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WORD FOR MISSION Every week CIAM offers
to lay, religious people and priests an itinerary of reflections on the
Sunday Liturgy in a missionary prespective. These are elements for a
missionary meditation, individual or in community, on the Word of God ,
which constantly and surprisingly continues to enlighten, strengthen
and sustain the missionary journey of the Church, for the life of the
World
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From disasters to conversion of the heart
III Sunday
of Lent Exodus 3:1-8.13-15 Psalm 102 1Corinthans 10:1-6.10-12 Luke 13:1-9
Reflections The victims at the Twin Towers, at the stations in Madrid and London, of the tsunami in Asia, of the hurricane/tornado/cyclone somewhere in the world, those who die in accidents at weekends, those who died in Auschwitz and Hiroshima... And all the victims of suicide bombs, massacres, accidents, catastrophes, violence, slavery, tumours, epidemics, AIDS… Who is to be blamed for all these evils? Is God part of it? What does He think? How does Jesus interpret such facts and events? These are some of the many questions that are asked regarding such evils. Jesus paid attention to and was informed about recent events (Gospel): he reflects on them, weighs them up according to his own values, not common opinion. He makes a careful analysis, comments on them in a way that today would be labelled as ‘politically incorrect’, disconcerting, not running with the crowd. They were trying to involve him in a public criticism of Pilate, for an act that was truly bloody and sacrilegious. The teaching that Jesus draws from that fact, as well as the 18 victims of the accidental fall of the tower of Siloam, goes well beyond the interpretation of the majority, and reads in these events a call from God to change behaviour, lest all die in the same manner. (v.3,5). There was a double temptation: to think, in the case of Pilate, that it was enough to rebel and replace the Roman Procurator. In the case of the victims of the tower, to think at once of a punishment through external agencies or as a result of sin. It is the reaction that is easiest and most frequent: to point the finger at others, look for ‘someone else’ who is guilty, think that evil is in inanimate objects, believe that evil is outside ourselves, always link sickness and misfortune to sins committed, or as a divine punishment. These are attitudes that are typical of a pagan mentality, noticed frequently by missionaries among non-Christian societies, but also among Christians too - a sign of an incomplete ‘conversion’!
Jesus liberates us from a mentality that, on the one hand, prevents us from perceiving the real causes of the ills that afflict us, leading to fatalism and passiveness. On the other hand, it leads us towards a false idea of a God who intervenes and punishes everywhere. Jesus goes to the root of the problems and opens up possible changes: he calls on us to be converted, for a change of heart so that things can improve. Things will go better if people change from within; only a change of heart will bring an improvement in human, religious and socio-political structures. This is the good, and fresh, news, the Gospel that changes mentality, heart, life. The comments of Jesus about current events are not avoiding the issues, but give a much deeper vision. The Gospel does not pass by on the outskirts of history. It does not brush gently against it, but enters into events, touches the hearts and consciences of people: that is where God builds his Kingdom of love and freedom. “The Kingdom of God does not run parallel to history, but challenges and interprets it” (Gustavo Gutiérrez).
In the face of tragic and atrocious events, one is tempted to ask: where was God with his almighty power? There is a risk here of forgetting the wide-ranging liberty and human responsibility that God entrusts to men and women. Ermes Ronchi tries to express it as follows: “Where was God? No. Where was man, that day? If people do not change, do not change direction, are not changed into builders of alliances and of freedom, this world will fall into ruin, because founded on the sand of violence and injustice. If you are not converted, you will all die”. That is why God shows mercy and patience. He gives us the gift of time that is a reality within which our salvation is worked. Indeed, He gives additional time, “one more year” to produce fruit; if not, then the risk is to be cut down - cut out of the things of God (Gospel, v.7-9). God has patience but, as the missionary campaign to achieve the objectives of the Millennium tells us: the poor cannot wait! We must not make them wait even longer. Lent reminds us once more of this solidarity with those who suffer most. (*)
The experience of the People of Israel, as Paul tells us in the second Reading, should serve as an example and a warning for us (v.6,11): even though all the people were witnesses of and sharers in the innumerable works of God for them, many did not live up to God’s expectations and were lost (v.5). The warning is clear: do not relax in the illusion of presumed merits, but live humbly and consistently (v.12). Always with complete trust in God, who loves and liberates His people. That is how God revealed himself to Moses from the burning bush (which was not consumed: 1st. Reading): the God of the ancestors (v.6), the God who sees the miserable state of his people, hears their cries, knows their sufferings and comes close in order to make them free (v.7-8). He is the One who Is (v.14), God always present, everywhere, for everyone. Emmanuel: God with us. A presence that is creative and liberating. The evangelising commitment of every great missionary, as for Moses, lies in a powerful experience of God and from a personal involvement in the sufferings of the people: the path followed by St. Francis Xavier, Peter Chanel, Daniel Comboni , Frances Xavier Cabrini, Teresa of Calcutta and many others.
The Pope’s Words (*) “Among the key issues, how can we not think of the millions of people, especially women and children, who lack water, food, or shelter? The worsening scandal of hunger is unacceptable in a world which has the resources, the knowledge, and the means available to bring it to an end. It impels us to change our way of life, it reminds us of the urgent need to eliminate the structural causes of global economic dysfunction and to correct models of growth that seem incapable of guaranteeing respect for the environment and for integral human development, both now and in the future”. Benedict XVI Address to the Diplomats accredited to the Holy See (8.1.2007)
In the steps of Missionaries - 12/3: St. Luigi Orione (1872-1940), the priest who founded the Sons of Divine Providence (Piccola Opera della Divina Provvidenza) and other Congregations for the assistance of those most in need. -15/3: St. Louise de Marillac (1591-1660), widow, who founded the Daughters of Charity along with St. Vincent de Paul. - 15/3: Bl. Artemide Zatti (1880-1951), a Salesian and medical missionary in Patagonia (Argentina). - 15/3: The birth-day of St. Daniel Comboni in 1831: he was born in Limone on Lake Garda (Prov. of Brescia) and died in Khartoum (Sudan); he was the first Vicar Apostolic (Bishop) of Central Africa. - 17/3: St. Patrick (385-461), born probably in England, he was the great missionary and evangeliser to Ireland. He was ordained Bishop in Rome and sent to Ireland, where he set up his See in Armagh.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Compiled by Fr. Romeo Ballan, mcci - former Director of CIAM, Rome Translated by Fr. J.M. Troy, mccj Website: www.ciam.org “The Word for Mission” ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ |
