"Dance with God" for Justice in Non-Violent Revolutions in the World and Church" by Bridget Mary Meehan

"If I can't dance," Emma Goldman writes, "I don't want to be part of your revolution."
Some are depressed at the state of the world and church. We have seen a movement toward democracy in which monarchy-style governments have tumbled with the Arab Spring.
We have seen the 99% challenge the 1% who possess an inordinate amount of the world's wealth in the "Occupy Wall Street" Movement.
We have seen the dictators in Egypt and Libya go.
We have seen it in the Roman Catholic Women Priests Movement with more and more Catholics supporting gender justice in the church including male priests.

For some, this paradigm shift is frightening and depressing. Millions have lost their jobs. The growing gap between rich and poor is widening. Everything seems to be in chaos. Change appears to be happening everywhere, at once.

But, perhaps, because I love to dance, the image that best describes this phenomena is a spiritual dance-God's dance for justice in the non-violent revolutions, the holy shakeups of our times!

Like Miriam ,tambourine in hand, leading the women , singing and dancing, across the Sea of Reeds, after the Israelites escaped from slavery in Egypt to freedom, God is leading the dance of the people of our time from domination and oppression to liberation and justice. (Exodus 15:20)

In her joyful prayer, the Magnificat, Mary, Mother of Jesus, reminds us God always takes the lead in the dance of justice for those on the margins. "...You have deposed the mighty from their thrones and rased the lowly to high places. You have filled the hungry with good things, while you have sent the rich away empty. (Luke 1"46-58)

"My soul proclaims your greatness, O God, my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior", is the prayer that lifts our hearts as we twirl around with God in the dance in the the "holy shakeups" of unjust structures and systems of oppression. Now in this "dance" we pray that will God reveal the steps for living fully in the circle of life as sisters and brothers of all.

It appears to me that no amount of condemnation by the prelates, nor lobbying by Wall Street corporations or wealthy titans, nor dictators killing peaceful demonstrators, can put Humpty Dumpty back together again.
It is the time to dance wth God for justice!
Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP
sofiabmm@aol.com