Networking: A Sure Way to Building a Just Society

Introduction
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” These words that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. penned from the Birmingham Jail, on 16 April, 1963, have a deep import, and are well expounded by the following words of his: “In a real sense all life is inter-related. All men are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly… This is the inter-related structure of reality.” (1)
The phenomenon we now call globalization assumes a fluid interconnection among economic, political, social, and cultural dynamics. It is now possible for local events to immediate repercussions around the globe… At the same time, many local situations are affected by global phenomena… These characteristics of our present age render the local setting inadequate for understanding and confronting the basic causes of injustice. (2)
In this context, it is obvious and indubitably true that any attempt to change this inter-related structure for the better has to be a concerted one duly preceded by sustained efforts at networking.
The Need for Networking
General Congregation 34 (1995) stressed the need for networking within the Society in a very meaningful text: “To exploit more fully the possibilities given us by being an international body, additional global and regional networks must be created. Such networks of persons and institutions should be capable of addressing global concerns through support, sharing of information, planning, and evaluation, or through implementation of projects that cannot easily be carried out within province structures… Initiative and support for these various forms of networks should come from all levels of the Society” (d. 21, n. 14). (3)
Jesus and John the Baptist: A Biblical Model for Networking
The Bible presents an excellent model of networking that emerged and existed between Jesus and John the Baptist, the disciples of John being the effective agents of this networking. Initially, Jesus and his disciples went into the land of Judea; there he remained with them and baptized. John also was baptizing at Ae′non near Salim (John 3:22-23). Later, when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them (Matthew 11:2-5).
This networking emerged despite apparent differences between Jesus’ and John’s lifestyles: For John came neither eating nor drinking… the Son of man came eating and drinking… (Matthew 11:18-19). The clear sign of this networking was the mutual appreciation that existed between Jesus and John: Jesus said: Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist… (Matthew 11:11). And John said: “…I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him… He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:28-30). However, it must be clearly pointed out that their networking had a singular purpose or goal: the birthing of the Kingdom of God. John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” (Mt 3:1) And, Jesus preached: strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness… (Mt 6:33)
Trinity: Networking for Redemption
The mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is the central mystery of Christian faith and life. The whole history of salvation is identical with the history of the way and the means by which the one true God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, reveals himself to men “and reconciles and unites with himself those who turn away from sin”.(4) This expounds briefly how, by the divine missions of the Son and the Holy Spirit, God the Father fulfills the “plan of his loving goodness” of creation, redemption and sanctification.(5) In the Contemplation on the Incarnation, when the three Divine Persons behold the misery of the world and have compassion on it, their response is, “Let us work redemption.”(6)
Networking in the South Asian Context
South Asia is religiously pluralistic and ethnically diverse, with more than 2,000 ethnic entities. The Christian presence in this region is very thin. In this context, an effective networking has to be inclusive going beyond all boundaries, not merely the Jesuit or Christian boundaries.
Lok Manch: (People’s Forum/Platform): A New Networking Initiative
Worthy of a mention here is a new networking venture in India. Three key Jesuit institutions – Indian Social Institute in Delhi, the Bengaluru-based institute with a similar nomenclature, and Jesuits in Social Action (JESA) – played a key role in launching Lok Manch, bringing together 100 organizations from 12 Indian States. Out of these 100 organisations, around 50 are Jesuits’ and the rest are from different walks of life. Lok Manch is a national networking platform, which has pledged itself to engage initially in a campaign for ensuring food security and later to use that experience to strengthen and expand the networking platform for larger engagements in such a way that the people at the grassroots would take charge of their lives and live with dignity. During 5-8 April 2016, 120 activists from the 100 member organizations came together for a national workshop at Indian Social Institute, New Delhi; they took ownership for Lok Manch and pledged to take it to the grassroots communities.
Conclusion
As Jorge Serrano rightly points out, strong involvement of civil society is essential, through networking of organizations and NGOs, to prevent states from falling under the control of the small number of elites with economic and financial power.(7)
Networking organisations should draw inspiration from and be guided by the following words of Henry Ford: “Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success,” said Henry Ford. And finally, for any networking to be effective and enduring, networking should allow each institution to discern at the local level how best it can contribute. 

(1) Vide http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/432654-in-a-real-sense-all-life-is-inter-related-all-men
(2) Networking in order to respond better to our mission, Promotio Iustitiae, n° 113, 2013/4, at http://jesuitnetworking.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Networks_PJ113_ENG.pdf
(3) Ibid
(4) Catechism of the Catholic Church (Second Edition), 234
(5) Ibid, 235
(6) Networking Inspired by Ignatian Spirituality, December 30, 2013, available at http://jesuitnetworking.org/networking-inspired-by-ignatian-spirituality/
(7)
Reflections from “Justice in the Global Economy”, February 22, 2016, available at
http://jesuitnetworking.org/reflections-from-justice-in-the-global-economy/