For many of us who have lived in community, we can remember the struggles and realities that come along with the invitation to walk together. Nobody is perfect, and no one person can solve community issues on his or her own. This has been my biggest struggle this week, and in some ways I think will be a life long struggle; to be fully and eternally intentional to the all the communities that I am a part of. Many of you on this journey are examples of that. I lost touch, and don’t share myself enough, but if I were to, I would spread myself too thin. If any of you have thoughts on how to sustain the relationships and communities you have been a part of in your past after you leave them, I would love to hear your insights.
I have been praying with the words of Fr. Greg Boyle, SJ a lot this week. That “we must stand against forgetting that we belong to each other.” As I have been reflecting on this thought, I find that I too fall into forgetting those on the margins. What I have realized is that in every community, there is someone that stands on the margins. It can be easy to miss them, and that is where my forgetting slips in.
Fr. Greg invites us to “stand against forgetting…to stand in the right place, With those on the margins, those whose dignity has been denied. To choose to stand with the poor and the powerless and the voiceless. To choose to stand with the easily despised and the readily left out. To choose to stand with those whose burdens are more than they can bear. To stand with the demonized so that the demonizing will stop. And so you stand against forgetting as you leave this place, that we belong to each other."
How can I be more committed to the community that surrounds me? To the communities that I may not be so physically close with?
In what ways have you forgotten that you belong to someone else?
Who sits on the margins of your community, and how can you reach out to them?
I ask you to pray for me, that during this Lenten time, I may grow stronger in not forgetting that I belong to those around me, especially those who I may at times forget to see, and I will do the same for you.
Peace as we continue this Lenten journey.
Marcos
I have included a link to the LMU commencement address where Fr. Greg’s quotes come from, a song from “Playing for Change” that relates with this reflection, as well as a picture on ways to help build community, thank you for being a part of my community.
Fr. Greg Boyle, SJ 2005 LMU Commencement Address
Playing For Change | Peace Through Music
Hey Marcos! And all!
ReplyDeleteNo answers to the "how do we sustain communities and relationships .. in your past" -- but just appreciation and gratitude for your bringing it up. I opened this page for the first time tonight (honestly, seeking consolation... and it was SUCCESSFULL) -- I read the first line "we belong to each other" and KNEW it was YOU who wrote it without seeing yet who it actually was. We had the FJV Panel at this weekend's Discernment Weekend, with Kate Volpe and Denise Casey present, and I remember so distictly at our Orientation, looking into each others' eyes and saying "I never want to forget what we belong to each other." How special- with many people on this blog or reading -- that we can go long distances of time and space, and yet our souls connect through the Spirit!... Marcos, Your reflection on Greg Boyle's thoughts is spot on, I think. "Stand against forgetting" -- which was a theme that came up at the after-lunch with the FJVs... how do we remember (in fear of forgetting) that JV experience?! ...
Knowing that this is not a JV specific sentiment, and that I feel VERY MUCH in communion and community with those of you invited on this blog, AND the many friends, family, near and far connected with you all specifically -- and then some -- this (Marcos') message is particularly touching to me as I seek consolation on a Sunday evening. Listening to Patty Griffin, trying to re-orient myself to life outside of Discernment Weekend (of course, including DIscernment Weekend) - this reflection helped me recall the margins... the others I belong to... the others that belong to me... and how when I listen to Patty's "Moses" song -- I know that it is Moses, God, companionship, that I ultimately need in life. [Definately over-eating and not-sleeping in times of stress are not healthy coping mechanisms] God that sustains, that brings us together, that connects us across the rivers and allows us to walk through the red river together, nourishes in such a divine way.
I am grateful for this reflection and for those that preceed it and follow it; grateful for each of your companionship, wanderings, journeying together through the *desert* (and *desserts!*) of Lent and life... Tonight I feel invited to stand against the forgetting... especially with you all... with our JVs around the world, particularly in Chile... with the suffering ongoing in Haiti, and for all of the intentions in our hearts...
un abrazo fuerte a todos/as,
Margaret
oh and Marcos, I will pray for you too :) Consider this comment a prayer.
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