Turbulent times offer plenty of opportunity to revolt: Jesuit father Eberhard von Gemmingen, the Catholic Church recommends the retreat to a solitary place, to keep in silence and tranquility of the Overview.
Jesus withdrew again and again, in the silence and tranquility at the lake of Galilee. We take him as an example.
Most of the people are indignant: about the sexual abuse by priests and bishops, the destruction of the environment, the personality of Donald Trump, the Assaults by men on women, the violence of foreigners to citizens of the Country, from the extreme Right to foreigners. It is much complained and accused, but you can ask to Change something? Who changes something? Who can change something?
Allow me to invite you to embark with Jesus Christ to a solitary place to think, as he did it again and again. Most all of us can be against social Evil and stupid, not much or nothing line up: Nothing against sexual abuse in the Church, nothing against Trump, I have nothing against violence against women. Or is it?
What is the single alignment can?
How is the environment? Sure, we can all make our tiny contribution to the preservation of the environment. Personally, I am opposed to plastic whenever possible. The should do a lot. We should use public transport or the Bicycle, the car, avoid to go on foot. In terms of policy and Trump: Americans fall for it, apparently, on him. I am in similar questions, cleverer, smarter than US citizens? I read up on German and international politics sufficiently? I am critical in the choice of media? After I say only, what do you think of my surroundings? I think independently? I disagree with the superficial claims?
In my view, democracy is today in danger because of voter information in reputable sources, because you said what your environment, because they are afraid of opposition. Am I right in the assumption that not only pray, but also think it teaches? We have, thank God, is little Need, therefore, independent Thinking is perhaps sometimes too short. Often opinion polls, governments are put under pressure to make a wrong decision. The people of Britain decided in favour of the Brexit. Shortly afterwards, a thoughtful majority recognized that this decision was wrong. Good that we have in Germany a parliamentary democracy. Here are the elected parliamentarians, the can study complex issues thoroughly and decide.
The voter chooses only his member of Parliament who represents him. He must try to know the MP and his program. The voter has the duty to study the election programs of the parties. Who is only informed moods lags and not factually correct, is detrimental to the democracy and helps to promote pseudo-democracies.
There are places to Think about are missing
May I invite you, in the spirit, besides Jesus Christ on the sea of Galilee to settle down, to think? The modern people for a place to Think. Is called for silence and rest, for public entertainment, recreation, and fun is especially desirable. No wonder, if some things goes wrong! If the soul of man is constantly in the vortex, it is foolish.
Therefore, I invite you to come with Jesus to a lonely place to be! We turn off the phone, the Radio, the headphones. We endure the quiet, we are calm and ready for the modern cultural and political world.
Father Eberhard von Gemmingen SJ, born in 1936 in Bad Rappenau. After he joined in 1957 in the Jesuit order, he studied in 1959, philosophy in Pullach near Munich, and theology in Innsbruck and Tübingen. In 1968 consecration of his priests. Father Eberhard von Gemmingen SJ was a member of the Ecumenical lay movement, action 365, the Bishop’s representative at the ZDF and head of the German editors of Radio Vatican. Since 2010, he is the Fundraiser of the German Jesuits.