Making the World More Welcoming

Last updated on: October 15, 2021 at 7:36 am by Sherry Antonetti

Making the World More Welcoming 2021-10-15T07:36:24-04:00 Sherry Antonetti

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This is something I wrote back in 2015…because I know that all life is precious. I believe all life is worth protecting, and that we are only as just as we are to the ones to whom we are least just. We are only as kind, as we are to those to whom we are least kind. We are only as generous as we are to those to whom we are least generous. We are called to a giving life if we would be pro-life. The giving is of ourselves, our time, our talents, our day in and day out grimy support.

The original post: “With respect to the unborn and specifically, those unborn and diagnosed with disabilities: There is no one more fragile than one no one has to see, no one has to hear, no one has to know about. There is no one more poor than one who has no say, no choice, and no chance except by the grace and mercy, charity and courage of others.

These little ones die baptized in blood and water; so I think there will be a great multitude in heaven of never before heard voices, and we will wonder how we bore this earth without hearing their songs.”

This is what I am adding as of 2021: It is a tragedy, that we’ve created a society where the best option we present as a society is to destroy or ignore anyone, sight unseen, and proclaim it a good. It is a tragedy that we do not provide the societal supports and love to those who feel trapped and desperate, afraid and alone. It is a tragedy we if we opened our hearts and homes and wallets and schedules, could prevent, if only we provided sanctuary to those who needed it. I know some do, I know there are charities, but with so many seeking abortion as a way out, we clearly who call ourselves pro-life, are not seeing who these people are enough. We need to ask God for new eyes, that we may see, and new ears that we may hear the cry of the poor like our Blessed Lord.

There are many invisible: the homeless, the elderly, the mentally ill, the immigrant, the poor, always the poor, the sick, the abused, the neglected, the addicted, the imprisoned, the weak, the afraid, the abandoned, the marginalized, the lost and the lonely. Somewhere in the list, we can find ourselves and/or those we love. Also somewhere in the list, the Calcutta we’re called to serve, is.

It is almost always found at or within our doors, and expands ever outward. Saint Mother Teresa said, “If you want to save the world, go and love your family.” Expanding on that, we are our brother’s keeper. As such, there isn’t someone we shouldn’t be seeking to be loving towards. Go home and love the world you encounter, most especially, when it seems un-loveable. Joyce wrote, “Here comes everybody.” That’s who we’re supposed to go get, to bring everyone to the table, to invite everyone to be at the feast.

The solution to all of the world’s problems is generosity of spirit born out through words, deeds, policy and time. They are infinite solutions to problems that seem infinite, but they require willing souls that every day, even after days where they’ve failed, begin again at the hard work of being a salve to the world’s wounds. Faithful stewardship require the investment of our lifetimes in the lifetimes of others. It is one person, one soul, one moment at a time and does not make the news, but it is the good news.

We’re called to go and see what the world hides, and to be a visible presence of God’s love, to all those invisible because of the world’s sins, our sins. It’s not glamorous, nor is it done by platform or policy or even program or law. It’s done day in and day out, and is the sum total of our mission as Catholics on both sides of the veil. After all, that’s what saints do. They intercede. Saints pray for us and work with us to make the love of Christ visible via the miraculous, both big and small. It’s not that we will solve all of the world’s problems, but we can be part of life’s solution. Called to be salt and light to the world, we are to be lights when all the other lights go out.

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