The Jesuits

Dear Companions,

Joe Mannath, in his work, The Beauty and Burden of Religious Life, poses these questions: “What matters more to me, being (let us say) Tamil (or German or Naga) or being a disciple of Jesus? Being a member of my caste or tribe or being a good Christian? What comes first in my thoughts and decisions—my Chrisitan faith or the culture I am born into? […] If, as Jesus says, our love consists only in being nice to some whom we consider our own, what is so great about it? If our faith does not help us rise above our “tribal” (read: caste, language, regional, racial, national) divisions, what purpose does it serve? If the walls in our heart do not fall, and we do not open ourselves in love beyond the narrow circles of our prejudice and bigotry, what evidence is there that we have met Jesus?”
One of the treasures and richness of our Province is the diversity of languages, cultures and ethnic groups. But the unfortunate part is that this grand and rich diversity also breeds unwarranted divisions that cut at the root of our unions of minds and hearts, and destroys our being “friends in the Lord” and adversely affects the mission of God.We tend to give importance to culture over Christ and to power games over service. Consequently, mission suffers. Once again, the centrality of Jesus in our life-mission needs to be emphasized. General Congregation 35 (2008), Decree 2: A Fire That Kindles Other Fires, affirms: “…This companionship shows how people in different background and diverse in talent can live together as true “friends in the lord.” Jesuit identity is relational; it grows in and through our diversities of cultures…” This statement highlights living together in community across diverse background as an expression of Jesuit identity rooted in friendship in the Lord.
“…In our world that knows too much division, we ask God to help our communities become ‘homes’ for the Reign of God. We hear the call to overcome what separates us from one another… Moreover, living together as friends in the Lord nurtures the vocations of our men in formation and can inspire men to enter the Society.” (GC 36, Decree 1. Nos.13-14). GC 36 directly addresses overcoming what separates us—culturally, socially and personally—and affirms that community living in unity and mutual respect is a witness in itself.
We need to make our communities homes of companionship and communion, marked by a constant conversation leading to co-discernment and collaboration. The tone and depth of community life depend on each member. As in a family, each of us builds the community or destroys it, makes it happier and more loving, or less so. However, the onus lies largely on the local superiors to animate and align the communities in line with the hope of the Society.

May the Spirit of God and Christ’s Mission of Reconciliation and Justice continue to hold us all together.