Reflection on the readings for Monday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time. Are we concerned about all of God's children, or just some of them?
In this installment of A Word of Hope, Fr. Brendan Curran, Dominican Promoter for Justice and Peace for North America, reflects on Paul's letter to the Galatians, which reminds that community that Abraham had two sons: one born to a slave mother, and one born to a free mother.
For Fr. Curran, the passage is a reminder and a challenge. Our God invites each of us to ask how we care for, show concern for, and value all of the children of God, not only our own.
He recalls a recent incident in which an ICE agent pulled over a 28-year-old man with a five-year-old child in the back seat, and opened fire, nearly killing him in front of the child.
See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sKMmjmU0wI
How are we concerned about the health, safety, and quality of life of that child? Are we only concerned about our own kids, or do we recognize that we are part of all of God's family?
Whether a five-year-old in the back seat of a vehicle being detained, or our own kids on our front porch on a Sunday afternoon, all are God's children. A child born in Mexico, in France, in Canada, or here in Chicago. May we be compelled to compassion and concern for each and every one of them, and let that be a sign of God's hope for a thirsting and hungering world this day.
⏱️ TIMELINE
0:00 – Welcome to A Word of Hope
0:10 – Fr. Brendan Curran, Dominican Promoter for Justice and Peace
0:15 – Paul to the Galatians: Abraham's two sons
0:31 – A reminder: all of God's children, or just some?
0:46 – God's challenge: how do we value every child of God?
1:00 – An ICE stop, a 28-year-old man, and a five-year-old in the back seat
1:20 – The health, safety, and quality of life of that child
1:30 – Only our kids, or all of God's family?
1:39 – Believers face many struggles in our society
1:45 – Galatians again: born to a slave, born to a free woman
2:02 – All are our concern, and the concern of God
2:07 – The back seat of a vehicle, or our own front porch
2:18 – All are God's children
2:22 – A challenge: compelled to be compassionate
2:32 – A child born in Mexico, France, Canada, or Chicago
2:46 – A sign of God's hope for a thirsting and hungering world
📖 Today's Readings
First Reading: Galatians 4:22–24, 26–27, 31–5:1
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 113
Gospel: Luke 11:29–32
📍 Recorded with the Dominican community on the west side of Chicago
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