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Peace and Justice Spring 2007

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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.�

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