In a world of instant news and quick results, there is a prevalence of rushing our judgment of others. We can quickly be made aware of bad behaviour and coerced into condemning not only the action but the person at the heart of the action. Yet during the week, I was struck by the example of Bridget Sakr who has established a cafe in South Strathfield to fund the important work of helping grieving families rebuild their lives. She seeks to help others encounter a way of building hope when it is possible to be enfolded in darkness.
This puts the gospel into
practice for the weekend. In this gospel, we hear how many of the evils in our
world are resolved by helping to win back the heart of another. The spiritual
works of mercy talk about this patient work that is required to sustain any
change. This fraternal accompaniment seeks not to focus on the destructive act of
another but on their ability to be informed, formed, and transformed. It calls
for a Gospel that embodies a heart built on reconciliation, reconstruction, and
justice.
The principle is that this can
be lived out even in the smallest community where two or three are gathered. It
speaks of a mutuality that seeks to show that we must love our brother or
sister in life. It is these small fires that can be lit within our own hearts
that see the creative act of God actively present in our world.
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