Daily Prayers for Lent from CPLO and the Jesuit Institute 21 March – Week Three – As we remember those killed at Sharpeville

by Ron Boudreaux SJ in Reflections on Tue, Mar 21st, 2017 | 0 Comments

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Lenten Prayer Reflections by Ron Boudreaux SJ

Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out in the field.” When they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. Then the Lord asked Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” He answered, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:8-9)

Violence directed at others has always been a part of the human condition. But must it be so? We can get so wrapped up in our own desires that we disregard the needs of others. Left to our own devices and selfishness, we begin a downward spiral that can lead to tragedy. Today as we remember those killed at Sharpeville, the Lord invites us to look at our own hearts. How do I contribute towards a more just and loving society? How do I contribute towards a more distrustful and violent society? Society will only survive if we all share the responsibility for promoting peace instead of war, forgiveness instead of vengeance, and love instead of hatred.

Teach me, O God, to see all people as my brothers and sisters.

Help me to be a peacemaker.

Teach me composure instead of anger.

Teach me love instead of hatred.

May I become a light for this troubled world because you wish it so.

Amen

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Fr Ron Boudreaux SJ

Fr Ronald J. Boudreaux SJ (born Scott, Louisiana 1946; entered the Jesuits 1997; ordained 2005), hails from Louisiana, U.S.A. Born in the small town of Scott, he graduated from the University of Southwest Louisiana (now University of Louisiana at Lafayette) with a BA in French, minors in English and Spanish. Fr. Boudreaux entered the US Army Security Agency in 1968, studied Russian at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California, and served as a Russian linguist in Germany until his discharge in 1972. Fr. Boudreaux received his Masters Degree in Architecture from the University of Colorado in 1987. After entering the Society of Jesus in 1997, he went on to study philosophy at Gonzaga University and Loyola University Chicago. He received a Masters in Divinity from the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkley, California in 2005. Fr. Boudreaux served as retreat master at Montserrat from the fall of 2006 until the summer of 2010, when he was missioned to his tertianship studies at Weston, Massachusetts. During that time he ministered with the Jesuit Institute of South Africa in Johannesburg. Fr. Boudreaux returned to Montserrat in July 2011 and currently serves as superior to the Jesuit community and Director of Montserrat.