THE DECISION

Recently, LeBron James, a very talented professional basketball player, held the sports world in suspense until he announced “The Decision”, regarding which team he would join. Interestingly he based his decision on where he thought he would have the best chance to win a championship, rather than where he might best further develop his talents and personal attributes, and leave his mark on the game and in society.

We, too, are called to make “The Decision”. Our vocation is not basketball nor is our goal to win a championship, but rather to be peace-makers and to help build a peaceable kingdom…a heaven on earth…and to leave our own mark in the world.

During my days at Catholic Theological Union (CTU ~ a seminary in Chicago), a renowned theologian from Sri Lanka visited. At a special gathering there were about 100 of us in attendance in a large L-shaped hall. In the larger part of the room there were some folding chairs set up in rows for us to sit. As he began his presentation he asked for about 20 volunteers. Quickly hands went up and he asked the 20 to go to the short part of the L-shaped room where there were very plush chairs, love seats, and sofas. There was more furniture there than the number who volunteered. He pointed to an empty corner in the larger room and said to the rest of us, “Go to that corner and squeeze in so tightly so that there is not even room for you to sit on the floor.” We did. Then he said, “This is the reality of the world. Twenty percent who have far more than they need; and eighty percent who sorely lack the bare necessities.”

Many of us are perhaps aware that a third of the world’s population lives on four-fifths of all the foodstuffs available in our world. Two-thirds of all humankind however has to make do with the remaining one-fifth, which is woefully inadequate. Millions of people die of hunger each year…over five million children alone. Given this deplorable situation how can there be peace on earth?

All too often we have heard that the primary challenge to world peace is the ideological conflict between East and West…or more recently between the religious fanaticism of fundamentalist Christians and Muslims. But the real source of division is between North and South…the ‘haves’ of the northern hemisphere and the poor countries of the southern half. As I have visited places of dire poverty I have pondered, “What would I do if I were in their shoes? Would I remain committed to nonviolence?” I’m not sure.

We are called to be makers of peace...a meaningful and lasting peace. Pope Benedict XVI said in his book, Jesus of Nazareth, “Isn’t the problem of feeding the world the primary, true yardstick by which redemption is to be measured?” And it isn’t only to help feed the hungry…it is indeed to work for peace. President Carter, upon accepting the Nobel Peace Prize, said, “The greatest obstacle to world peace is the growing chasm between rich and poor.” This year’s Nobel Laureate, President Obama, added in Oslo, “True peace is not just freedom from fear, but freedom from want.”

If we want true peace, it bears asking, “Who is the God we worship…the God of Jesus Christ…or the almighty dollar?” All we need in order to discern the answer is to look at two things: our calendar and our checkbook. Where do we spend our time…which is of greatest concern to us…our investments and comfortable life style or our poor sisters and brothers?

During those days at CTU I had many discussions with friends about the comfortable life style of those of us who had taken the vow of poverty…no worries about food, shelter, medical attention, car, etc. I was told that we couldn’t simply give it all up. It would not be reasonable. Seems there are always ‘reasons’ why we cannot live our commitment radically. Perhaps in one sense the fundamentalist fanatics have that advantage over us: they are living what they truly believe, distorted as their faith may be.

Jesus said that he came “to bring good news to the poor…to set the captives free.” Probably because of my own experience, I am particularly impassioned about freeing those imprisoned by golden hand-cuffs…by their comfortable life style. As I have previously written, if we want to measure our relationship with God, it is not in how much we give, but how much we hold back. All too often we are afraid to give too much; and this compromise in our commitment is the greatest stumbling block to our holy encounter with God...to the discovery of Christ within…to true peace in our world.

During my theological studies I wrote my dissertation on “Rich and Poor ~ Love and Justice”, stating that the Church could do more to address the plight of the poor if we had greater focus on the conversion of hearts of those with power and money. I still believe this. I wonder what our world might look like if we made this conversion our personal mission…our calling from God. Of course the most important heart to convert is our own. Can we live a simpler life…to help another with theirs? The decision is ours.