"(The angel) cried out in a loud voice, 'Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great...'"
Revelation 18:1
I can't begin to figure out all the symbolism of the Book of Revelation, but this first part of today's reading reminds me of Jesus saying in Luke, "“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!" (Luke 10:13) Jesus is calling out whole cities and communities for the wrong being done within their boundaries. It speaks to me of how we are not just responsible for our own individual deeds, but as a system and as groups, we can be in terrible error. And it sure feels that way in our world now, doesn't it? We, as communities, states, countries need to be more aware of how our systems are unjust. We can try to put band-aids on the problems, but the problems will still be there if we don't address the issues underneath the problems. Today is the anniversary of the death of Dorothy Day, co-founder of the Catholic Worker movement. She was a rascal and an agitator, several times being jailed for her beliefs that the system needs to be changed, all the while providing for the poor at her houses of hospitality. I feel privileged to be able to volunteer at such a place here in Boise. But it is just scratching the surface of the systemic problem. These dismal readings at the end of our liturgical year are a call to action for all of us. How can our faith lead us into action? Let's think and pray about it as we inch toward Advent...Love, heidi
No comments:
Post a Comment