Fr. Bob - Stand By Me
So, the story goes a little parish on the Wisconsin and Minnesota border had just completed building their new church. There was but one thing that remained. What color would they paint the front door of the church?
Half the parish were Packer fans who wanted the doors painted green and gold.
The other half of the parish were Viking fans who wanted the door painted purple. The pastor had to suspend his team loyalty and stand in the middle so the issue wouldn’t split the parish in two.
And so, for us, we’re sometimes called to stand in the middle. Yet, as things heat up in our world it’s inevitable that we have people on both sides of the fence and that’s okay. But we can’t let the voices of hate have their way. If they do, they will divide us. And once divided we can’t walk together as people of faith are called to walk together. “I pray that they can be one.” John 17
With the events in Minneapolis in recent weeks comes the question, “As a people of faith how do we respond?” We can start with prayer. So, if you could please kneel as I offer this prayer.
Dear God, John the Baptist acclaimed your Son as the Lamb of God. Yes, the one who takes away the sins of the world is the one whose love dispels the darkness. In these challenging times we gather not in judgment or division but in compassion and hope.
We entrust all who are suffering to your care as we pray for all affected by the tragedies of these recent weeks including the family of Renee Nicole Good whose lives are forever changed as well as ICE officer Jonathon Ross and his family.
Guide our state and nation to respond justly and compassionately to all that is causing fear, violence, and division. We now pause for fifteen seconds of silent prayer.
Please be seated. Even in our differences if we can stand by each other walking with arms joined ithe voices of hate will not divide us. And that just might be enough to open the door to a little more hope and healing to our world. And if what we do here were to start on the street corners of America and spread throughout the world it might sound like this. PLAY SONG STND BY ME