Word to the Wise
Wednesday, April 25, 2007 - St. Mark, Evangelist
[1 Peter 5:5B-14 and Mark 16:15-20]Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that your brothers and sisters throughout the world undergo the same sufferings.
During the pontificate of John Paul II, the Polish communist government collapsed under pressure from a movement known as "Solidarity." This was a word and idea that many Americans had not thought much about. Our individualistic culture makes an idol of options. "Solidarity" would conjure up team spirit or morale, but not a complete movement. Our lifestyle makes it difficult for us to identify with other cultures. We are notoriously bad at learning other languages. We think that solidarity means agreeing with US. The scripture quoted above calls our attention to the fact that we belong to a reality that transcends our particular culture. We have brothers and sisters in faith who struggle the same way we do with temptations and unjust social structures. No culture is safe from sinful behavior, either individual or corporate. In the gospel scripture for this feast of St. Mark, Jesus tells the disciples, "Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature." We share this call with all our brothers and sisters around the world. We are not just American Catholics, we belong to a global church and whether we like it or not, we are in solidarity with all the Body of Christ. AMEN
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