Model for Council

 

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OUR SPIRITUALITY AND THE POOR

 

The Missionary Cenacle Family Council asks that you undertake this reflection with your

 Cenacle or with others from the Missionary Cenacle Family and send us your response.

 

Prayerfully reflect on the following:

·         Mk 10:46-52; Lk 4:18; Mt 9:20-22

 

·         “As we pursue our Christian missionary journey, aware of our need for sustaining food, we are immediately faced with a choice: we may prepare and take our own bread with us, or we may, in the spirit of Jesus, take no bread for the journey (Mk 6:8).  Or perhaps, prudently acknowledging that we do indeed hold a treasure we wish to share, we may choose both options.  But unless we believe that those to whom we go have some bread themselves, and unless we trust that they will share their bread with us, our journey will be a travesty of the Christian mission.”  (Anthony J. Gittins, Bread for the Journey, pp. 55-56)

 

·         “The mission-in-reverse approach teaches that the minister can and should learn from the people ministered to -- including, and perhaps especially, from the poor and marginalized people. By taking these people seriously, by listening to them…personal relationships are developed, and the dignity of the people is enhanced. Such presence to people is seen as necessarily allowing them to be the leaders in the relationship.”

       (Gittins, Bread for the Journey, pp.55-56)

 

 

With others in the Missionary Cenacle Family, take counsel on these questions:

·         How have I both given and received “bread” from the poor?

 

·         How have I changed as a result of knowing and working with poor persons?  How have the poor changed as a result of knowing me?

 

·         What insights about our spirituality and the connection to the poor will we share with the Missionary Cenacle Family?

 

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Close with a summary of your reflection.

 

Please send your reflections by May 1, 2005 to

Ms. Pat Regan, MCA, Executive Secretary

 

            E-mail:  mcfc_regan@comcast.net

            Fax:     301-408-1443

            Mail:    3929 Greencastle Rd. #207

Burtonsville, MD 20866-2114