Action Produced By Knowledge

(Tina)Theresa Hannah-Munns
Liberation Theology
Peter Bisson
March 21st, 2005



When we know that God is located and encountered within the historical relationships of all of humanity, we are called to be agents of change in liberating all persons from injustice. The prerequisite for knowing God is “a knowledge of humankind.” G.G. explores God’s close proximity in relationships throughout the history of the Old Testament , to God’s relationship with humanity through Jesus in order to conclude that God is universally in relationship through an integration of God’s presence within each and every human being. An extraverted call for a “conversion to the neighbor” leads Christians to remember that “the Son of Man has made himself one with all… in solidarity with the whole of human misery in all ranges and ultimate depths.” Christ is the “universal principle of love” that draws our hearts to produce “concrete actions” of charity that “is God’s love in us (allowing us to) ‘establish ties’” with one another. This calls us to “the sacrament of our neighbor” where we then encounter God through the relationship process.

In knowing that we encounter God by reaching out to connect with other people, we live in “commitment to the process of liberation” with the attitude that Spirit leads to freedom, completion, and “communion with God and with others.” This option of greater commitment to equality, justice and peace is grounded in knowing God as indwelling within our hearts and leading us to a deepened love and understanding of Christianity in all its aspects, both those known and those forgotten. This leads to us converting these aspects “into life, prayer, commitment, and action.” This inward deepening and strength calls for expression by moving us to a “conversion to the neighbor” which is, ultimately, to convert to God. By transforming ourselves, this option means a break from many comforts and securities, a permanent process anchored in our remaining open as spiritually child-like. The break we must make is on all levels of our being human in society – a letting go or maturing of our intellectual categories, relationships of power and security, other social class and status relationships, and even our way of “identifying with the Lord”. We must now begin to stand on equal footing with the oppressed in solidarity while still living acknowledging life as God’s gift. This is done through prayer that then leads to a deeper encounter with God and with humanity. Joy from these encounters results as wisdom that continues to motivate us to further action that will provide for a liberating justice and freedom for all.