Speaking Truth to Power
AUSCP joins Priests for Justice for Immigrants, a group of over 150 priests of the Archdiocese of Chicago, inviting brother priests throughout the country to do a recorded homily focused on Speaking Truth to Power in Our Nation.
In light of Bishop Budde’s compassionate and challenging homily at the inauguration service and her relentless persecution by those who reject the heart of Jesus’ Gospel message, we want to share our collective voice as prophetic preachers of the Gospel. This is about more than just immigration!
Here’s the invitation:
Prepare a 5-8 minute homily that you would address to an assembly where the President, VP, Cabinet, and close advisers would be present. Using any Scripture you feel appropriate, you can focus on mercy, compassion, forgiveness, what it means to work for unity, God’s preferential option for the poor, wherever the spirit leads you. Like Bishop Budde, you might direct some of it to the President and his administration or address it to everyone who needs to hear it.
Prepare it through the perspective of what you witness happening today. Pray for the spirit to guide you to avoid the tendency for all of us to lash out and to speak what Jesus himself would say.
WE WILL NOT POST ANY OF THESE UNTIL WE HAVE AT LEAST 30 PRIESTS WHO HAVE RECORDED HOMILIES. WE WILL CHOOSE A DAY TO POST ALL OF THEM, TO FLOOD SOCIAL MEDIA WITH THEM. IT’S HARDER TO ATTACK A LARGE GROUP THAN ONE PERSON, AS HAS BEEN SHOWN REGARDING BISHOP BUDDE.
Again, use whatever Scripture(s) you feel speak to the issues. Let the Spirit guide you.
Vest in alb and stole. It would be helpful to gather a few people to listen to you.
If you do not know how to record your homily, there are a few free apps that you can use to record yourself.
We hope you will write and record a homily for our collective response to preach the Good News in challenging times.
Please let us know that you intend to record a homily by Friday, February 7, in a message to Fr. Larry Dowling at denispadre@aol.com and submit your homily by Friday, February 28, to the same address.