Dear Friends,

Do you ever watch John Quinones’ “What Would You Do?” on Friday night TV? They present a situation where someone is being mistreated and see what the bystanders say or do. Sometimes it is a person with Downs syndrome or a gay person or an

employee who is being berated or demeaned and the series shows how different people react and intervene. In the first reading this Sunday, God is saying to Ezekiel, “I am sending you to be a moral voice—to speak up.” It reminds me of Rev. William Barber challenging us to be moral defibrillators for our society today. You may have seen the letter in the Boston Globe co-authored by Attorney General Maura Healey and Boston Archbishop Cardinal Seán O’Malley calling on President Trump not to repeal DACA—to continue to support “Dreamers.” It was inspiring to see them lifting up their voices….together….Taking a moral stance. The Bishop of Brooklyn, NY recently celebrated a special liturgy called in response to the violent and deadly white supremacist demonstrations in Charlottesville, Virginia. During the liturgy, Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio stated. “Racism remains the pre-eminent sin of not only our nation, but also of our church…We in the United States have our own particular original sin It is called racism.” He announced that this was prompting him to establish a new social justice commission in his diocese to study the effects of racism in the Catholic Church and in the Brooklyn Diocese. With the arrival of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Jose, several ecologists are calling on our government to acknowledge the devastating effects of climate change and to set about concerted efforts to care for our environment. Immigration, Racism, the Environment—what is your heart feeling called to speak up for, to take a stand for? You have probably heard it said that evil advances when good people stand by and say nothing. Pope Paul VI said, “Working for justice is constitutive of living out the Gospel.” What are you called upon to do in your corner of the world?

Jan Richardson provides us marching inspiration in our work for justice and peace:
Blessing in a Time of Violence
Which is to say
this blessing
is always.
Which is to say
there is no place
this blessing
does not long
to cry out
in lament,
to weep its words
in sorrow,
to scream its lines
in sacred rage.
Which is to say
there is no day
this blessing ceases
to whisper
into the ear
of the dying,
the despairing,
the terrified.
Which is to say
there is no moment
this blessing refuses
to sing itself
into the heart
of the hated
and the hateful,
the victim
and the victimizer, with every last
ounce of hope
it has.
Which is to say
there is none
that can stop it,
none that can
halt its course,
none that will
still its cadence,
none that will
delay its rising,
none that can keep it
from springing forth
from the mouths of us
who hope,
from the hands of us
who act,
from the hearts of us
who love,
from the feet of us
who will not cease
our stubborn, aching
marching, marching
until this blessing
has spoken
its final word,
until this blessing
has breathed
its benediction
in every place,
in every tongue:
Peace.
Peace.
Peace. — © Jan Richardson

At The Spirit of Life, we work together in prayer and companionship to loosen the attitudes and brokenness which can hold us bound. We believe that God’s desire for us is that we be “Whole” and thus “Holy”… full of life , unfettered by life-destroying prejudices and free to move openly as the Spirit calls us.
Our belief in the sacredness of all created beings and loving relationships compels us to respond with care and compassion to all who are marginalized in our church and world. We invite you to come and to pray with us as we “do our own work” in growing into a deeper awareness of our own gifts and ‘growing edges’ and together create a community that invites diversity and honors the uniqueness of each individual and every journey. We are confident that you will feel welcome in the “home” of The Spirit of Life.

Loving Blessings!
Ron & Jean