Love, Forgiveness and Justice

By Melanie Guste, RSCJ

“…Caught up as we are in the desires of His Heart, we want people to grow in dignity, as human beings and as children of God. Our starting point is the Gospel with all that it demands from us of love, forgiveness, and justice, and of solidarity with those who are poor and rejected by the world.” — Constitutions of the Society of the Sacred Heart §7b

Reading or watching international news reinforces a deepening sense that our world is becoming increasingly saturated with staggering displays of anger, blame, retaliation, and hostility on the individual, organizational and social levels. Finger-pointing, name-calling, belittling, outbursts, accusation, raging against others, cynicism and multiple forms of aggression are only a few of the many ways these human tendencies are increasingly “showing up” in our media and in our lives on a daily basis.

As this narrative seeps into our consciousness like a steady drip, it seems important to mindfully attend to these dynamics of human consciousness and behavior in ourselves, others, and the world—not to simply remain passive receptors. Awareness and resistance through the practices of prayer, peace and active nonviolence are important ways to transform this heartrending narrative, and to construct a Gospel-based one in a world so in desperately crying out in need for the loving and forgiving Heart of Jesus.

Questions for Reflection:

• “These days, we need to share the lament and tears of the nonviolent Jesus and decide if we want to learn from him the things that make for peace and then try to put them into action. What are the things that make for peace?”  (John Dear)
• Where are the demands of love, forgiveness and justice presenting in your life these days? What do these things ask of you?