Palm Sunday
For Lent 2021, members of CTA’s Anti-Racism Team are sharing weekly reflections. As they are published, their pieces will be posted here.
Readings
Mark 11:1-10
Isaiah 50:4-7
Philippians 2:6-11
Mark 14:1-15:47
Prayer
“Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?” (Marion Williams)
Reflection
I was introduced to the Stations of the Cross in first grade at St. Vibiana’s School. St. Vibiana’s was the Cathedral of Los Angeles and was located in the northern edge of Skid Row. The presence of alcoholics, drug addicts and mentally ill individuals was commonplace in our church. Stations of the Cross was a journey through the darkness where our chanting echoed and the incense created a surreal, mystical atmosphere. As the priest and altar server walked from station to station, we turned our bodies to face each scene and take in the description of Jesus’ suffering. It was difficult to not look away from humanity in the throes of afflictions.
Don’t look away.
As an adult, I don’t need to shelter in a church building in order to participate in the Stations of the Cross. Our society encourages us to avoid the gaze of the Christ who brings the Good News of G-d’s unconditional love, even as humanity’s Shadow attempts to smother the illumination of that joy. We deal with deflection, gaslighting, bullying, fear, shaming, lies, apathy, privilege, avoidance, the demand to be entertained and all manner of dehumanization/desecration of G-d’s Creation.
Don’t look away.
(WARNING: TRIGGERING MATERIAL IN LINK BELOW.)
January 7th, I saw the photo of a woman being brutalized by a mob near the LAPD HQ in Los Angeles Civic Center. It rattled me to the core and I felt transported to the darkened church of my childhood where I heard the description of Jesus stripped of His garments, spit upon and beaten. The first station. That took place 2000 years ago in Jerusalem. No. This is taking place now. ("‘I Thought I Was Going To Die’: A Crowd Of Trump Supporters Attacked A Black Woman”)
Don’t look away.
At the 13th station, we meditate on Jesus being taken down from the cross and placed in the arms of His mother. Some versions of the Stations of the Cross omit Mary’s embrace of her Son’s body. Purists insist that the Gospels don’t mention her. They state His body was handed over to Nicodemus for burial. How can anyone who has raised and loved children think that Mary would not have called for her Son’s body? When a child is born, the need to cradle, kiss, examine, adore the child’s body is instinctual. How can anyone who hears fearless Mary’s voice in the Magnificat think she would not have insisted on holding her precious Child once more? I do believe she would have challenged the witnesses to His lynching to acknowledge His humanity and own their complicity in His torture and death.
On August 28, 1955, Emmett Till was kidnapped, tortured and lynched for whistling at and insulting a white woman. His mother, Mamie Till, insisted on an open casket funeral. She wanted everyone to see the battered body of her 14 year old child. In 2007, Carolyn Bryant, Emmett Till’s accuser admitted she had fabricated the incident.
Don’t look away.
Proposed action
Research the Stations of the Cross and look for the suffering Christ in daily life.
The Primacy of Conscience is a foundational Catholic teaching. In order to have an informed conscience, Catholics are encouraged to perform a daily examination of conscience. This is done in addition to other tools of spiritual soul searching.
Below are examples of inquiries a person can use during this daily reflection. You are invited to create your own examination of conscience.
Based on the Ten Commandments:
I am the Lord your God: you shall not have strange Gods before me.
Have I treated people, events, or things as more important than God?You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
Have my words, actively or passively, put down God, the Church, or people?Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day.
Do I join and support a worshipping community at least once a week? Do I avoid, when possible, work that impedes worship to God, joy for the Lord’s Day, and proper relaxation of mind and body? Do I look for ways to spend time with family or in service on Sunday?Honor your father and your mother.
Do I show my parents due respect? Do I seek to maintain good communication with my parents where possible? Do I criticize them for lacking skills I think they should have?
You shall not kill.
Have I harmed another through physical, verbal, or emotional means, including gossip or manipulation of any kind?
You shall not commit adultery.
Have I respected the physical and sexual dignity of others and of myself?
You shall not steal.
Have I taken or wasted time or resources that belonged to another?
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
Have I gossiped, told lies, or embellished stories at the expense of another?You shall not covet your neighbor’s spouse.
Have I honored my spouse with my full affection and exclusive love?
You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.
Am I content with my own means and needs, or do I compare myself to others unnecessarily?
Based on Catholic social teaching:
Life and Dignity of the Human Person
Do I respect the life and dignity of every human person?
Do I recognize the face of Christ reflected in all others around me whatever their race, class, age, or abilities?
Do I work to protect the dignity of others when it is being threatened?
Am I committed to both protecting human life and to ensuring that every human being is able to live in dignity?
Call to Family, Community, and Participation
Do I try to make positive contributions in my family and in my community?
Are my beliefs, attitudes, and choices such that they strengthen or undermine the institution of the family?
Am I aware of problems facing my local community and involved in efforts to find solutions? Do I stay informed and make my voice heard when needed?
Do I support the efforts of poor persons to work for change in their neighborhoods and communities?
Do my attitudes and interactions empower or disempower others?
Rights and Responsibilities
Do I recognize and respect the economic, social, political, and cultural rights of others?
Do I live in material comfort and excess while remaining insensitive to the needs of others whose rights are unfulfilled?
Do I take seriously my responsibility to ensure that the rights of persons in need are realized?
Do I urge those in power to implement programs and policies that give priority to the human dignity and rights of all, especially the vulnerable?
Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
Do I give special attention to the needs of the poor and vulnerable in my community and in the world?
Am I disproportionately concerned for my own good at the expense of others?
Do I engage in service and advocacy work that protects the dignity of poor and vulnerable persons?
The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers
As a worker, do I give my employer a fair day’s work for my wages? As an owner, do I treat workers fairly?
Do I treat all workers with whom I interact with respect, no matter their position or class?
Do I support the rights of all workers to adequate wages, health insurance, vacation and sick leave? Do I affirm their right to form or join unions or worker associations?
Do my purchasing choices take into account the hands involved in the production of what I buy? When possible, do I buy products produced by workers whose rights and dignity were respected?
Solidarity
Does the way I spend my time reflect a genuine concern for others?
Is solidarity incorporated into my prayer and spirituality? Do I lift up vulnerable people throughout the world in my prayer, or is it reserved for only my personal concerns?
Am I attentive only to my local neighbors or also those across the globe?
Do I see all members of the human family as my brothers and sisters?
Care for God’s Creation
Do I live out my responsibility to care for God’s creation?
Do I see my care for creation as connected to my concern for poor persons, who are most at risk from environmental problems?
Do I litter? Live wastefully? Use energy too freely? Are there ways I could reduce consumption in my life?
Are there ways I could change my daily practices and those of my family, school, workplace, or community to better conserve the earth’s resources for future generations?
