All of us who claim to be Christian are called to discipleship. This poses some
challenges for us. How can we answer the call to discipleship in a community of
plenty and in a nation of growing disparity between rich and poor? How can we be
in solidarity with the poor and marginalized of our society while enjoying an
abundance of life’s blessings. In a world that surrounds us with illusive and
empty promises, where and how do we find the truth?
I
recall that I have been blessed with a good education and many connections
around the world. This fact gives me a lot of power which I must claim and know
it is not for domination or self-service but for service and action on behalf of
those without power.
Every day, my basic needs are met, including access to healthcare. I must remind
myself every day that the security I enjoy is not for myself alone. It
challenges me to use the secure base that I have, to befriend and walk with
those without life and hope and basic necessities. It frees me to challenge
systems and structures that are not life giving and to offer resistance on
behalf of those suffering and hope for a better future. I can use the
connections I have made to heighten awareness of the plight of so many and to
invite them to share their time and resources to build caring and inclusive
communities. I can use my time to make my community and our world a better place
for all its inhabitants.
We
live in a stratified society. We have the leaders and the followers, those who
minister and those ministered to. When we work with struggling people we must
remember it is their goal we are helping to accomplish, not our own. We are more
than workers doing a job. We are witnesses. Do we allow the Spirit of God to
inspire us, work through us and shine beyond us?
How do we need to be transformed to more clearly reflect the face of Jesus to
those we serve? How do we work to sustain the dream of the people and the dream
of Jesus over the long haul? Gandhi reminds us "We must be the change we want to
see happen."
Prayer and support are essential elements of our working for a just and peaceful
world and to remain in the struggle over the long haul. They will help us bring
the attitudes and values of Jesus to those nameless and faceless living on the
edges of life. We also need help in proclaiming the message of Jesus in the
midst of a very different cultural
message.
Any power, privilege or other benefits that we have are not to be used for
control or manipulation but to giving voice to the voiceless of our time. Our
reflection on the Word will relieve our minds of any sense of self importance
and our desire for our own comfort and convenience. We can use all our gifts and
resources for befriending and walking with the powerless and offering them hope
of a better tomorrow. We can work at creating new systems and structures that
are life-giving and that will replace the culture of greed, domination and
competition.
We
have seen in recent months, the coming together of people from various political
parties, races, class and creed to bring help and hope to the people of Haiti
devastated by an earthquake. The helpers were more concerned about being morally
correct and less concerned about being politically correct. Their goal was to
bring immediate relief to those whose lives were endangered. This demonstrated
that another world, another way of doing things is indeed possible.
The challenge is ours. With God’s help we can accomplish the work at hand. Let
us begin today with courage, conviction and hope.
