| |
Praying Together
Scripture Reflection
Opening the National Representative Council Meeting
November 12, 2005
Ron DuBois, MA
Nothing is accomplished
in human society without power. But power itself is neutral.
It can be used to control or to liberate. And power is not
the same as authority. Eugene Kennedy reminds us that the
word “authority” comes from the Latin verb “augere,” which means “to cause to grow.” Power
can be used to control, but true authority liberates those
under that authority. The judges of this world do have power
but often, as with the current case with American bishops,
their authority is tarnished if not completely undermined.
The widow in Jesus’ story
(Luke, 18:1-8) found authority within herself because
her cause was just. She exercised the power of a single voice
by her persistent demands for justice. The judge finally,
reluctantly, gave in because she was “wearing him out.” In
many human endeavors, however, more than a single voice is
necessary for social justice to be served. And, it may take
time and perseverance to wear out those in power, or to help
them convert their power to true authority.
The story that Jesus related was on the necessity of praying always and not losing heart. We are to pray unceasingly, not that the Holy Spirit will agree with us, but that we are aligned with the Holy Spirit. We are to pray that we are, indeed, on the side of justice. And we are to persevere even in the face of judges who are aligned against us.
We are gathered here today to continue a new era in the history of the American Church. We begin in hope, but we will persevere in the face of opposition. We will align our prayers, our voices, our minds, hearts and energy to ensure that the voice of the faithful will find its rightful place in the decision-making of the Church. We will pray without ceasing and work with perseverance. Our power, and our authority, are in our united voices.
Jesus ends his parable
with these words: “When the Son of Man comes, will he find any faith on earth?” We
pledge ourselves to keep the faith while we seek to cooperate
with the Holy Spirit to change the Church. |
