FRIENDSHIP IS LIBERATING, TOO

The conscience of Christianity has changed. Perhaps the most critical development within all of Christianity these past years has been the re-emergence of the idea that there can be no spiritual health without social justice. To be a healthy Christian means to pray, to live a good moral life, and to be involved with the poor

Why is it that a Christian may not, in good conscience, ignore the teachings of Scripture and the church regarding prayer and private morality, and yet s/he may, in good conscience, ignore the social teachings of Scripture and the church?

The church's teachings which have to do with sexual ethics (e.g. Humanae Vitae) tend to be seen as the deciding criteria determining who is good or bad as a Christian, while the church's teaching on social issues (e.g. Mater et Magistra), which have equal moral and dogmatic authority, can be largely ignored in good conscience. That's an imbalance in need of correction.

But there is still a further imbalance: Through much pain, we have come to realize that prayer alone is not enough, social justice is also needed. Now, through more pain, we are coming to realize that prayer and social justice, together but alone, are also not enough. To pray and to do social justice is to be prophetic. But that's a lonely and hard business. Prophets are persecuted, are powerless and are rejected. It is all too easy to get angry, to feel self-righteous, to fill with bitterness, to become selective in our prophecy and to hate the very people we are trying to save. Loving, challenging friends who can melt our bitterness and free us from the need to be angry are as critical within the spiritual life as are prayer and social justice.

What is lacking? In a word: friendship. A healthy spiritual life is anchored on three pillars, prayer, social justice, and friendship.

There are three key questions to ask ourselves when we are evaluating spiritual health:
- Do I pray every day?
- Am I involved with the struggle of the poor?
- Do I have the kinds of friendships in my life that move me beyond bitterness and anger?

(Fr. Ron Rolheiser, OMI)