Theological Reflection

							     UNANIMA-International.   September 2006




Theological Reflection

                   Overview
 the process
 scripture stories of struggle, liberation,
hope
 „doing‟ theological reflection
        UNANIMA-International.   September 2006




  Archbishop Oscar Romero

“The world that the Church must serve is the
world of the poor. Persecution of the Church is the
result of defending the poor. My life has been
threatened many time. I have to confess that, as a
Christian, I do not believe in death without
resurrection. If they kill me, I will rise again the
Salvadoran people.”
Who will speak…?


Who will speak if you don‟t?
Who will speak so their voice
      will be heard?
Theological Reflection



                 Process
  start with the issue – reading the
 signs of the times
  Biblical narrative

  components
    UNANIMA-International.   September 2006




 Theological Reflection
                     Reflect
                   experience
Action                                 Analyse
Lens of Christian perspective
                     Respond
    Signs of the times…
    Trafficking of Women and children
    Exploitation – oppression
    Poverty
    Patriarchy
    Gender inequality
    New form of Slavery
    Pornography
    Demand
    Trampling on Human Dignity
    Violation of Human Rights
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Lens of our Faith…

 God‟s way… Hebrew /
  Christian Scriptures
 Gospels

 Stories/Responses of Jesus

 Catholic Social Teaching
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 Analysis of narrative…
Examples…case studies / today‟s situation
 Stories of violence - slavery

 Patriarchy – abuse of power

 Jealousy - betrayal

 Injustice – structural / institutional

 Greed

 Conceit
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    Apply the principles…
     Biblical teachings
     Women in the scriptures
     Stories of Jesus in relation to the poor,
      downtrodden, outcast, oppressed, women
     Catholic Social Teaching
     Human rights and dignity
     Women men [reformers/campaigners]
      throughout history
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    Catholic Social Teaching…
      Link between religious and social
       dimensions of life – Gaudium et Spes
      Dignity of human person/ promotion of
       Peace - Pacem in Terris, Evangelium Vitae
      Links between love and justice – Justice in the
       world
      Promotion of common good – Sollicitudo Reisocialis
      Stewardship / Economic justice – Laborem
       exercens
      Option for the poor – Octagesimo Adveniens
      Global Solidarity – Populorum Progressio
      Splendour of Truth / Gospel of Life John Paul II
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Why are we concerned?
   Justice – cry of the poor
   Gender equality – structural sin
   Slavery - Oppression
   Violation of dignity
   Discipleship
   Right relationships
   Solidarity
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Why we should be involved…
     God‟s paradigm ..Genesis…God‟s image
     God‟s response to injustice - compassion / rights
      the wrongs
     Exodus – story of liberation and hope, civil
      rights, freedom, cry of the poor
     Magnificat- song of freedom, Mary, woman
      describing herself as lowly, humble, servant.
      Turning society upside down
     Beatitudes – paradigm for right relationships
     Discipleship - mission and mandate of Jesus
     CST – dignity of human being
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    UNANIMA-International.   September 2006




Theological Reflection


 the process
 scripture stories of struggle,
    liberation, hope
 „doing‟ theological reflection
Sarah and Hagar… Genesis 16:1-6; 7-16;
21: 14-19



   Conflict
   Power – poverty
   Jealousy – barren/fertile
   Slavery „ foreigner‟ outcast / cast out
   Oppression
   Injustice
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 Sarah and Hagar… Genesis 16:1-6; 7-16;
 21:14-19

 Conflict between two women – different
  status
 Power – abuse of power set against poverty
  & powerlessness
 Jealousy – barren & old /fertile young &
  beautiful
 Slavery „ foreigner‟ outcast / cast out
 Injustice & Oppression
 Response of God
“God has heard you…answered your cry…”
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Story of Joseph… Genesis 37
 a dream turned into nightmare –
  betrayed, sold, enslaved, lies, tricked,
  accused, prosecuted
 dysfunctional family

 Slave market

Story of HOPE and deliverance,
  compassion and forgiveness
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Tamar & Rahab…
Genesis 38:1-11; 12-19; 24-30         Joshua 2:1-24; 6:22-25



     Abuse within family
     Rape and incest
     Prostitution – Rahab is the generous but
      treacherous woman who is recorded as a
      prostitute (harlot) who helps Joshua‟s spies
      escape from the city – let down in a basket from
      her quarters
     Migrant sex worker brought to the city by
      famine, war, kidnap, marriage or family
      breakdown
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Pharaoh‟s daughter… Exodus 2:5-10
 Courage
 Risk
 Power and status
 Women saving life – 3
  different women in solidarity
 Compassion
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Esther at court of King Ahaseurus… Esther 2:1-12

     Patriarchy
     Woman caught in collusion
     Harem – search for virgins
     Women seen as „objects‟ of
      beauty and pleasure for men

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Abigail…         1 Book of Samuel 25:32-35


   Confrontation: War and Violence
   Acts as mediator – courage to face
    David
   „joy of my father‟
   Personal intervention
   Woman of justice and peace
       “Blessed are the peacemakers”
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Woman at the well… John 4:5-42
 Prostitution
 Exploitation

 Shame

 Poverty

Response of Jesus / response of woman
 Empowerment

 Fullness of life
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  Woman who anoints Jesus…
  Mark 14:3 – 9

 Courage
 Crossing boundaries

 Faithful discipleship

 Celebration

 Anointing

 Oppression and resistance

Response of Jesus “her story retold in
  remembrance of her.”
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  Woman with haemorrhage…
  Mark 5:25 - 34

 Blood – taboo / unclean
 Status of women
 Courage
 Faith in the goodness of this „healer‟
 Status of the woman
Response of Jesus “your faith has
  restored you to health; go in peace
  and be free of your complaint.”
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Canaanite woman… Matthew 15:21-28
Syrophenician woman… Mark 7:25 - 30



 Prejudice sociological / historical
 Religious bias

 Nationalism

 Exclusion

 Racism

Response of Jesus: astonished “woman
  you have great faith!”
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Canaanite woman… Matthew 15:21-28
Syrophenician woman Mark 7:25 - 30



Two worlds?
Ethnicity – religion – nationality – gender
  - status
 „Mission‟

 very personal, to an individual –
  daughter
 to a nation – systemic change

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Canaanite woman… Matthew 15:21-28
Syrophenician woman Mark 7:25 - 30



     “ My mission is only to the lost sheep
      of the house of Israel.”
     “It is not right to take the children‟s
      food and throw it to little dogs.”
     “Even little dogs eat the scraps that fall
      from their masters‟ table.”


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Canaanite woman… Matthew 15:21-28
Syrophenician woman Mark 7:25 - 30



 “Lord, Son of David, take pity on me.
  My daughter is tormented by a
  demon…”
But he said not a word to her…

     “Woman, your faith is great. Let your
      desire be granted.”
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Canaanite woman… Matthew 15:21-28
Syrophenician woman Mark 7:25 - 30




     Story of …CHANGE


     Story of … HOPE


     Story of …SHAME

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  Poets and Artists …

“And this our life exempt from public haunt
Finds tongues in trees,
books in the running brooks,
Sermons in stones
and good in every thing.”
Shakespeare - „As you Like It‟
Act 2 scene 1 Duke Senior in the Forest of Arden.



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Contemporary situations…

     Sharon Watkins - ENRON fraud,
      based on arrogance and greed
     Valerie Flame story – Joe Wilson,
      Collusion of governments, lies, WAR
     PAKISTAN - Women rights bill. Pres
      Musharraf – „spread of democracy?‟
     „Torture‟ Bill through congress in the
      name of „security‟
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Revelation by Julia Esquivel



   “hearing the cry
         of the
     trafficked…”
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God‟s love…

Goes beyond fairness to a generosity
  which exceeds human expectations
Generous inclusive treatment
God‟s justice sees the world from the
  perspective of the excluded
Transforms people and systems so that
  all are included…

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 Hope…
Sarahs listen and embrace the Hagars

  “When sleeping women wake,
  mountains will move."                  Chinese proverb


  “ Never doubt that a small handful
  of committed citizens can change
  the world. Indeed, it‟s the only thing
  that every has.” Margaret Mead
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Discipleship… Luke 4: 17-21
Mission of Jesus…
“ the spirit of the Lord is upon me, for God
   has anointed me to bring good news to the
   poor…
has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives
   and recovery of slight to the blind…
to let the oppressed go free
to proclaim the year of the Lord‟s favour.”
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Who will speak…?


   Who will speak if we don’t?
 Who will speak so our voice will be
              heard?
      What is our response?
       What do we do?
Who will speak…?


What is our response?
 What do we do?