|
����������
Dear Friars,
�
I recently
spent a week at Saint John�s in Collegeville (Minnesnowda, of
course) on a
Conversatio
retreat and learned about peace and justice in two ways I never had
before.� The
Conversatio
idea comes from Saint
Benedict�s
Rule
and means manner of life.� For Benedict the way of life was a
balance, an integration of spiritual, physical and mental.
�The balance or
lack of in my own life and how to put things in order was my first
lesson.� It is actually, as scripture says, a discipline which
�brings forth the fruit of peace and justice� (Heb. 12:11.)� I had
never thought before of what peace and justice means for my personal
life and how discipline fosters it.
�As important
as achieving that balance is, Jesus� message always goes beyond the
individual to the communal, as I learned through reflection with one
of the theology professors.� This second lesson taught me that what
Jesus did continually in the gospels was bring the
outcasts�particularly Gentiles and women�to the table of
fellowship.� To create a more just society, Jesus crossed strict
cultural boundaries.� This exposed the fear and wrath of the
established rulers and ultimately paved the road toward his
crucifixion.
�To follow
Jesus� path today means no less than to open my table to those who
are outcast and feared�immigrants, gays, women and any who may be
the lepers for me.� This is the path to peace and justice in
community, both of church and society.� It is also the path to
persecution and even death, at least death to my presumptions with
whom I should be forming community.
�I�d wager
every one of us�indeed every American�struggles with forming
community.� We breathe individually and individuality.� Yet is it
not the same Spirit and bread we all share?� Saint Augustine�s words
regarding Communion, �Let us become what we receive,� give me
strength for the journey.� How fortunate we are to have the Master�s
example to be broken and given out to the community, to lead a life
of peace and justice for ourselves and all.�
Your brother in
Christ and Francis,
John
P.S.� An
article on the horrors of human trafficking, and efforts on the part
of Franciscans International to stop it, may be found at
http://www.americancatholic.org/Messenger/Jan2007/Feature2.asp.�
�
��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
.
�
newsletter index
Formation Updates
|
Page Up
| |
