One Flock, One People
The April weather is proving the old saying “In like a lamb, out like a lion”. As this reflection is being written snow lies on the ground and flakes dance in the air, yet indoors a bright bouquet of daffodils from last week's warm garden graces a table top.
This week, lambs and lions play a part as we reflect on the role Jesus plays as the good shepherd to us all. The imagery of the shepherd's rod and staff are there to protect and rescue stray sheep and those threatened by lions. As the weekly lectionary notes from SALT tell us, Jesus will be shepherd to all sheep. The notes' practical application of this message involves embracing all people as the people of God, regardless of faith.
The first article below speaks of an Italian Catholic priest who spent over twenty years in Syria, providing a safe place for Muslims and Christians to reflect, pray and learn about God together. Since this article was first published, Father Paolo Dall'Oglio has gone missing, and is presumed to have been killed. He not only provided a haven for an inter-faith community, he was very active in negotiating the release of political prisoners.
The second article is written by a woman who is in an inter-faith, and inter-racial marriage. Her experiences and observations can teach us much about the role empathy plays in bridging all people together, regardless of faith or race.
Inter-Faith Connections
The Good Priest
by Stephanie Saldana | December 15, 2019
Father Paolo Dall'Oglio found himself expelled from Syria in 2012 for being an outspoken advocate for peace and inter-faith relations. Nonetheless, he returned and one year later went missing. His time at the ancient Deir Mar Musa Monastery of St. Moses the Abyssinian was dedicated to prayer, hospitality, manual work and dialogue with Muslims.
The Good Spouse
by Sherlyn Assam | April 15, 2021
Sherlyn Assam shares with us her struggles and revelations within her marriage to a man of a different race, and a different idea of God, from her. If this woman can reconcile these issues within a daily intimate relationship, perhaps there is hope that we can all work towards such understanding and wisdom.
The Good Shepherd
by SALT team | April 20, 2021
The lectionary notes below challenge us to answer Jesus's call to be the hands and feet of "the good shepherd". This call involves protecting and nourishing all sheep for the sake of an intimate life with God full of dignity, beauty and love.
Living Our Faith Day-to-Day
In this video Richard Rohr introduces the 2021 Daily Meditation theme: A Time of Unveiling. Despite the uncertainty and disorder, our present moment is an opportunity to awaken to deeper transformation, love, and hope. Amid the widespread need for healing, reality offers us an invitation to depth—to discover what is lasting and what matters.
“The gospel is not about an ideal world where everybody loves everybody... it is not idealism, it is utter realism.”