Fourth Sunday of Easter

Readings of the Day

 Today, as I write this reflection, I am preoccupied with the fact that someone could take advantage of an elderly person and steal their truck and their phone.  This elderly person is my dad.  He lives alone and has experienced several thefts this year, so this isn’t the first time.  It angers me to see my elderly dad slowly lose his trust in others because people find it so easy to take advantage of him.  When you are called to confront the evil of this world, the challenge can be great.  All kinds of thoughts go through your head and you begin to think about how grateful you would be to see this evil person pay for what they did. 

When Jesus confronted the Pharisees by telling them that he was “the gate,” my first instinct is to assume that they did not understand what he was telling them.  But they knew exactly what he was saying to them, and they chose to hold on to the power they thought they possessed.  Their power was able to convince others that Jesus, an innocent man, deserved to be crucified! 

When we talk about power in our own communities, we see people of prominence making the decisions on behalf of those who are most vulnerable.  Those decisions mean that people are excluded from the stimulus package, others are left without health insurance, and still others are forced into long-term unemployment and homelessness.  But if we follow the model that Jesus set for us, we’ll see that he started with a small group of leaders - his disciples - who followed in his footsteps.  When they were gifted with the Holy Spirit, they went out, they talked to people, they shared the stories of Jesus, and this group of organized Christians grew immensely.  In just one day they added three thousand! (Acts 2:41)

The extensive work that Catholic Charities is called to do, especially after a disaster, requires that we prepare for many years of disaster response.  Part of that response means we become empowered by the Holy Spirit to talk to people, share our stories, and organize for systemic change.  Important work that goes together: the work of charity AND community organizing. 

“Working for a just distribution of the fruits of the earth and human labor is not mere philanthropy: It is a moral obligation. For Christians, the responsibility is even greater: It is a commandment.” Pope Francis

Cynthia Quintanilla, Executive Director for Catholic Charities Diocese of Lubbock, TX, is a leader with Llano Estacado Alliance for Democracy (LEAD).  This community organizing group helped to ensure that the local electric company stop disconnect robocalls and instead educate customers about payment options during COVID-19.

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