杏MAP导航

By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp

Keeping our eyes open in order to see what is happening in the world is essential to the spiritual life, Fr Tolentino tells us. Otherwise, we become comfortable and we evade our social responsibility. He reminds us that 鈥渢he voice of God should always confront us with the primordial question: 鈥榃here is your brother鈥�?鈥�

Lack of water

The spiritual question of thirst would remain incomplete if it did not bring us nearer to 鈥渢he literal and elementary thirst which torments and limits the existence of so many of our contemporaries,鈥� he says. 30% of the world鈥檚 population does not have access to drinking water in their homes. This is a thirst lived by those on the periphery which calls for an 鈥渦rgent adoption of an authentic conversion of lives and hearts,鈥� Fr Tolentino observes.

Jesus lived on the periphery

Jesus understands those who live on the periphery. He was born in a periphery of Bethlehem, not in the city. He lived in Nazareth 鈥渁 name so insignificant that it is one of the rare places in Palestine that was never named anywhere in the Old Testament.鈥� And 鈥渋mprobable Galilee鈥� became the chosen place for the proclamation of the Kingdom of God. Jesus鈥� message finds its way into the periphery. And as reported in the first conclusion of Mark鈥檚 Gospel, even after his resurrection, Jesus  wants to meet the disciples 鈥渙nce again in the periphery: 鈥楬e is going before you to Galilee鈥� 鈥� (Mk 16:7).

Christianity is a periphery

Choosing 鈥渢he periphery is in the DNA of the Christian,鈥� Fr Tolentino continues. In every era, and in every place, that is where Christians encounter and re-encounter Jesus. Thus, 鈥淐hristianity is a peripheral reality鈥�. For the Church, the periphery is not a problem but a horizon.鈥� Only by moving out of itself can the Church discover a new missionary ardor. In this way, 鈥渢he unheard of happens: only by moving out of herself can the Church rediscover herself.鈥�