|
|
|
|
Word To Life
|
Sunday Scripture Readings, Nov. 1, 2009
By Jean Denton
Catholic News Service
November 1, All Saints
Cycle B Readings:
1) Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14
Psalm 24:1b-6
2) 1 John 3:1-3
Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12a
Emmett Starnes was never canonized. But I'm fairly certain he lives among the communion of saints.
The Gospel reading for the feast of All Saints offers Jesus' beatitudes: an approach to life that assures trials --... but promises ultimate happiness in the presence of God. It is the life of courageous, faithful obedience to God, that's been shown to us by all the saints.
Including Emmett Starnes.
Emmett was a coal miner in Kentucky in the 1930s, a young widower with four school-age children. I learned his story from his daughter, Pauline, now 88.
Her father, who supervised other miners, knew firsthand the hardship they suffered along with their families. He was keenly aware of exploitation by their employers through unfair labor practices, poor wages and an unhealthy, unsafe work environment.
When a miners union came to the area, Emmett began attending the meetings. Here was a man who "hungered and thirsted for righteousness," in the words of the beatitudes. For years he and several fellow miners fought for unionization, "but every time they tried to get together they got shot at," Pauline said.
When local miners went on strike, her father's adversaries promised violence. "They said they were going to kidnap his kids. They threatened to kill us," she remembered.
"We stayed scared," Pauline recalled. "They were after my daddy. I know one time he came home with a bullet hole in his hat."
While the company prevailed, Emmett persisted in his efforts to organize the workers at great personal risk, and even had to move his family to a neighboring town.
But one night as he drove home from an organizing meeting, someone shot out Emmett's tires, causing him to wreck his car. He died a short time later as a result.
Emmett never witnessed the righteous end for which he lived and died. But Jesus promised, "Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Jesus offers us hope in the resurrection. Our Catholic tradition says that means joining the communion of saints -- those faithful ones who stood fast for the kingdom of God. Our call is to live in a way worthy of standing with Emmett and those "blessed" who have gone before us.
QUESTIONS:
Who have you known personally who is a model of courageous faithfulness? What can you do to become more closely bound with the communion of saints?
SCRIPTURE TO BE ILLUSTRATED:
"These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb" (Revelation 7:14).
END
Copyright © 2009 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS Word To Life column may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service.
|
|
|
|
