human family—and by companions
like Storm with his instinct for doing the right thing.
Our Precious Blood spirituality reminds us that many
times those who are “on the margins” are there be-
cause of events beyond their control. To be suddenly
without home or hope is to be “outside the circle” or
“on the edge,” but if possible, never outside the circle of
care and inclusion. 
Leadership, continued from page 3
the cruel, callous and utterly indefensible decision
in early September by the Trump administration to
rescind daca; and the violence that erupts because of
hate speech, racial injustice, and inequality leave us
gasping for air.
Words count and have consequences. The polar-
izing coarseness of our speech and conduct in this
country has been building the past few years. The
toxic atmosphere reflected in the racist, anti-Semitic,
homophobic rants and chants of the neo-Nazis and
the anger on the faces of the young men who were
So how do we remain steadfast and strong in the
face of evil and find the courage to be bold in speak-
ing our truth? In his reflection for America, Jim
McDermott suggested that the Jesuit practice of the
spiritual examen might be an antidote to the anger
that simmers and then explodes in violence and rage
in this country. He invites finding a “quiet place” and
taking a “few minutes to breathe, and let the day fall
away. Then put a question to God: ‘Where were you
today, Lord?’ ‘What happened?’ ‘What do you want
me to notice?’”
These are good question to ask ourselves at the end
of each day—or even at the beginning of the day. Help
me to see you today. Help me to recognize you in my
coworkers and colleagues, in my community mem-
bers and family, in those I meet at the store or the
shop or on the street. Help me to notice what happens
and how I respond to each event, each encounter.
It is about living in awareness, practicing atten-
tiveness, paying attention. I have long believed that
at the heart of the ministry of reconciliation is the
ability to recognize in the adversary, in the other, in
the betrayer, in the one who has broken your heart,
to recognize a child of God. But it is so difficult to
see the face of God in those who are spewing hate or
advocating violence.
This is the great challenge of our faith. To find
the courage to be bold in our living the gospel, in
standing in solidarity with the oppressed, in chal-
lenging institutional injustice, in confronting racism,
homophobia, anti-Semitism, it is necessary that we
find a quiet place each day, soak in some silence, and
nurture and deepen our relationship with the Lord.
We will never be bold or courageous if we don’t take
the time to stoke the fires of justice within our own
hearts. We need to create space within ourselves each
day for this fire of the Spirit to breathe and give us the
courage to speak the truth in love. 
October 2017 • The New Wine Press • 5