9 September 2020
Memorial of Saint Peter Claver, Priest
Black Lives Matter! One of the reasons why that slogan is so timely is because in our country this past year, 80% of lives untimely ripped in abortive procedures were black lives.
A 2nd reason is that today is the feast of the 17th century St. Peter Claver. For more than 40 years he was “the slave of slaves”, one of others who gave their lives to the enslaved blacks imported, against papal directives, into present day Colombia.
And a 3rd reason: St. Peter’s dictum was: “we must speak to them [the victim slaves] with our hands before we try to speak to them with our lips.” So, what does that have to do with me?
The situation today is different: we do not have indentured slaves, and the racial question is not the essential point. All lives matter. Not because of politically correct reasons, but because God created all in his image; all are brothers and sisters in Christ.
Before we speak this truth with our lips, we must speak it with our hands; do something about it in the political, educational and electronic transition media, where there is a denial of the sanctity of life from conception to natural death; of inalienable, God-given rights; of the sanctity of marriage, the integrity of the family; of religious freedom – to cite a few examples.
Do I see these needs as the prior challenge to be met to bring others to Christ? Given my particular vocation in the Body of Christ, how should I deal with them? I’ll ask St. Peter Claver to make intercession for me to know how God wants me to use my hands before speaking with my lips.