So imagine you are called in from your every day gig of being a rock super star to speak to the President of the United States, many members of Congress, probably a Supreme Court Justice or two, and many other people who daily effect how the world works. On February 2nd that is exactly what Bono, the lead singer of U2, was called upon to do at the National Prayer Breakfast, and he stepped up to the challenge by offering deep reflections on poverty and what the Bible says about the poor.
Bono opened by joking with the president and other guests about their choice for a speaker, noting it is not typical to get an out spoken rock star to speak at such breakfasts, but he hoped he was up to the task. He then began to witness to his own struggle with faith and a global culture driven by consumerism that leaves the helpless behind in the dust. After a great deal of soul searching he is finally ready to speak up about what he has seen while traveling the world: poverty. Bono said ,
"Look, whatever thoughts you have about God, who He is or if He exists, most will agree that if there is a God, He has a special place for the poor. In fact, the poor are where God lives.Bono, at the National Prayer Breakfast, shows us how to witness and proclaim God's good news of justice to the poor. He was willing to proclaim, to speak up and out loud, about poverty, AIDS and other social issues when the opportunity arose.
Check Judaism. Check Islam. Check pretty much anyone.
I mean, God may well be with us in our mansions on the hill... I hope so. He may well be with us as in all manner of controversial stuff... maybe, maybe not... But the one thing we can all agree, all faiths and ideologies, is that God is with the vulnerable and poor.
God is in the slums, in the cardboard boxes where the poor play house... God is in the silence of a mother who has infected her child with a virus that will end both their lives... God is in the cries heard under the rubble of war... God is in the debris of wasted opportunity and lives, and God is with us if we are with them."
Bono not only spoke up about injustice, but he offered a concrete proposal for action: one percent of the federal budget to the world's poor and then described what that one percent would mean on the African continent. He said, "I truly believe that when the history books are written, our age will be remembered for three things: the war on terror, the digital revolution, and what we did--or did not to--to put the fire out in Africa."
Like Bono we each have struggles of our own, and we each can speak up about injustice when the opportunities present themselves. We don't have to witness and proclaim this message in a manner that is overbearing, but can speak the truth in love, offering and advocating for real and meaningful change.
Catholic Connection:
"The Christian vision is based on the conviction that God has destined the human race and all creation for "a kingdom of truth and life, of holiness and grace, of justice, love, and peace." This conviction gives Christians strong hope as they face the economic struggles of the world today... This hope stimulates and strengthens Christian efforts to create a more just economic order in spite of difficulties and setbacks."
--Economic Justice for All by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
Reflection Questions
If you were giving a speech to the President what issues would you talk about and why?
Join us in our Forum to discuss these questions!
