This past week has been filled with many blessings and joys as important dates and blessings surround us in so many ways. Today as we celebrate Veterans Day I remember my time serving our country in the Marine Corp, (1979-83) whose birthday (241 years) we celebrated yesterday (November 10, Semper Fi). It was also the week, in which we participated in the election of a new president, my tenth, that has continues to give me new perspectives on how we move forward as a people. And last and certainly not least National Vocation Awareness Week where we as a Catholic Church offered prayers and encouragement to those our God calls to discern to the priesthood and consecrated religious life.

When I returned home for a short leave after finishing boot camp, my parents picked me up at the Lewiston Airport. They then took me to lunch. It had been a long trip home. My flight from San Diego to Boise had been delayed and I spent the night in Boise before catching a connecting flight to Lewiston. As I sat in the car we talked and chatted, when we arrived at the restaurant my Dad pulled me aside and in a voice and look I will never forget he said in not so many words, “If you ever talk like that in front of your mother again…” Of course I had been talking “like a Marine” dropping swear words right and left. My Dad was no angel with language but apparently I went way beyond the pale. I remember this because it began the slow process of learning that words and the words we use matter in our conversations and how we act and interact with people.

I bring this up for one reason. Like many people I was a bit shocked by the outcome of the presidential vote. As I looked at my social media accounts I was stunned and puzzled by the number of people who were using hashtags that contained one profane word in particular and the number of comments that were laced with profanity. It was hard to read and look at as these posts came from people whom I respected and would have not thought to respond in such a vulgar manner.

The use of profanity, swear words, is something often confronted in modern society, whether it is in writing, song or conversations, the use has invaded almost every aspect of life. I am not a puritan in this matter, I do confess on rare occasions the swear word passes my lips, but for the most part I can move through daily life without them.

In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, when talking with people who confess using foul language, I try to remind them of God’s blessing and how He desires us to, both in word and action, to build up—rather than tear down, to bring about love and unity—rather than hatred and isolation. And sadly, that is what swear words do…they are ugly and weak words that show the nature of destruction and isolation of the person rather than the desire to understand and grow together into something greater.

I know that in conversation with those who are despairing the election I give this advice and am told “you don’t understand” and maybe I don’t. But let me assure you that while I am afforded great respect in many places for the collar I wear daily, I have also been spat upon, shouted at, cursed and accused of the most vile acts, without cause for simply being who I am…remembering the words of Jesus, “Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven.” (Lk 6:22-23) are often small comfort at the time but are always there in my heart.

If our ultimate goal is the peace of Jesus Christ in our hearts and in the world then the price is to listen, to be open to the movement of the Holy Spirit and to act as Saints. There has been a pre-election phrase by Archbishop Gomez of Los Angeles that has floated around social media where he simply states the true duty and call of each Christian, “If we want a greater America, we need to become, by the grace of God, greater saints.”

We must be open to listening to the other, allowing the other to enter into the hurts and pains as we share both our sorrows and joys. That is the cost of sainthood…acting with love.

We can rant and rave with the profanity-laced tirades that are floating about but ultimately this only drives us deeper into the isolation that separates us from Jesus the work of the Gospel. Winners or losers, we are all children of the one true God. I would invite you to watch the video link below…see the joy and excitement of those who win, the sorrow and pain of those who lost…but most of all see the humanity of peace as they come together to see each other as children of God. In both large and small ways, can we not seek to do the same?

God bless

Fr. Mark

 

 

www.theguardian.com/football/video/2016/aug/31/barcelona-youth-team-console-japanese-squad-soccer-world-challenge-video