In doing all she had done, she lived out Gods greatest commandment; ‘to love thy neighbour’. She showed others the true way by setting an example like the lamp on the stand and displaying her faith for all to see, which causes the faith to be spread further like the mustard seed.
Her work did not go without recognition, in 1979 was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
In the midst of the US funded war Archbishop Oscar Romero fought for the poor against the ill treating and repression of the people. But in his fight he was alone, the war was claming 3,000 lives per month yet no one would back him in his dispute against the government and military.
Romero was a revelation in history; he fought against his faith but for his beliefs, causing feelings of betrayal between himself and countless others. Romero stood up for his beliefs and tried his best to stop the repression against the poor, but Romero’s lacking potency was that he could not stop the violence. He begged for international intervention and even wrote to the President Jimmy Carter but to no avail. Romero was unique, he was like the lamp on the stand trying to show others the way, he loved thy neighbour by standing up for them and in his last speech “A bishop will die, but the church of God which is the people, which shows he gave up even his life to do Gods work.
Jean Donavan was another who responded to the call of God; she was a 24 year old catholic woman with a salary of $20,000 who lived an accustomed life. But Jean decided she wanted more, in 1979 she achieved her intention and became a teacher of nutrition and child care in the La Liberta parish in El Salvador. There she saw over the years increasing violence and hatred, she fulfilled the mission of the church by working with the poor and by caring for ‘the bruised victims of insanity’. Jean truthfully felt God called her and she accepted the call even if she knew there was a possibility she could die. Jean reminds me of the rich man who gave up everything for eternal life. She also lived out the greatest commandment by ‘loving her neighbours’ and living out Jesus teachings.
Q. The Church is where the Kingdom Of God on earth is to be found, do you agree?
Jesus said the Kingdom of God would start on earth but would be completed in heaven. But for the Kingdom to be on earth, as we read from the parables, the people of the world should show the qualities of a child; be loving and innocent. Love, equality and Justice if the Kingdom was on earth would be shown in the world today. But even as I write; war, discrimination and hatred is going on.
The church today is meant to represent the Kingdom Of God. Love is shown through the sacrament of marriage. Baptism shows a sign of membership. Other sacraments such as Marriage show love, and it is due to these sacraments which lead me to believe that the church represents the Kingdom Of God. But is it really?
The church today shows love through its work with the poor and the parish. But is equality shown? In my view equality in the church is not shown as no female priests are allowed which shows inequality.
Although the church performs the sacraments, if the Kingdom Of God was on earth would we still have the hatred and discrimination we have today?
Jesus implied the Kingdom is in heaven not on earth. When Jesus was on earth he spoke about the Kingdom in terms of parables and performed miracles, but as we know churches do not have the power to heal. People may continue to spread the word, such as Jean Donovan and Mother Teresa and miracles at Lourdes may still occur, but does the church really represent the Kingdom Of God?
The Kingdom Of God may not be found in the church building, but in the hearts and souls of the parish and work. After evaluating and reading over my work, I feel that although the church does do some deeds that imply that it represents the Kingdom Of God, overall there is more evidence to show that it does not lie within the church.
