Reflection for Sunday – October 20, 2024

Brigit HurleySunday Readings Homilies

Readings: Isaiah 53:10-11; Hebrews 4: 14-16; Mark 10: 35-45 
Preacher: Brigit Hurley

The Gospel reading poses a question very much alive today–who is most important in the kingdom of God? What can we do to help build the kingdom in the here and now?

Responding to James’ and John’s request for positions of status, Jesus dismisses established notions of power. He rejects worldly authority and suggests that if they truly want to follow him, they must become servants. 

It’s fitting that we hear this story on the weekend when the Children’s Sabbath is honored throughout the country, including here in the Rochester area. The Sabbath provides an opportunity to pray, learn and act on behalf of children – pray for their well-being, learn about the challenges they face, and take action to “unleash their joy,” an image often invoked by Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) leader Rev. Starsky Wilson. CDF established the Children’s Sabbath in 1992 to encourage people of faith to “envision a nation where marginalized children flourish, leaders prioritize their well-being, and communities wield the power to ensure they thrive.”

It’s a vision that is echoed in the sacred texts of all faith traditions:

O Great spirits of Ancestors I raise my pipe to you; To you messengers in the four winds, and to Mother Earth who provides your children, Give us the wisdom to teach our children to love, To respect and to be kind to one another, So that we may grow with peace in mind. Let us learn to share all good things That you provide us on this Earth. (Indigenous tradition, Prayer for Wisdom)

And they feed, for the love of God, the indigent, the orphan and the captive. The creatures of God are the children of God and the most beloved to God are those who show kind and excellent treatment to His children. (Islam, Qur’an 60:8)

Defend the poor and the orphan; do justice to the afflicted and needy. (Judaism, Midrash Tehillim 82:3)

Together we can unleash children’s joy by supporting public policies that put those sentiments into action with our tax dollars. Those of us who have power should use it to tell elected officials that we want to stop paying for things we don’t value (like the $3 billion in subsidies the federal government provides to the fossil fuel industry, and the $750 million New York State offers as tax credits to the movie industry); we want to direct resources toward:

  • Cash support programs like guaranteed basic income pilots and children’s savings accounts have demonstrated success in improving child nutrition, education outcomes, housing stability, and lower parental stress.
  • Quality early childcare ßthat has proven to result in students who do better in school and go on to obtain advanced education degrees and earn more income as adults.
  • Funding for programs that help young children with disabilities, who are more likely to avoid special education placements when they receive therapeutic interventions as infants and toddlers.

Carry the voices of children into the voting booth next month! You can send a letter to Monroe County leaders urging them to support children and families in the 2025 County budget by clicking here: https://secure.everyaction.com/NsHq1Tt_mE-2iQcDdqcTjg2 Feel free to share this link!

Brigit Hurley
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