Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation

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JUSTICE, PEACE &

INTEGRITY OF
CREATION
GEC WITNESS
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JUSTICE, PEACE AND INTEGRITY OF 4
CREATION
JPIC
Two themes pursued by various sectors
Arnoldus Mission is fully committed to it.
One of the four characteristic dimension
Justice and Peace is found in the glory of
Creation.
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JUSTICE, PEACE AND INTEGRITY OF
CREATION
JPIC
“PROTESTS AND
RALLIES”
-denounces oppression and
violence
-defense for ecology and
environmental concern.
CREATION
PRO JUSTICE AND PRO INTEGRITY OF
PEACE CREATION
CREATION
AS MISSIONARY ACTIVITY
We should go beyond and deeper than
mere noisy and indignations and protest
rallies.
We should have biblical and sound
theological foundations for our actions.
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MISSIONARY
RESPONSE TO
VIOLENCE
CREATION
VIOLENCE
It is the absence of peace
The result of all forms of injustices
Contemporary experiences of violence
call for a Christian and specifically
missionary response.
CREATION
CHRISTIAN RESPONSE
A response that is based on the
life and teachings of Jesus as
depicted in the Gospels.
Jesus, innocent victim of
violence, teaches his disciples
how to respond nonviolently.
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CREATION
SERMON ON THE MOUNT
Jesus teaches his disciples to turn the
other cheek, to love their enemies and
to pray for those who persecute them.
He asserts to imitate those of God
who offers boundless gratuitous love
for all, even to evildoers (Mt. 5:44-
48)
CREATION
The PARADOX OF GOD’S GENEROSITY
The portrait of a generous God contradicts the one presented
by the eight parables in Matthew showing God dealing
violently with evildoers.
Parables:
The Wheat and Weeds
All end violently with “weeping
The Dragnet
and gnashing of teeth.”
The Wedding feast
The Wicked Servant
CREATION
The PARADOX OF GOD’S GENEROSITY
If disciples of Jesus are children of God who are supposed
to emulate divine laws, which are they to imitate?
Is Jesus’ teaching on nonviolence absolute?
Or are there situations in which violence is a moral
response?
Missionaries must be clear about their response to violent
situation.
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The meaning of
violence
CREATION
The MEANING OF VIOLENCE

In Matthew’s Gospel there are references to
many kinds of violence.
Storms, winds, floods, famines, earthquakes
and the process of childbirth.
CREATION

Self-inflicted discipline can take violent forms
such as tearing out an offending eye or cutting
off a hand that causes to commit sin.
Storms, winds, floods, famines, earthquakes
and the process of childbirth.
CREATION
We shall deal on violence in interpersonal interactions.
Violence would mean “the exertion of force so as to
injure or abuse another.”
There is no “good” violence.
All violence hurts not only the victims but the
perpetrators as well.
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The victims of
violence
CREATION
The VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE
The beginning of Matthew’s gospel already
portrays Jesus as an innocent victim of
violence.
Herod seeks to destroy him and orders the
massacre of the infant boys.
John the Baptist had already befallen the
same fate.
CREATION
The VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE
Violence also awaits Jesus’ disciples
as he tells them in the Sermon on the
Mount:
“Blessed are those who are
persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
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Responses to
violence
CREATION
RESPONSES TO VIOLENCE
AVOIDANCE or FLIGHT
REJOICING OVER
PERSECUTION
NON-RETALIATION OR NON-
VIOLENT CONFRONTATION
PRAYER FOR DELIVERANCE
CREATION
AVOIDANCE OR FLIGHT
When the life of infant Jesus is
endangered by Herod, Joseph takes
the child and his mother to Egypt.
Jesus instructs his disciples to keep
fleeing to the next town when they
are persecuted. (Mt. 10:23)
CREATION
REJOICING OVER PERSECUTION
The sermon on the mount offers a
different response to persecution.
“Blessed are you when people revile
you and persecute you and utter all
kinds of evil against you falsely on my
account.”
CREATION
REJOICING OVER PERSECUTION
The sermon on the mount offers a
different response to persecution.
“Blessed are you when people revile
you and persecute you and utter all
kinds of evil against you falsely on my
account.”
CREATION
REJOICING OVER
PERSECUTION
“Rejoice and be glad, for your
reward is great in heaven, for
in the same way they
persecuted the prophets who
were before you.”
CREATION
NON-RETALIATION
NON-VIOLENT
CONFRONTATION.
Such response is equated to
love of persecutor and enemy.
CREATION
NON-RETALIATION
There are 6 antithetical
statements.
“You have heard it was
said…. but I say to you.”
CREATION
NON-RETALIATION
The first antithesis, the lex
talionis
“an eye for an eye and a tooth for
a tooth.” (Lev. 24:20)
This principle is based on equal
reciprocity.
CREATION
NON-RETALIATION
The response to violence could not exceed
the extent of the original offense.
The intent of this law was to put limits on
retribution and to curtail escalating cycle
of vengeance.
“But I say to you, do not retaliate against
the evildoer” but turn the other cheek.
CREATION
NON-RETALIATION
The response to violence could not exceed
the extent of the original offense.
The intent of this law was to put limits on
retribution and to curtail escalating cycle
of vengeance.
“But I say to you, do not retaliate against
the evildoer” but turn the other cheek.
CREATION
NON-RETALIATION
It is a strategy for restoring justice by breaking
cycles of violence among persons of unequal
power and status.
Slapping somebody on the right cheek meant to
insult or humiliate.
Turning the other cheek is a creative response
that takes away from the aggressor the power to
humiliate.
CREATION
PRAYER FOR DELIVERANCE

“and lead us not into temptation, but
deliver us from evil”
The prayer expresses the reliance on
God’s power.
Father Arnold is an advocate of
prayer in the midst of violence.
CREATION
Can this missionary response be possible
for us to exemplify the life of Father
Arnold?
it may not be easy.
To avoid or flee from oppressive situations
is sometimes a sign of weakness and
cowardice.
To be happy being oppressed is strange.
CREATION
Can this missionary response be possible
for us to exemplify the life of Father
Arnold?
We have prayed a lot but seemingly
nothing happens.
Being a missionary in the midst of
violence therefore, demands great
sacrifice.
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THANK YOU!
THE END
OR
BEGINNING
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PREPARED BY:
Mr. Bob Vincent Q. Saballo

Professor

Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation

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JUSTICE, PEACE &

The MEANING OF VIOLENCE

The MEANING OF VIOLENCE

PRAYER FOR DELIVERANCE

Mr. Bob Vincent Q. Saballo

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