Justice At The Table

Photo Copyright 2012 John Kingery

We are passing out of what Catholics’ call ordinary time and into the Lenten season.  Jesus, the Prince of Peace, is showing us the way to peace by the life he lived.    Peace is more than mere words; it is a way of life.  You will find English, Spanish and French translations.

In Peace, En la Paz, En Paix.

John

The Journey of Peace – Living

This holy family traveled to Egypt and returned to Nazareth.  Jesus taught that we are to LOVE God, our neighbors as ourselves and our enemies.  He gave FREEDOM to the prisoners of suffering and sin.  Jesus preached that JUSTICE takes time in the parable of the persistent widow.  He lived JUSTICE when confronted with the adulterous woman. He came to testify to the TRUTH.  He called humble men and women to share this message with others.  Are we open to be chosen to share this message? 

 PEACE was alive and the JOURNEY continued.

 El viaje de la paz – viviendo

 La Sagrada Familia viajó a Egipto y regresó a Nazaret.  Jesús nos enseñó que debemos AMAR a DIOS, a nuestros vecinos como a nosotros mismos y a nuestros enemigos.  Él dio la LIBERTAD a los que estaban presos del sufrimiento y del pecado.  Jesús predicó que la JUSTICIA toma tiempo en la parábola de la viuda persistente.  Él vivió la JUSTICIA cuando fue confrontado a causa la mujer adúltera. Él vino a dar testimonio de la VERDAD.  Él llamó a hombres y a mujeres humildes para compartir este mensaje con otros. ¿Estamos abiertos a ser elegidos a compartir este mensaje?

La PAZ estaba viva y el VIAJE continuó.

LE VOYAGE DE LA PAIX – LA VIE

Cette sainte famille se rendit en Egypte et revint à Nazareth. Jésus a enseigné que nous devons aimer Dieu, nos voisins comme nous-mêmes et nos ennemis. Il a donné la liberté aux prisonniers de la souffrance et du péché. Jésus a prêché que la justice prend du temps dans la parabole de la veuve persistante. Il a vécu JUSTICE lorsqu’ils sont confrontés à la femme adultère. Il est venu pour témoigner de la vérité. Il a appelé les hommes humbles et les femmes à partager ce message avec d’autres. Sommes-nous ouverts à être choisi de partager ce message?

PAIX était vivante et le voyage se poursuit.

Of Prayer and Peace

Ann’s Prayer

This past Sunday, my wife Ann and I were driving to pick up one of life’s necessities – new bags for our vacuum cleaner.  Prayer is a necessity too.  It helps to clean our spirit of unwanted dust and dirt.  As we were driving, I asked Ann what she prays for during the day.

“I pray for justice and peace for in the world as we are called to do” she replied.

Pausing for a few seconds, she added “I also pray for economic security for everyone.  There is so much suffering in the world which we hear about and see daily.  How can politicians and others not see that?”

Last year, Ann lost the sight in her left eye after numerous corneal transplants and a fungal infection.  She, who has lost so much, still sees with her heart and prays for those who are also suffering.    Ann knows the necessity of prayer and its power to heal and strengthen.

Assisi Candles Photograph Copyright 2008 John M. Kingery

The Assisi Prayer

Tuesday was the 10^th anniversary of the Assisi Pledge for Peace.  The pledge was the result of over 200 spiritual leaders answering Pope John Paul II’s call to come to Assisi to prayer for peace on January 22, 2002.   Participating were members of 16 from Christian churches and communities, 30 Muslim clerics from 18 nations, 10 rabbis and representatives from Buddhism, Tenrikyo, Shintoism, Jainism, Sikhism, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Confucianism and traditional African religions.

I learned of the pledge in 2007 and believe it should be considered a blue print for peace in our communities and world.  The Pledge is meant to inspire and to be lived out and its text is below.

Decalogue of Assisi for Peace[i]

1.    We commit ourselves to proclaiming our firm conviction that violence and terrorism are incompatible with the authentic spirit of religion, and, as we condemn every recourse to violence and war in the name of God or of religion, we commit ourselves to doing everything possible to eliminate the root causes of terrorism.

2.    We commit ourselves to educating people to mutual respect and esteem, in order to help bring about a peaceful and fraternal coexistence between people of different ethnic groups, cultures and religions. 

3.    We commit ourselves to fostering the culture of dialogue, so that there will be an increase of understanding and mutual trust between individuals and among peoples, for these are the premise of authentic peace.

4.    We commit ourselves to defending the right of everyone to live a decent life in accordance with their own cultural identity, and to form freely a family of his own.

5.    We commit ourselves to frank and patient dialogue, refusing to consider our differences as an insurmountable barrier, but recognizing instead that to encounter the diversity of others can become an opportunity for greater reciprocal understanding.

6.    We commit ourselves to forgiving one another for past and present errors and prejudices, and to supporting one another in a common effort both to overcome selfishness and arrogance, hatred and violence, and to learn from the past that peace without justice is no true peace.

7.    We commit ourselves to taking the side of the poor and the helpless, to speaking out for those who have no voice and to working effectively to change these situations, out of the conviction that no one can be happy alone.

8.    We commit ourselves to taking up the cry of those who refuse to be resigned to violence and evil, and we are desire to make every effort possible to offer the men and women of our time real hope for justice and peace.

9.    We commit ourselves to encouraging all efforts to promote friendship between peoples, for we are convinced that, in the absence of solidarity and understanding between peoples, technological progress exposes the world to a growing risk of destruction and death.

10.     We commit ourselves to urging leaders of nations to make every effort to create and consolidate, on the national and international levels, a world of solidarity and peace based on justice.

My Prayer

May our prayers for peace and justice lead us to live lives of peace and justice.  Gracious God give us the strength, patience to persevere along the journey to peace.

In Peace,

John

Jesus in the Manger Photo John M. KIngery copyright 2008

The journey continues as we celebrate the birth of a child Jesus in Bethlehem.  The Prince of Peace has come!  Let the world rejoice!  Peace on earth and blessings to all from God above!

Merry Christmas!  ¡Feliz Navidad  Joyeux Noël

John

THE JOURNEY OF PEACE –  BIRTH

As the gospels record, Mary and Joseph went to the town of Bethlehem to be counted in a census.  Their child, this gift, was born in a stable and placed in a manger.  Reflect on its shape and who crafted it.  The manger has four legs representing – love, freedom, truth and justice and a trough representing peace.  A humble carpenter built this manger.  Into this manger was placed JESUS, THE PRINCE OF PEACE. We are called to build that manger in our hearts and world.

The JOURNEY continued.

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EL CAMINO DE LA PAZ – NACIMIENTO

Como se escribe en los evangelios, María y José fueron a la ciudad de Belén para empadronarse en un censo.  Su niño, este regalo, nació en un establo y fue colocado en un pesebre. Reflejo en su forma y quién lo hizo.  Este pesebre tiene cuatro patas que representan – AMOR, LIBERTAD, VERDAD y JUSTICIA y un comedero que representa la PAZ.  Un carpintero humilde construyó este pesebre.  En este pesebre JESÚS fue colocado, EL PRÍNCIPE DE LA PAZ. Nosotros estamos llamados a construir ese pesebre en nuestros corazones y en el mundo. 

El VIAJE continuó.

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LE VOYAGE DE LA PAIX – NAISSANCE

Comme le dossier évangiles, Marie et Joseph alla à la ville de Bethléem pour être comptés dans le recensement. Leur enfant, ce don, est né dans une étable et placé dans une crèche. Réfléchir sur sa forme et qui l’a conçu. La crèche a quatre pattes représentant – amour, de liberté, vérité et justice et un creux représentant la paix. Une humble charpentier construit cette crèche. Dans cette crèche a été placé Jésus, Prince de la paix. Nous sommes appelés à construire cette crèche dans nos cœurs et dans le monde.

Le voyage s’est poursuivi.

Photo Copyright John M. Kingery 2008

Our world is in turmoil and longing for peace.  Peace that is experienced by all peoples and all of creation.    Inspired by Pope John XXIII’s 1963 encyclical Pacem en Terris (Peace on Earth), I wrote the following in 2005.   In 2011, I offer this encouragement to those embarking on the journey to peace and those all ready on the journey.   You will find English, Spanish and French translations.

In Peace, En la Paz, En Paix

John

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THE JOURNEY OF PEACE  

Over 2,000 years ago in the small village of Nazareth, the JOURNEY began.

God saw the world and its inhabitants that He brought into existence.  He wanted to show his LOVEfor his creation; he wanted to send a gift to all.

The Angel Gabriel visited Mary to announce she was to share this gift.  She was troubled, but had the FREEDOM to accept or reject this gift. The gift was a child.  The TRUTH was she was with child.

Her fiancé Joseph was a just man and did not want Mary or the child harmed.  He decided to settle it quietly.  GOD wanted his gift to be shared with all and showed Joseph true JUSTICE in a dream. 

The JOURNEY continued.

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EL CAMINO DE LA PAZ

Hace 2.000 años en una pequeña aldea de Nazaret, el VIAJE comenzó.

DIOS vio al mundo y a sus habitantes a los que les dio la vida.  Él deseaba mostrar su AMOR a su creación; él deseaba enviar un regalo a todos.

El ángel Gabriel visitó a María para anunciarle que debía compartir este regalo.  Estaba inquieta, pero tenía la LIBERTAD para aceptar o rechazar este regalo. El regalo era un niño.  La VERDAD era que iba a ser madre.

Su prometido José era un hombre justo y no quería que María ni el niño sufrieran daño.  Él decidió resolver el asunto discretamente.  DIOS quería que su regalo fuera compartido con todos y le manifestó la verdadera JUSTICIA en un sueño a José. 

El VIAJE continuó.

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LE VOYAGE DE LA PAI

Plus il ya 2.000 ans dans le petit village de Nazareth, le VOYAGE a commencé.

DIEU vit dans le monde et ses habitants qu’il a apporté à l’existence. Il voulait montrer son AMOUR pour sa création, il voulait envoyer un cadeau à tous.

L’ange Gabriel a visité Marie, d’annoncer qu’elle était de partager ce don. Elle était troublée, mais avait la LIBERTE d’accepter ou de rejeter ce don. Le cadeau était un enfant. La VERITE  était qu’elle était enceinte.

Son fiancé, Joseph était un homme juste et ne voulait pas Marie ou l’enfant blessé. Il a décidé de le régler tranquillement. DIEU voulait que son don à partager avec tous et a montré une vraie JUSTICE de Joseph dans un rêve.

LE VOYAGE s’est poursuivi.

Photo Copyright 2011 John M. Kingery

I attended the ‘This Land is our Land’ concert and rally at Pioneer Square in Portland on October 28, 2011 at noon.  Young and old, the clean cut and not so clean cut were in attendance; a community was there. Along with musicians and politicians, there were rabbis, an imam and multiple protestant clergy sharing the message of change through individual responsibility and community. Where were the local Catholic priests, the men in black?

If you were praying for the poor and vulnerable, and calling your parishioners to do the same; your prayers will be answered!

If you were reading and proclaiming the Word and its message that we are all God’s children; your words will bear fruit!

If you were meeting the needs of the poor or supporting those who do; you work will not go unnoticed!

If you were doing none of these, where were you?  Where are you?  Where will you be?

In Christ and Peace,

John