Citizens of the Universe
26th Annual Peace Day - 21 September 2007
Presentation in an Emerging Universe:
Sharing our Stories
along the Way
We share our stories amid the gratuitousness of this universe,
the gift of God’s abundance. Through our International Presentation
Association, we commit ourselves to respond to the cry of the Earth
and the cry of those made poor and to do so by “channeling
our resources to speak and act in partnership with others for global
justice.” I heard recently a comment made by someone at the
United Nations that the religious communities are the real transnationals
promoting a global consciousness that helps rather than hinders
the promotion of life on this planet.
All our stories begin in the womb of Mother Earth whose sun and
moon, trees and flowers and birds have already taught us much
about both the light and the shadow of our human journey. Now
Earth is calling to us humans, particularly those who live in
the richer countries, to make lifestyle changes so that we can
fit back into our planet more appropriately. The cry of the Earth – a strong cry
indeed.
 Our story also includes what we have been learning
along the way in our Scripture stories. We meet Old Testament prophets
who challenge us not only to take care of those who are deprived
but also to participate in the undoing of unjust structures that
keep people and Earth poor. In the New Testament we meet Jesus
who shows us an alternative vision and who calls us to re-structure
our lives to be in right relationship with all… The cry
of those made poor – a plaintive
cry indeed.
We share a charism story that envelops almost 3,000 Presentation
women and 1,000 Associates in 24 countries. Through our International
Presentation story we see our charism incarnated in many cultural
contexts – all with rich and challenging
moments as we share our stories along the way.
We see religious life flourishing in some parts of the world while other parts
are facing a different reality. Hopefully, all of us can continue to contemplate
our particular realities without too much denial and, at the same time, keep
being delighted by the fact that, wherever we are, the seeds of the religious
life of the future are being sown by our fidelity in the here and now.
Betty Rae Lee pbvm, Newfoundland
I believe that for most of us today, it is friendship that transforms
our commitment of justice from work for a cause to a way of life.
Until you have a friend who is poor, poverty remains an issue that you can walk
away from at any time.
Only when you have a friend who has been violated, can you lose the clinical
distance which makes debates about good violence and bad violence seem reasonable.
Until you have a friend who is a refugee, you do not factor in
the human cost of war.
Your friend is the one who faces you, who
summons you to face yourself. Your friend is the angel of the
annunciation summoning you to remain life-size in a time of moral
diminishment.
Mary Jo Leddy
National Catholic Reporter 5 April 2005
Doing Justice in the Way of Jesus
Justice as a simple definition is a quality of
being fair
But doing Justice is to treat something as it deserves.
When I listen to what is happening in the world today
And in particular, Zambia, I feel the pain in my heart.
What can I do? The world is so big. Zambia is big too.
I heard the voice whispering to me:
Yes, the world
is big, Zambia is big,
But start from where you are.
Look around you and see what needs to
be treated as it deserves.
Take care of the water all of the time
by closing the tap
tightly after use.
Help the local people by buying their local produce.
Cater for the
disadvantaged where you stay.
Be present to people in your various
ministries.
Open your door to those who come to you.
Treat those you live with
as you would like them
to treat you.
Begin today!
Tomorrow may never come.
Sr Clementina Simataa, Zambia
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