Despite all of the joy of the holidays, they are a very painful time for many. Many people have profound wounds in their families that are reignited by the time together. Others are reminded of loved ones they have lost to anger, and sometimes to death. As many Christian traditions spend this time in “joyful anticipation,” many of our brothers and sisters just wish that the season would end.
Another class that I took this semester was entitled, “Reconciliation and Forgiveness” and it was taught by Prof. Bob Schreiter. In numerous books, Bob outlines the fundamental elements of a Christian understanding of reconciliation. These elements are:
- Reconciliation is not a process that we initiate or achieve. We discover it already through God in Jesus Christ.
- Reconciliation is more of a spirituality than a strategy- This spirituality involves waiting, listening, compassion and a post-exilic stance.
- Reconciliation makes both the victim and the oppressor into new creations- Reconciliation does not wipe away the past. Many of us must live with the scars of our wounds. Even the Resurrected Christ still had his scars.
- The new narrative that overcomes the narratives of the lie is the story of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ- We must unite our wounds with the narrative of Christ and the unfolding story of Salvation History.
- Reconciliation is a multi-dimensional reality- It involves healing memories, coping with alienation, ending violence and opression, and the Grace of God.
- The process of reconciliation will be fulfilled only with the complete consummation of the world by God in Christ- This is not an excuse to “sit back and let it happen” but should also serve as consolation for the times when any form of reconciliation seems “imperfect.”
If you would like to know more about this, please see Prof. Schreiter’s book:
Schreiter, Robert J. The Ministry of Reconciliation: Spirituality and Strategies. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1998.
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