Healing a Broken World - Society of Jesus

Healing a Broken World
a love strengthening these three sets of relationships with God, with others
and with creation.
4.3 Reconciliation with creation and the justice–
dimension of our mission
The linkages between reconciliation and justice
50] In the recent past the concept of reconciliation has assumed greater
significance in the field of conflict resolution. 61 We need to start asking the
following question: is justice possible without reconciliation? In other words,
in a reconciliation process, how do we handle past injustices so that they are
neither forgotten nor festering?
51] The term ‗reconciliation‘ means literally a call-to-be-again-together; a call
addressed to two parties in conflict, to two enemies, to develop a new
relationship. 62 Reconciliation, theologically considered, is the restoration of
broken relationships between God and people. 63 God initiates this process of
restoration, humans respond to God's initiative through faith, and the
outcome is the rebuilding of the human community as a new creation. 64 For
Christians, therefore, hope for reconciliation is closely linked with faith in
Christ's saving work among us. 65 It is to be noted that an excessively
spiritual interpretation of reconciliation with God has often led to an
individualistic and subjective approach to life. 66
God
Human
beings
Rebuilding
the human
community
as a new
creation
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