ASH WEDNESDAY.and PAX CHRISTI.
I attended Mass at St. Jude the Apostle Roman Catholic Church, got annointed with ashes(the event itself feels so sacred;it's hard to explain if you are not a Catholic--it's one of those rituals I participate in, with great awe) and afterwards went to our Pax Christi meeting.Pax Christi literally means "Peace Christ"--the group is all about Peace & Social Justice.Politically, I've discovered we're all liberal, edgy, progressives.
I spoke about how thrilled I was in the voting booth(see my previous entry, below), seeing the names.It engendered quite a discussion, and it was very moving to see people I have grown in my faith for God with, exclaim their excitement over the wonderful Democrats we have, running to be the next President!While politics and religion in public, should be separate, I was amazed how the personal(my faith) HAS influenced my politics.Not in the scary, right-wing-Christian way we all read about(and which probably exists on a very real level in red-state-Georgia-"Huckabee" country) , but in a profoundly personal, soul-searchin' way that makes me want to insist on more from our leaders--more integrity, more honesty, more ability to reach out.It has informed my priorites, as well: Peace(I am a budding pacifist) is number one for me(that means we get OUT of Iraq!And for God's sake--no more invading sovereign nations.), and social justice(economic equality for all) is an equal concern.
I think Christ himself (if he were political)must've been a Progressive/Socialist.
A really, really soul-ful Socialist.
"I give you Peace, My Peace I give you."
--Jesus Christ
"There is no Way to Peace; Peace IS the Way."
--Mahatma Gandhi
.
Showing posts with label Jesus Christ. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesus Christ. Show all posts
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Monday, January 08, 2007
On January 1st, I took a vow. NOT the one I'm readying myself to take on Feburary 10th(my Wedding date).The Vow I pledged to keep on January 1st was The Vow of Non-Violence.
It took place at my Mom's church-- St. Jude The Apostle Catholic Church, in the Atlanta area. It's a church that has become a sort of "home away from home", in terms of where I have found the ability to serve others, and to feel more connected to God. Although I am certainly not able to be a spokesperson for the Catholic Church, I can tell you that joining Pax Christi(literal translation is: Peace Christ)has been transformative for me, particularly in terms of WALKING with Peace, rather than merely discussing it.
This organization honors World Peace Day(Jan. 1st) EVERY year, and every years, millions take the Vow-- or Pledge--of Non-Violence.
The vow is a promise to keep Peace in your heart, for one year....
Here is the COMPLETE VOW, and information on how to take the Pledge, below.
May God Bless All Of You For Reading and Meditating on this!!!
VOW OF NONVIOLENCE
RECOGNIZING THE VIOLENCE IN MY OWN HEART, yet trusting in the goodness and mercy of God, I vow for one year to practice the nonviolence of Jesus who taught us in the Sermon on the Mount:
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons and daughters of God...You have learned how it was said, "You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy"; but I say to you, "Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you. In this way, you will be daughters and sons of your Creator in heaven."
Before God the Creator and the Sanctifying Spirit, I vow to carry out in my life the love and example of Jesus
by striving for peace within myself and seeking to be a peacemaker in my daily life;
by accepting suffering rather than inflicting it;
by refusing to retaliate in the face of provocation and violence;
by persevering in nonviolence of tongue and heart;
by living conscientiously and simply so that I do not deprive others of the means to live;
by actively resisting evil and working nonviolently to abolish war and the causes of war from my own heart and from the face of the earth.
God, I trust in Your sustaining love and believe that just as You gave me the grace and desire to offer this, so You will also bestow abundant grace to fulfill it.
After reading and reflecting on the Vow of Nonviolence, people often commit themselves to trying to follow it daily for a year. If a group of people is committing to the vow, a ceremony can be planned. We invite all who take the vow to sign the following commitment statement and return it to us at Pax Christi USA, 532 West 8th Street, Erie, PA 16502 or at info@paxchristiusa.org
I commit myself to living according to the Vow of Nonviolence for a one year period.
Signature ___________________________________________________________
Name (Print) ________________________________________________________
Street ______________________________________________________________
City __________________________________ State ___________ Zip _________
Date _______________________________________________________________
It took place at my Mom's church-- St. Jude The Apostle Catholic Church, in the Atlanta area. It's a church that has become a sort of "home away from home", in terms of where I have found the ability to serve others, and to feel more connected to God. Although I am certainly not able to be a spokesperson for the Catholic Church, I can tell you that joining Pax Christi(literal translation is: Peace Christ)has been transformative for me, particularly in terms of WALKING with Peace, rather than merely discussing it.
This organization honors World Peace Day(Jan. 1st) EVERY year, and every years, millions take the Vow-- or Pledge--of Non-Violence.
The vow is a promise to keep Peace in your heart, for one year....
Here is the COMPLETE VOW, and information on how to take the Pledge, below.
May God Bless All Of You For Reading and Meditating on this!!!
VOW OF NONVIOLENCE
RECOGNIZING THE VIOLENCE IN MY OWN HEART, yet trusting in the goodness and mercy of God, I vow for one year to practice the nonviolence of Jesus who taught us in the Sermon on the Mount:
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons and daughters of God...You have learned how it was said, "You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy"; but I say to you, "Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you. In this way, you will be daughters and sons of your Creator in heaven."
Before God the Creator and the Sanctifying Spirit, I vow to carry out in my life the love and example of Jesus
by striving for peace within myself and seeking to be a peacemaker in my daily life;
by accepting suffering rather than inflicting it;
by refusing to retaliate in the face of provocation and violence;
by persevering in nonviolence of tongue and heart;
by living conscientiously and simply so that I do not deprive others of the means to live;
by actively resisting evil and working nonviolently to abolish war and the causes of war from my own heart and from the face of the earth.
God, I trust in Your sustaining love and believe that just as You gave me the grace and desire to offer this, so You will also bestow abundant grace to fulfill it.
After reading and reflecting on the Vow of Nonviolence, people often commit themselves to trying to follow it daily for a year. If a group of people is committing to the vow, a ceremony can be planned. We invite all who take the vow to sign the following commitment statement and return it to us at Pax Christi USA, 532 West 8th Street, Erie, PA 16502 or at info@paxchristiusa.org
I commit myself to living according to the Vow of Nonviolence for a one year period.
Signature ___________________________________________________________
Name (Print) ________________________________________________________
Street ______________________________________________________________
City __________________________________ State ___________ Zip _________
Date _______________________________________________________________
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)