Journeying Toward Freedom and Equity

  https://ignatiansolidarity.net/blog/2021/04/02/good-friday-the-price-of-integrity/ He is Risen! On Good Friday, Bryan Massingale reminded us that we are cheaters in the sense of this Holy Week, because we know not only of Jesus’ death, but his resurrection.              This made me think about Mary and how she would have felt on Good Friday. Just as we feel anytime we lose a person close to us, Mary would have felt an immediate sense of grief and pain. And she lost her only son after he himself went through so much pain and suffering. Mary did not have the hopeful promise that we have about Jesus’ resurrection.             This leads me to thinking about those who have lost a family member or close friend due to COVID-19 or other illnesses. How can we possibly find a hopeful promise or peace in that?           ...

  https://ignatiansolidarity.net/blog/2021/04/02/good-friday-the-price-of-integrity/ Reflection on Good Friday The Price of Integrity   The CEO of one of the consulting companies I once worked for was not particularly present over the years to company employees like me who were multiple steps down the corporate “ladder”. But one day he spoke to a group of us that were in training and he told us, “Never lose your integrity.” I will forever respect him for making that statement so I could hear it. Another way I view that statement today, many years later, is to become aware and then stay awake to your true self as a child of God.   Our scriptures say clearly that we are children of God. Wow! You and I and all of us are children of the all-powerful and all-wondrous God!! With our trinity God, there is infinite inclusion, infinite mercy, and infinite forgiveness to go along with infinite goodness. We have been called as God’s children to become our true selves as pe...

  https://ignatiansolidarity.net/blog/2021/03/28/palm-sunday-compassionate-solidarity/             I failed. Again.   This past weekend, I found myself in conversation with an in-law regarding the state of our nation and our differing political opinions. Both of us acknowledged that our faith and our understanding of God’s will were crucial in shaping our views. We shared common ground.   It was not long into our conversation that the very reactions I have been working hard to overcome surfaced:  anger, frustration, defensiveness – and not to be indelicate – sweaty armpits. Good grief, I thought afterwards, I am still incapable of engaging in conversations about polarizing topics without losing it.   What happened? Two things. First, I allowed fear to take over. I forgot to love. Love keeps my fear and desperation in check along with my need to be right, to have the last word. The second was that...

     https://ignatiansolidarity.net/blog/2021/03/16/last-shall-be-first/      How am I called to “seek out those in the back of the line”?      My Christian upbringing has led me to make many choices in my life, including finding ways to serve in my community and beyond.  I have served in many of the usual ways and some not so usual ways. It is not necessary to list them today, that is another story.  During this Lenten season, I continue to find ways to serve those less fortunate than myself, those of less privilege than me; but this year I have also chosen to reflect on my grief. Perhaps grieving can be another way to serve others?      As I have reflected on how I experience grief, I have recognized I have experienced grief through loss, especially loss of loved ones. However, I have also discovered my greatest grief - my awareness of the suffering of the world caused by social injustice....