Jesus did not theorize about social justice, instead, he set himself as an example of how to live in this world. He exhorted his followers to adhere to his example of living simply and on the edge of the dominant belief system.
Every great spiritual teacher has warned against complacency. The only free positions in this world are at the bottom and at the edges of society. Everywhere else, there is too much to maintain—an image to promote and a fear of losing it all—which ends up controlling our whole life.
Jesus did not call us to the poor only to be helpful; he called us to be in solidarity with the real and for our own transformation. This is sometimes called “reverse mission.” The ones we think we are “saving” end up saving us, and in the process, redefine the very meaning of salvation!
Only near the poor, close to “the tears of things,” in solidarity with suffering, can we understand ourselves, love one another well, imitate Jesus, and live his full Gospel.
In the end, there are only two “cauldrons of transformation”: great love and great suffering. Our lives of contemplation are a gradual, chosen, and eventual free fall into both of these cauldrons. Love and suffering are the ordinary paths of transformation, and contemplative prayer is the best way to sustain the fruits of great love and great suffering.
Galatians 6:2-3 “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself.”
