For this Sunday, October 27th, the focus for
our meditation will be on Standing. I recently finished reading a
wonderfully inspiring book titled, “Tattoos on the Heart” written by a Jesuit
priest named Gregory Boyle. Father Boyle
took an assignment early in his ministry to head a church in the most troubled
section of Los Angeles that was plagued by gang violence. His mission was to create a sanctuary that
would enable gang members to leave their past behind and start a new life. To explain the motivation for his mission,
Boyle wrote, “Success and failure, ultimately, have little to do with living
the gospel. Jesus just Stood with the outcasts until they were welcomed or until he was crucified—whichever
came first.” Boyle chose to Stand with the outcasts of gang members most of whom ended up in gangs because
of being raised in incredibly dysfunctional and abusive families. Father Boyle was initially worried
parishioners would rebel against his vision for the church, but they embraced
it fully. As a result, his endeavors led
to a decline in gang violence and inspired a nationwide movement of job
creation and skills training to serve as conduits out of the gang life. One of the surest ways for a society to
decline is for citizens to become apathetic observers to the ills around
them. Father Boyle shows us how to move
beyond judgment and be willing to take a Stand that may not be
popular with others but that ultimately leads to the greatest good. This week in our prayer and meditation time
let us ask to find the courage to take a Stand on the important
issues facing our communities. May the light
and energy of our prayers help guide our actions and spur us to Stand up rather than shy away from all that needs to be done to help us move
forward.
In our efforts this week let us also continue to use the energy
of our prayers and meditation to amplify the light that covers and fills this nation. As we perform our meditation this week let us
begin by re-energizing the brilliance and power of the light we create. Just as before, begin by forming a concentrated
ball of light that is so bright it is almost impossible to look directly at it.
Raise this sphere of light up high over
the nation and then let its rays cascade down to create a solid, impenetrable
dome of light that completely covers every inch of our country. From shore to shore and border to border let
the entire continent be filled with this brilliant, dense light that will serve
to magnify the best and highest qualities of our country and the people who
live across its vast lands.
Please follow the same practice as before: Get centered in your
body, ask to bring in your guides and others who are there to assist us and connect
to the circle of others participating in this project.
Ask yourself what do I feel in my body when I have taken a Stand
on issues that are important to me and my community? How does it feel in
my body when I have found the courage to Stand up for others, especially
those who may be considered outcasts by society? Then send the energy and
intention of those feelings to the nation.
Be sure to disconnect from the circle at the end and express
thanks for those who have helped us in this effort.
If you have feedback or experiences you would like to share
please let me know via e-mail to kmiritello@gmail.com
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