When Christmas is over...
As we approach Christmas and enjoy time with family and friends, in the days after, as we prepare for the new year, let's spend some time reflecting on the incarnation of God, separate from our gifts and celebrations, and reflect on using the See-Judge-Act methods to grasp the meaning of the incarnation in our work and lives.
According to some, for example, St Francis of Assisi believed that God's incarnation is permanent and committed to human history, our history as being one with the Universal Christ, and individual lives. Francis believed that the incarnation expressed God's humility and affirmed the holiness of all reality, the world we live in. Joseph Cardijn believed the incarnation was making you, and I realize that God is among us; God is in us and in the work we do to bring about the kingdom of God here and now.
The incarnation brought into the world a man named Jesus. As an adult, Jesus Was a social revolutionary and religious innovator who stood against injustice, exclusion, and inequality. When we reflect on the lives of Cardijn and others, we can see the same: they stood against injustices, exclusion, and inequality. Jesus's acts of justice included healing the hurting and confronting those who hurt others, which were teaching moments. People SAW, they JUDGED, and some ACTED, and others didn't. Some examples of Jesus's acts of justice include:
Healing the leper in Matthew 8
Caring for the woman caught in adultery in John 8
Including women in his life, in his work at a time when other people of influence excluded them (We need to spend more time realizing how powerful women were in the communities of Jesus followers)
Standing against tribalism, racism, sexism, oppression, and injustice
Jesus is the incarnation of God and his love. Think about the period, a time in history when the Romans were oppressing the Jewish people, and their hopes were all set on a "king" that would conquer the Roman Empire. But we find a man named Jesus who lived and traveled among the poor, the sick, the oppressed, and the outcasts. Someone who gave metaphor after metaphor, parable after parable, and acts to show the people a different way to live on the planet.
The concept of Jesus and social justice is complex and multifaceted, with interpretations and perspectives spanning centuries and diverse theological viewpoints. But there are common threads we see in the life of Jesus, how the early followers understood those teachings, and throughout history, we sometimes got it right and sometimes got it wrong.
Compassion and Advocacy: Jesus' teachings emphasized love, compassion, and care for the marginalized and oppressed. He spoke out against injustice and advocated for the poor, sick, and outcasts. This resonates with the social justice movements of Cardijn, Vatican II, that seek to dismantle systemic inequalities and promote fairness for all.
Liberation and Empowerment: Jesus' message of liberation resonates with movements fighting for the rights of the oppressed, whether based on race, gender, class, or other factors. Jesus challenged social hierarchies and empowered individuals to seek freedom and dignity.
Nonviolent Resistance: Jesus' teachings on nonviolence and turning the other cheek have inspired social justice movements that advocate for peaceful resistance and conflict resolution. This approach emphasizes building bridges and fostering understanding rather than resorting to violence.
Social Transformation: Jesus' vision of an Empire of God on Earth represents a call for social transformation and a more just world. This resonates with social justice movements that seek to create a society where everyone has equal opportunities and access to resources.
Individual Responsibility vs. Systemic Change: There is an ongoing debate among historical theologians, biblical scholars, and others about whether Jesus' message primarily focused on individual responsibility or systemic change. Some emphasize personal transformation and acts of charity. In contrast, others see his teachings as a call for systemic reforms and collective action. This concerns Jesus as more of the "wisdom school" than the "apocalyptic school." I think Jesus was more of the wisdom school.
It's important to remember that interpretations of Jesus' message and its relevance to social justice are diverse and constantly evolving. Engaging with these complexities requires critical thinking, open-mindedness, and a willingness to learn from different perspectives. Again, think See-Judge-Act.
Ultimately, the connection between Jesus and social justice is a personal and ongoing exploration. By engaging with diverse perspectives and interpretations, using the See-Judge-Act method, we can deepen our understanding of Jesus' message and the challenges and opportunities of building a more just world. And remember that Joseph Cardijn has asked us to build a more just world. It is the What and Why of the documents of Vatican II.
To better grasp what Jesus was talking about, try this: When you read scripture, books, etc., and you see the words "Kingdom of God," substitute the word "kingdom" with "Empire" and see if that starts to make you think a tad harder on what is this all about?
Photo: catholic365