Dare to Dare - June 3rd 2022

Laudato Si’ Quote

73. The writings of the prophets invite us to find renewed strength in times of trial by contemplating the all-powerful God who created the universe. Yet God’s infinite power does not lead us to flee his fatherly tenderness, because in him affection and strength are joined. Indeed, all sound spirituality entails both welcoming divine love and adoration, confident in the Lord because of his infinite power. In the Bible, the God who liberates and saves is the same God who created the universe, and these two divine ways of acting are intimately and inseparably connected: “Ah Lord God! It is you who made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you… You brought your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and wonders” (Jer 32:17, 21). “The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless” (Is 40:28b-29). 

Reflection: Read the entirety of Isaiah 40, including v.30: “They that hope in God will renew their strength, they will soar on eagles’ wings; they will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint.” In these times of such violence and discouragement – the murders in Uvalde and Buffalo, our desecration of water, and air – reflect on how this passage might give you/us the courage to persevere in your/our work for justice. Reflect in silence as you watch these eagles soar. They that hope in God will “soar on eagles’ wings.” 

Action: Acknowledge the power of God in whom “affection and strength are joined” by learning about eagles this week. Watch here and read here. How might you speak for the protection of this magnificent part of creation? Share what you learn with someone else.

Prayer for Ukraine and for Peace

Dismantling Racism

In “Breaking the Silence,” the two-part workshop sponsored by the Dismantling Racism committee with Sr. Patty Chapelle and Sr. Ann Louise Nadeau, the definition given for racism was the following: “Racism is personal racial prejudice AND the misuse of power by systems and institutions.” It is not only a personal decision to be anti-racist but a decision for personal transformation and the transformation of systems, structures, and institutions within which we exercise power. This includes the church as a whole and all the structures within the church. Reflect on those with whom you live and work now; what structures are in place to include all at the table, not only with a seat but with a voice and a meal?

Continue to learn about Replacement Theory by watching this seminar video from NETWORK on “White Supremacy and American Christianity”, featuring Fr. Bryan Massingale and Dr. Robert Jones. Ninety minutes long and thought provoking in every minute. Take the time to watch and reflect, and share with someone else.

Climate Change

Hurricane Season begins on June 1st, and what used to be a season for concern only for those on the Gulf Coast or Florida’s Atlantic Coast has become a season of climate disruption across the Eastern half of the country. Read about extreme rainfall in the Northeast during hurricane season here, and how climate change is affecting the strength and number of hurricanes here. Climate change also means a hotter summer, which has more consequences for those who are poor.

All change begins with one small step. Commit yourself to reading the Laudato Si’ reflection each week. One paragraph at a time you can stop and reflect on what we are all called to as a Laudato Si’ community!

Human Trafficking

Project Safe Childhood, a unit of the Department of Justice, lists on its website under “justice news” the most recent cases they have been involved in. For anyone who does not yet understand the nature of human trafficking, especially as it affects minors, read this news. We must speak for those who cannot.

Justice for Immigrants and Partnership with Haiti

A boat with 842 Haitians, apparently headed for the US, landed in Cuba last week. Those rescued reported some on the boat had thrown themselves overboard on the trip due to the extreme hunger. Desperate times lead to desperate measures. Learn about Haiti, about migration patterns, and about justice for immigrants; learn and then teach others.

Partnership with Haiti

If you have ever wondered why it seems Haiti cannot get on her feet, or wondered why the Dominican Republic (which shares the island) seems more successful as a country, you must read this long and powerful research report in the New York Times, “The Root of Haiti’s Misery: Reparations to Enslavers.” It has already caused Citibank and others to investigate their own cooperation in this oppression. Read about the involvement of Wall Street in the tangled history of US military presence in Haiti. Talk with someone else about what you learned.

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