People have the power

 

"People have the power" is a song by Patti and Fred Sonic Smith that I accidentally and happily discovered on Facebook.  This powerful song was my introduction to the Smiths.  On hearing it, I immediately named as my song for Holy Week.  It certainly gets my award.  

In writing the song, Patti Smith says, "What we wanted to do was remind the listener of their individual power but also of the collective power of the people, how we can do anything.  That's why at the end, it goes: 'I believe everything we dream can come to pass, through our union we can turn the world around, we can turn the earth's revolution.'"  

Holy Week this year began on 24th March, the feast of Oscar Romero, the archbishop of San Salvador, shot dead while offering mass.  Why?  Simply because he followed the gospel, in standing up for his oppressed people.  His waa a struggle of hope, arising from his commitment to building the Kingdom of God.   

The Easter moon is a sign to the world of this hope eternal.  We all have a reason, a purpose, a place in being here.  We make the world turn around.  The real power in life is at the grassroots with the people.  Holy Week has its focus on the sruggles of the people in life.  Easter takes it to the next level, with its focus on how our struggles are transformed to give new life to a world, so desperately overcome by so much human greed, aggression and craziness, which are part of the human narrative, but not the end of it, by any means.  Power to the people!