Constitution No. 65 was the starting point of the February issue of As a Rule: “Through fellowship even above and beyond conflicts, and through mutual forgiveness, we would like to be a sign that the fraternity for which people thirst is possible in Jesus Christ and we would like to be its servants.”
“Do we communicate these signs of fraternity and love in us to others?” asked Dr. James Stroud in the first reflection. “Do those we encounter see the face of Christ and experience the heart of Christ in us and in their midst? When a driver does not see a stop sign, the consequences can be tragic. How much greater a tragedy it is for others to not see the sign of the love of Christ in us! Let us commit ourselves with the help of the Holy Spirit to being known by our signs of love and fraternity rooted in Christ so that everybody we encounter may see and experience the love of God and know that they are, as we are, children of God.”
Dr. Stroud is an Associate Professor of Moral Theology at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology.
“I was struck by the words ‘through fellowship,’” wrote Fr. David Szatkowski, SCJ, in the second reflection. “I believe we are called to create fellowship. Fellowship means relationship. Pope Francis’ theology of encounter is a form of fellowship. Forming relationships with people we disagree with, people we think are ‘wrong’ in their theology or politics, people we call ‘disordered’ or ‘lacking’ due to the ways they live, or those we deem ‘sinful’ is difficult. Yet we must dare to come into relationship. This is hard work. We cannot compromise the gospel, or teachings of the Church. We can act with love, respect, honesty, and sincere care. We can be in relationship with a person, who becomes a friend and who is no longer ‘them.’”
Fr. David is a member of the Dehonian pastoral team in northern Mississippi.
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