JPIC PRESENTATION ST. MARGARET OF CORTONA REGION SECULAR FRANCISCANS WHAT IS JPIC? Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation Although these themes have long been a part of Catholic teaching–and they are integral to the Gospel–there has been a renewed emphasis on them since Vatican II. There are several reasons for this: our world is getting smaller, people of faith are better educated and have more direct involvement in governmental and non-governmental decision-making, and we are becoming more aware of the limits of our national and global resources. All religious communities, and lay people, are called to play a greater role in this area. It is especially important to do so at a time when many people question the wisdom of our institutions, and trust is them is waning. Furthermore, solutions in these problem areas cannot be thought up and implemented solely by governments; there is a real need for government-private sector partnership. Many non-governmental organizations are actually more thoughtful and efficient than governments, and they are less prone to political pressure. Finding meaningful and enduring solutions to the JPIC issues requires dialogue with and the involvement of all elements of society, including those requiring assistance. The solutions cannot be imposed top-down; the areas and people in need must be directly involved in discovering and implementing solutions. HOW DOES JPIC RELATE TO CATHOLICISM? We can start with the basic Gospel message: God is Love (1 Jn 4:8) and Jesus’ great commission “Go into all the world to teach the Gospel” (Mt 28:19-20). Since God is love, the way to preach that is to be loving to others. It is our greatest challenge, and fundamental to our faith. To continue, Jesus summed up the Law and the Prophets: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself” (MT 22:36-39). And he taught the Golden Rule: “Do to others as you would have them do to you” (LK 6:31). Finally, Jesus preached the Beatitudes, and the Church teaches us that these, in combination with the Ten Commandments, are instructions on how we are to live our lives: When Jesus[a] saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Page � of � 1 7 Gil Donahue, OFS, JPIC Coordinator February 2019
“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Mt 5:1-11) Another prime teaching from the Gospels is the story of the Good Samaritan (Lk 10:25-37). Like him, we should readily seek to help others in need, heal them, protect them, and teach them. To do these things requires that we undergo a personal transformation and become Jesus to others. WHAT IS THE FRANCISCAN CONNECTION? Justice: God’s justice–lifting up the lowly and condemning the wicked–can and should be left to God, many would say. However, how does God work in our world except through us? As good samaritans, we should help right the wrongs of society: protect those who need protection, address personal and systemic ills, and engage in active healing of both individuals and society. It is up to us to help establish God’s kingdom on earth. Peace: As Franciscans, we consider ourselves “people of peace.” What exactly is peace, though? At a minimum it is the cessation of violence and chaos, and developing a feeling of wholeness, safety and well-being. It is certainly that, and much more. Sometimes in order to end strife, and attempt to bring about peace, we must take a strong stand, and even strong actions. Therefore, justice and peace go hand in hand. Integrity of Creation: One of St. Francis’ great insights was the kinship of all creation. All of us, and all of creation, came from God. It is right for us to make use of creation for the benefit of our lives. Like Francis, we should appreciate creation. However, it is important to remember we are merely its stewards, not the owners; God is the owner. Although we may enjoy our earthly garden, it is our responsibility to hand it on to future generations in good condition. This is a sacred trust. WHAT ABOUT POVERTY? How does JPIC relate to poverty? After all, isn’t Franciscanism all about poverty? Well, poverty is a complicated issue. Even for Jesus, poverty had many meanings, depending on the context: material poverty vs. wealth, spiritual poverty vs. blindness. Simplifying our lives prepares us to enter into solidarity with those who have material needs. Since what we have comes from God, it is right for us to share it with those who are not so blessed materially. In some cases, people in material poverty may have less spiritual poverty than the affluent. They may be open to sharing with others, and have a deeper need for our Lord. Jesus taught us (summarized in the Beatitudes) to help people with material, health, and security needs. We are expected to stand up for the oppressed, and that includes working to change systems which tend to mire some groups in poverty, or which are patently unfair to those with less income. We need to put some effort into building the Kingdom of God on earth. After all, we are calling for just that when we pray the Lord’s Prayer: “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” So, let’s look for ways to build the kingdom. Page � of � 2 7 Gil Donahue, OFS, JPIC Coordinator February 2019
Some routes out of poverty are relatively easy: literacy and education, hard work, prudent spending and wise saving, etc. However, the routes that often lead people into poverty are also very easy: alcohol and substance addiction, debilitating physical and mental medical issues, gambling, prostitution, a criminal record, and so forth. Also, the structures of our communities often make it hard for people to climb out of poverty: the need for a car to commute in the absence of public transportation, lack of public housing and the inability to afford rent near work, the need to work several jobs to pay expenses, the high cost and difficulty of finding child care, and the list goes on. While these issues certainly involve poverty, they also relate to social justice, and only by resolving them can we bring a modicum of peace to the individual and society. Glancing over the above issues raises some possibilities for individual action: teaching, tutoring, mentoring, providing financial and legal advice; working in soup kitchens, shelters, and community organizations providing relief; advocating on the local and state levels on behalf of the poor for increased public housing, grace periods for the payment of utilities, lessening bond payments, group homes and halfway houses, affordable public transportation, and adequate child care. Jesus calls us to be “woke” spiritually, step up to the plate, and play our part to bring in the Kingdom of God. RELATIONSHIP TO THE SECULAR FRANCISCAN RULE The Secular Franciscan Rule: The JPIC agenda embodies seemingly every rule of the Secular Franciscan Order found in Chapter 2: The Way of Life. Here are the key relevant points of those paragraphs: Para 4 - Summary: Our relationship to the Gospel The rule and life of the Secular Franciscans is this: to observe the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ by following the example of St. Francis of Assisi who made Christ the inspiration and the center of his life with God and people. Christ, the gift of the Father’s love, is the way to him, the truth into which the Holy Spirit leads us, and the life which he has come to give abundantly. Secular Franciscans should devote themselves especially to careful reading of the gospel, going from gospel to life and life to gospel. Para 5 - Summary: The call to encounter Christ in each other Secular Franciscans, therefore, should seek to encounter the living and active person of Christ in their brothers and sisters, in Sacred Scripture, in the Church, and in liturgical activity. The faith of St. Francis, who often said, “I see nothing bodily of the Most High Son of God in this world except His most holy body and blood,” should be the inspiration and pattern of their Eucharistic life. Para 6 - Summary: The call to witness to Christ and rebuild the church They have been made living members of the Church by being buried and raised with Christ in baptism; they have been united more intimately with the Church by profession. Therefore, they should go forth as witnesses and instruments of her mission among all people, proclaiming Christ by their life and words. Page � of � 3 7 Gil Donahue, OFS, JPIC Coordinator February 2019
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