encyclical quote Im thinking about, trump
We are called to love everyone, without exception; at the same time, loving an oppressor does not mean allowing him to keep oppressing us, or letting him think that what he does is acceptable. On the contrary, true love for an oppressor means seeking ways to make him cease his oppression; it means stripping him of a power that he does not know how to use, and that diminishes his own humanity and that of others.
Hm
encyclical quote Im thinking about, trump
@Cyborgneticz in church today someone asked if it was possible to pray for him. I shared what my mom taught me at a very early age—that you can pray for a bad person to repent and change. Because it’s what God wants for them and because, if they TRULY repent, then they will stop hurting people. And that you don’t have to pray for anything else for a bad person. I have complex feelings but it’s still closest I’ve gotten to an answer.
encyclical quote Im thinking about, trump
@Cyborgneticz like it doesn’t mean giving that person a pass while praying for them. But it can mean praying for them while opposing them and seeking the good for those they’ve harmed.
encyclical quote Im thinking about, trump
@platypus That makes sense to me. I pray for people to repent and realize the pain they've cause and to atone for that by doing better, and that is how I pray for Trump - that IF he lives he will do better.
I like that right afterwards Francis says that the ppl whove been hurt most dont need to pray for their oppressors. A+ content
encyclical quote Im thinking about, trump
@Cyborgneticz yes. Like she made it very clear that if someone abuses you, it’s not on you to pray them into goodness, whatever that would mean.
encyclical quote Im thinking about, trump
This is crucial because otherwise you end up shaming yourself for being angry at your oppressors and that is hurtful to yourself.
Being viscerally, seethingly angry at the people that hurt you doesn't lead you to any greater place of happiness but on the flip side its totally valid and you shouldnt try to crush the feeling like an unwanted soda can.
encyclical quote Im thinking about, trump
@Alonealastalovedalongthe @platypus Absolutely.
Something that's been interesting in my therapy journey is now I look back on everything, and I feel bad for the people who hurt me. I feel bad for them because they lost their humanity and aren't even aware of it. It's interesting to read this, and then think back on how being validated in my anger was so helpful because then I was able to move through it and have it be non-destructive.
encyclical quote Im thinking about, trump
The anger is a foreign landscape that trauma displaces you in and while it can never be your home you also cannot simply deny it away and instantly find yourself back at your kitchen table, content with a warm cup of tea.
You must learn it, let it be and ultimately travel through it for however long it takes to find your way home.
Im still def on thatttt journey tho lol
@platypus
encyclical quote Im thinking about, trump
And also find people that will speak of and travel through that landscape with you and not just say '"close your eyes and make it go away and you will be home!"
encyclical quote Im thinking about, trump
@Alonealastalovedalongthe @platypus 💜 I'm glad you have taken the step into that journey. Anger is a hard hard thing to grapple with.
encyclical quote Im thinking about, trump
@platypus 100% I appreciate Pope Francis for making that liberation theology idea part of an encyclical