Pax Christi Minnesota

Thoughts from Tim Haskamp…

Father Pedro Arrupe was the superior general of the Jesuits from 1965 -1981. As a result of his missionary experience in Japan after the Hiroshima bombing, he became a strong advocate of social justice issues in the Society of Jesus. It was his conviction that the “pursuit of justice was integral to life in Jesus.” He believed that justice in the world “was as much on the level of societal structures as in personal relationships, and justice meant structural change in every aspect of human life.” His was a dream of promoting justice in the world, and justice meant challenging ourselves and the world in which we live.

Do we connect justice with the life of Jesus?

Are we willing to challenge ourselves or do we merely give lip service?

Cloud of Witnesses, Edited by Jim Wallis and Joyce Hollyday

Thoughts from Tim Haskamp…

Penny Lernoux was a tireless advocate of the poor in Latin America. She wrote several books, the most famous being Cry of the People, where she speaks of how “powerful people and institutions oppress the powerless.”  Before she died of cancer at the young age of 49, she spoke of learning of her powerlessness with her illness connecting it with the powerlessness of the poor.  At the same time it was a cleansing and healing experience for her because she felt the ultimate powerlessness of Christ.  She worked closely with the Maryknoll missionaries who helped invigorate her faith.  It was the missionaries who introduced her to the “sounds, smells, hopes and sufferings of the poor.” Penny stated that, “only by entering into the world of the poor, can you begin to understand what it is like to be powerless, to be like Christ.”

We are filled with so many riches today. What is our connection to the poor and powerless?

Cloud of Witnesses, edited by Jim Wallis and Joyce Hollyday

A Perspective on Love
by Tim Haskamp

“You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27).  Would this include Palestinians and Jews or Americans and Mexicans, or is it better to build a wall to keep everyone safe?  Would this include people we believe to be our enemies or are they too difficult to love?  Does this justify the billions spent on warfare to protect our interests and to keep us safe over spending money to end hunger? Does this mean becoming involved when there is an injustice to our neighbor whether next door or in Africa? Love of God and neighbor is a simple yet challenging statement; but, it the basis of our Christian beliefs and the basis of social justice.

The Problem with Appeasement
by Steve Clemens

It has become the political slur de jure:  any indication that one is willing to sit down and talk with an adversary is painted with the slanderous epithet used to describe British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain acquiescing to the diabolical ambitions of Adolph Hitler – appeasement. Technically, “offering concessions in order to secure peace” is the definition but modern abuse of the term to slander another seems to involve even recognizing the humanity of the other.

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Thoughts from Tim Haskamp…

Brian Willson, a Vietnam war veteran, went through a transformation and journey towards non-violence as a result of his war experience. He struggled with the policies of war and he found hope in a violent world through non-violent practices.  He spent time in Nicaragua as a peacemaker to challenge war policies of the US government. He fasted as a means of non-violent protest. He sat in front of a munitions train outside a Naval Weapons Station to protest the delivery of weapons and was run over by a train when it failed to stop, losing his legs. He refused to be complacent and chose to follow his heart to stand up for his vision of truth in society.  He challenges us to listen to ourselves and follow our inner voices.  He chose not to allow anger and rage to guide his course in life, even with the people who were responsible for taking away his legs.

What is our inner voice telling us about violence in our society?