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YOUR EXPERIENCES SINCE THURSDAY
Passages/Encounters – the drama President’s Address Papal Nuncio’s Address Portfolio Directors Workshops on
Returning to the Spirit Seeing the World Anew Fair Trade: Gospel Alternative,
Imperative Systemic Response to Trafficking
Andre Beauchamp’s Keynote Address JPIC Field Workers Meals, Conversations Shared
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How were your eyes opened?
“Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?
“Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him.”
John 9:2-5
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How were your eyes opened?
I AM THE LIGHT
Jesus said, “We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man's eyes, saying to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see.
John9:4-7
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How were your eyes opened?
HE IS A PROPHET
The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, "Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?“
He kept saying, "I am the man.“ But they kept asking him, "Then how were your eyes opened?“ He answered, "The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, 'Go to Siloam and wash.' Then I went and washed and received my sight.“
So they said again to the blind man, "What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened." He said, "He is a prophet."
John 9:8-11, 17
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How were your eyes opened?YOU WOULD NOT LISTEN
They said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?"
He answered them, "I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?“
John 9:26-27
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How were your eyes opened? YOU HAVE SEEN HIM
Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?"
He answered, "And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him."
Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he."
He said, "Lord, I believe." And he worshipped him.
John 9:35-38
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OVERVIEW OF REFLECTIONS
Setting the Context Spirituality of Reconciliation Fractures within and among
Religious Congregations Role of Congregational
Leaders Readiness for Leadership
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Judy Chicago, The Dinner Party
We pledge to walk togetherAnd be women and men determined
to bring about a new time.And then all that has divided us will merge.And then compassion will be wedded to
power.And then softness will come to a world
that is harsh and unkind.And then both men and women will be gentle.And then both women and men will be strong.And then all will live in harmony
with each other and the earth.And then everywhere will be called Eden
once again.
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SPIRITUALITY OF RECONCILIATIONROOTS
Rooted in the interconnectedness of all creation
Expressed through right relationships with
God Self Others Church Earth
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SPIRITUALITY OF RECONCILIATIONRUPTURE
Relationships have been wounded, fractured, dislocated
That which belongs together is now apart
There is an awareness of pain or hurt or sin or separation that needs to be healed
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SPIRITUALITY OF RECONCILIATIONRUPTURE
Acceptance of our fractured being, “our imperfection simply is”
Deep in our hearts as individuals and as communities, there are struggles, value conflicts and ambiguities – our sinfulness
Marie Chin, RSM (1999)
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SPIRITUALITY OF RECONCILIATION
RUPTURE
Our success and glories are not the stuff of community; our sins and failures are. In those difficult areas of our lives, we confront the human condition, and we begin to learn compassion for all beings who share the limits of life itself.
Parker Palmer, 1990
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SPIRITUALITY OF RECONCILIATIONRESPONSE
Compassion is born in the soil of vulnerability.
Marie Chin (1999)
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SPIRITUALITY OF RECONCILIATIONRESPONSE
So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.
So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
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EMERGING UNDERSTANDING OF SPIRITUALITY
Spirituality spells out our connectedness to
God our human roots the rest of nature one another ourselves
Statement of EATWOT (1992)
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SPIRITUALITY OF RECONCILIATION
RESPONSE
Claim and embrace one’s own story – as individual, as community, as conference
Listen to the story of the other Acknowledge the gaps:
Doubt and BeliefBetrayal and PromisePowerlessness and PowerExclusion and BelongingSuffering and Hope
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RECONCILIATION AND STORY
Storyteller and Listener linked and engaged
PhysicallyEmotionallySpirituallyIntellectuallySocially
Invites and draws all present into participation
Bridges to other places and to other times: past, present and future
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RECONCILIATION AND STORY Builds trust Unlocks passion Is non-hierarchical Is uniquely human Story spoken creates in the listener
and the teller, the community and the society:
Reflection Change Healing Reconciliation
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SPIRITUALITY OF RECONCILIATIONRESPONSE
Reconciling communities live in the gaps
We stand, wait, endure the ambiguities and uncertainties of events, relationships and experiences
God – Shekinah – dwells, stands, waits, endures with us
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SPIRITUALITY OF RECONCILIATIONRESPONSE
Communities that work hardest for internal reconciliation are the ones most eager to work for social reconciliation.
Jon Sobrino (1986)
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RECONCILIATION IS NOT . . .
Passive acquiescence to injustice
Persistence in unjust structures because they are familiar
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RECONCILIATION IS . . .
An awe-full responsibility A journey from sin to healing A continuous, ongoing,
lifelong reality Intentional Based in sincerity,
sensitivity, interdependence
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I’m sittin’ on my stage-head lookin’ out at where Skipper Joe Irwin’s schooner is ridin’ at her moorin’ … thinkin’ about how weak are the things that try to pull people apart – differences in colours, creeds and opinion – weak things like the ripples tuggin’ at the schooner’s chain. And thinkin’ about how strong are the things that hold people together – strong, like Joe’s anchor, and chain, and the good holdin’ ground below. Ted Russell, The Holdin’ Ground
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RUPTURES WITHIN/AMONG RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES
Theologies of religious life Creation theology Celebration of Eucharist Approach to social justice Focus on ecumenism Distance from young people
and young families
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RUPTURES WITHIN/AMONG RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES
Centralization of ecclesial authority Sense of regional alienation Loss of presence of Vatican II
message Reconciliation or justice Relations between religious
congregations and church hierarchy
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LEADERSHIP RESPONSE
Visionary – vision community Prophetic – speaking and living the
truth, calling the community to do so Inspiring – calling forth the good Facilitating – drawing out the energy
and action of the community Creating – preparing the environment
in which spirit develops Presiding – leading the community in
grieving and celebrating
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LEADERS LIVING ON THE EDGE
Within the Congregation Between the Congregation
and the Church Between the Congregation
and the Society With other Congregations
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LEADERS LIVING ON THE EDGE
But all of you are kindlers of fire, lighters of firebrands.
Walk in the flame of your fire, and among the brands that
you have kindled! Isaiah 50:10-11
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I will pour out my Spirit on everyone.Your sons and daughters will proclaim
my message;Your young men will see visions
and your old men will have dreams. Yes, even on my servants, both men and
women, I will pour out my Spirit in these days.
Joel 2: 28—32, Acts 2: 17—18
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Beannacht ("Blessing")On the day whenthe weight deadenson your shouldersand you stumble,
may the clay danceto balance you.
And when your eyesfreeze behind
the grey windowand the ghost of loss
gets in to you,may a flock of colours,
indigo, red, green,and azure blue
come to awaken in youa meadow of delight.
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Beannacht (« Bénédiction »)When the canvas fraysin the currach of thought
and a stain of oceanblackens beneath you,
may there come across the watersa path of yellow moonlightto bring you safely home.
May the nourishment of the earth be yours,may the clarity of light be yours,
may the fluency of the ocean be yours,may the protection of the ancestors be
yours.And so may a slow
wind work these wordsof love around you,an invisible cloakto mind your life.
~ John O'Donohue ~