Kinship and Hope
“We belong to each other and there are no exceptions to that.” – the Rev. Greg Boyle, S.J.
The Rev. Greg Boyle is a Jesuit priest whose ministry has focused on gangs in Los Angeles. He is the founder of Homeboys Industries, which tries to help gang members create a better life. A constant message you hear from Greg Boyle is the importance of what he calls kinship. I find that to be a helpful word. It permeates all that he is about.
I am writing this as we learn of yet another mass shooting in our country. It angers me, it saddens me, it frustrates me, it brings about a feeling of helplessness. Why does this happen?
In the midst of these feelings, I turned to Greg Boyle. I don’t know him personally, but I admire how he has offered his life to make a difference in this world of ours. His ministry could be seen as one resulting in constant anger, sadness, frustration, and helplessness. But it doesn’t.
I want to share this link to a video of Greg Boyle. In it he shares two stories of his work with gang members. It is the second story that brought me to tears. In a gang culture of such violence and hatred, there is the hope of kinship that can transform us. I hope you find hope in this video.