February 11thFive Minutes on Friday #18
Dom Helder Camara (1909-1999)
Born on February 7 in Brazil, Dom Helder became a bishop of the Catholic Church and one of the 20th century’s great apostles of non-violence. He experienced a conversion when he ministered among the poor in the slums of Rio de Janeiro.
‘When I fed the poor,’ he said, ‘they called me a saint. When I asked why they were poor they called me a Communist.’
Even as he watched friends and fellow priests arrested, and killed, he worked tirelessly for democracy and human rights. When a hired assassin knocked on the elderly priest’s door, he was so moved by the sight of the bishop that he blurted out, ‘I can’t kill you. You are one of the Lord’s.’
[Common Prayer, 136]
SIMPLICITY
‘Simplicity is the first cousin of contentment. Its motto is, ‘We brought nothing into this world, and we can certainly carry nothing out.’ It recognizes that we are pilgrims. It concentrates on what we need, and measures this by what we use. It rejoices in the good things of creation, but hates waste and greed and clutter. It knows how easily the seed of the Word is smothered by the ‘cares and riches of this life.’ It wants to be free of distractions in order to love and serve God and others.’ [John Stott]
SUNDAY – Luke 6.12-26
‘I translate blessed/makarioi as joyful, because in its fifty occurrences in the NT it almost always means the joy of participation in God’s action of deliverance. In the OT it usually promises future consolation to people in dire straits – the present difficult situation will be reversed and justice, peace, and joy will break in.’ [Glen Stassen]
As you read this text reflect on Jesus’ call to discipleship:
To whom does Jesus address his words?
How would you define the four blessings?
How would you define the four woes?
How would you rewrite these woes for our day?
‘Lo, I am with you’