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Peace and Justice by Sr. Fatima Santiago

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  “No justice, no peace” we hear from demonstrators in street marches.   They are voicing a fundamental truth.   Without justice, there may appear to be a form of peace, but it is fake, superficial.   Underneath the smiles, there is a simmering anger fed by smashed dreams and barriers to equality. Somewhat like the times when Jesus was born into a Palestine under the heel of Roman oppression.   Some historians have called that a time of peace, but this fake “Pax Romano” was giving birth to freedom fighters such as Barabbas, whose path would cross that of Jesus 33 years later. In his latest encyclical, Pope Francis sheds light on similar current situations by reminding us that we are all brothers and sisters. He challenges us to ponder how we will behave when we finally emerge from COVID-governed restrictions. Will some countries continue to grab instead of sharing? Will we continue to destroy our natural world? Will some people continue to put “I” before “we?”   What have we learned
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Speaking Truth to Power by Sr. Fatima Santiago

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  We speak truth to power by our lives, not only in words but also in actions. Think of:   +Franz Jagerstatter, a German, who refused to serve in Hitler’s army and paid for this with his life.   +Moses who was reluctant to carry God’s message to mighty Pharaoh: “Let my people go!” After Moses had moved from the life of nobility to that of a shepherd, he had hesitated before God’s charge by protesting, “But who am I?” And God had reassured him, “I will be with you.” (Exodus 3: 11-12) It is not only what you say, but how you say it!   Think of Jesus’ multiple interrogations by Pilate and the Sanhedrin about His being a king, the Messiah. He turned their words back on them: “It is you who say I am a king.” (John 18:37) Yes, the world’s powerful do have power, and we are really powerless in their sight.   But organized people have power and dignity as well and can stand on it!   Think of Gandhi in the face of British occupiers. They frequently imprisoned him.   Yet he said to the
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All Of Us Are One by Miguel Santos

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  In the image and likeness of God – and nothing less – were we created.  In the Christian tradition, we believe this to be our greatest inherent dignity as individuals, evenly shared among all human beings, indifferent of race, religion, or beliefs.  We are all one family – human and divine… all God’s children and all equally loved by our Father. I am your brother.  Why do you see me or treat me differently?  Is it because God would have me born to a distant land where they speak a language not your own, where perhaps someone raised me under a different faith or possibly no faith at all?  Is it the color of my skin, or could it be the vastly dissimilar opportunities that you and I have had?  But wait, my mother’s heart beat just like that of yours when they first held us in their arms.  Their tears and prayers for you and me have made their way to heaven just the same.  We could have lived and played together in bliss before the breath of lies, hatred and injustice, and before any p
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Love as Deed by Lolita Pagarani

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Thoughts Shared by Lolita Pagarani Love as Deed What does love do? ·          It connects the hearts ·          It promotes understanding ·          It heals the pain ·          It heals the loneliness ·          It speaks the loudest even without words ·          It increases with giving ·          It empowers ·          It uplifts ·          Only Light can dissolve Darkness. ·          Only love can overcome hate ·          It’s the power that can transform our world _____________________________________________________________________   Ultimately, the power to transform the world is effected by love, love originating from the relationship with the divine, love ablaze among members of a community, love extended without restriction to every human being. This divine love, ignited by the Word of God, is disseminated by enkindled souls through intimate conversations that create new susceptibilities in human hearts, open minds to moral persuasion, and loos
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Charity and Justice by Sr. Gloria Haider

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CHARITY AND JUSTICE Many people view charity as very different from justice in that charity equals social service and justice equals social change.   Also, charity is directed at the effects of injustice, its symptoms; while justice promotes social change in institutions or political structures.   All this is true.   But there are some ways that charity and justice are in close relationship to each other and effect each other. Many people are involved in individual charitable acts that help their neighbor or community.   With these charitable acts they are hoping for social change.   Christian churches have social services that they offer to the public.   Catholic Charities, Lutheran Social Services, Methodist Mission Social Services, and Baptist Community Services are just a few Christian social organizations offering charitable services to the public.   These organizations do not directly separate social service from social change. The way I see it is that by actin
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Thoughts on Faith as Protest by Sr. Ann Hayden

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Thoughts on Faith as Protest Sr. Ann Hayden, MM – July 10, 2020 FAITH is a journey of learning how God’s active presence touches our everyday communal lives.   It is the energy that opens our hearts to listen for God’s sustaining love in the people among whom we live, their traditions, and in the events of life we encounter in solidarity. Living our faith is the daily effort to connect the mysteries and wonders of this life to God’s deep relationship of care with, for and among us all.     God sees there is MUCH NEED for us to cry out for and with the poor, the immigrant, the trafficked, the sick, and the marginalized of our world. There is much in our society that we need to protest against and transform. When we hear the call to participate more deeply in this God/Human/Spirit Relationship as a communal quest, then our faith becomes a labor of   love and wisdom expressing itself within our life experiences.   Protest, and the work for policy change that must follow, r
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Our Bodies, Hearts, and Healing During this Time of the Coronavirus by Sr. Gloria Haider

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Our Bodies, Hearts , and Healing During this Time of the Coronavirus   Sister Gloria Haider, OSF, May 16, 2020 HEALING AND TRANSFORMATION For Christians this is the Easter Season.   I’ve been reflecting on how after the Resurrection of Jesus, his glorified body still had the marks of his wounds on his hands, feet, and side.   After Jesus died, he appeared to the twelve apostles once when Thomas was not present and once when he was present.   Thomas had not believed that the other apostles had seen Jesus.   But, when Thomas saw Jesus, and Jesus said “put your finger here; see my hands.   Reach out your hand and put it into my side,” Thomas believed (John 20:27). So, Jesus’ glorified, divine body continued to have the wound markings.   There must be a reason for this.   I think that it was to help us understand that our wounds and heartbreaks can be healed and transformed. HEARTBREAKS During this time of coronavirus, I’ve been thinking of the various heartbreaks that
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