Parish Social Ministry

Reflections and thoughts for your consideration based on the social teachings of the church for:

  Fifth Sunday of Easter                        April 29, 2018
Catholic Social Teaching:  Solidarity
We are one human family whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences.  Our love for all our sisters and brothers demands that we promote peace in the world surrounded by violence and conflict.
 
In the reading from Acts, Saul is trying to establish his solidarity with the other disciples.  This proves to be no easy task.  In the letter of John, we are exhorted to be in solidarity by “love not in word or speech but in deed and truth.”  In the gospel, Jesus invites us to solidarity with God and with each other through the image of the vine and the branches.” Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.”
 
Today’s scripture, challenges to make this solidarity real in our personal relationships and in our “global relationships.”  How we live as Americans affects people all over the world.  How others live affects us, economic justice is a global concern.  Caring for the environment is a global concern.  To live the gospel, we must discern our connection with those around the world who suffer from food insecurity, who are burdened by excessive debt, who have no access to medical care, who are not connected, to the technological resources of the developed world, who are seeking a safe place as immigrants or refugees, who are discriminated against because of their race, gender, or ethnic background, or who are suffering from ecological problems.  As with Saul in the first reading, solidarity is no easy task.  Problems must be addressed openly and honestly to promote the common good.

 
Reflections and thoughts for your consideration based on the social teachings of the church for 

Sixth Sunday of Easter           May 6, 2018
Catholic Social Teaching:  Solidarity
We are one human family whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences.  We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, wherever they may be.
 
In today’s gospel, Jesus presents the commandment to love one another – a love that is like God’s love.  “As the Father loves me, so I also love you.  Remain in my love.”  We are called to be like God – the God who has a passion for love and justice, the God who is concerned for all of creation, the God who has a special concern for the poor.
 
Catholic  Social Teaching reminds us that Christian love is a love that goes beyond an affection for family and friends – a love that goes beyond romantic love – a love that is more than a nice sentiment – a love that is concerned in a very concrete way with people – a love that involves respect for and learning from other people who might be different than ourselves – a love that is concerned with justice and peace for all God’s people – a love that longs to create a world community of justice for all.
 
In the first reading Peter comes to see that the Spirit is found in all people.  “In truth, I see that God shows no partially.  Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him.”  The love that comes from God is not limited to any one group or class of people. Racism, xenophobia, and all kinds of discrimination can have no part in the vision of Jesus.  Any economic system that leaves out people is not part of the vision of Jesus.  Any economic system that fails to keep people first is not worthy of our Christian spirit.
 
 Reflections and thoughts for your consideration based on the social teachings of the church for

The Ascension of the Lord                 May 13, 2018
Catholic Social Teaching:  Call to Family, Community, and Participation
The person is not only sacred but also social.  How we organize our society-in economics and politics, in law and policy-directly affects human dignity and the capacity of individuals to grow in community.
 
Today’s readings connect with Catholic Social Teaching in at least two ways: (a) involvement with the issues and concerns of the world and (b) commitment to the truth.
 
In the first reading the followers of Jesus look up to heaven.  The angels ask them “Why?”  It is as if they were saying:  “Why don’t you just look around and then maybe you will see the Christ?”  Look around and you will see the presence of Christ. Look around you and you will hear the call of God.  God dwells in the world.
 
In a sense, the Ascension experience sends the followers of Jesus into the world to “find God in all things.”  The spirituality of Christ is not a spirituality that looks to get out of the world and its challenges.  The spirituality of Christ is a spirituality connected to the world around us – the world of people and nature – a world with rich and poor, men and women, young and old, conflict and reconciliation, sin and virtue, etc.
 
The disciples are sent out not with a rigid ideology or a fully spelled out set of rules, but rather with a spirit – a spirit of openness – a spirit that proclaims “repentance and forgiveness of sins to all nations.”
 
Even in our world today, on a certain level, is radically different than the world of 2000 years ago, Christ can still be found. Christ is still alive and present. The Ascension is the key that allows all this to happen.  Jesus says: “It is better for you that I go, for if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you.  But if I go, I will send him to you.” (John 16:7) Catholic Social Teaching affirms and supports our involvement with all the richness, diversity, and mystery of human life.  We can “find God in all things.”  We can make a difference in all the big issues of our day.
 
When he visited the United States a number of years ago, Pope Benedict reminded young people:  “We must listen deeply.  We must respond with a renewed social action that stems from the universal love that knows no bounds.  In this way, we ensure that our works of mercy and justice become hope in action for others.”
 
At the World Youth Day in Rio in 2013, Pope Francis reminded church leaders:  We cannot keep ourselves shut up in parishes, in our communities, in our parish or diocesan institutions, when so many people are waiting for the Gospel!  To go out as ones sent, it is not enough simply to open the door in welcome because they come, but we must go out through that door to seek and meet the people!

 Reflections and thoughts for your consideration based on the social teachings of the church for

Pentecost Sunday                   May 20, 2018
Catholic Social Teaching:  Solidarity
We are one human family whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences.  Our love for all our sisters and brothers demands that we promote peace in a world surrounded by violence and conflict.
 
Today, as we celebrate the power of the Spirit in the church, the scriptures remind us that the Spirit is a social Spirit – a Spirit that leads us to solidarity with each other, the whole world, and its people. The Spirit does more than make individuals feel good or different.  The Spirit breaks down barriers between peoples.  The Spirit changes behavior and moves us into community.  The Spirit calls us into action – action for others and for justice.
 
The spirit is a Spirit of reconciliation and healing. The Spirit is a Spirit of mercy.
 
The coming of the Spirit 2000 years ago transformed the Christian community.
Locked doors were opened.
Fear was replaced by courage.
Peace was proclaimed.
The power to forgive sins was shared present.
Those who were afraid began to speak up boldly.
Thousands heard the message in their own languages.
 
Today the coming of the Spirit is in our church and in our social values.
In a world of fear and doubt and confusion, the Spirit inspires people to open the doors and speak out especially about issues of justice and peace.
In a world of selfishness, competition, and control, the Spirit gives out gifts that are shared for the benefit of all especially those who are poor or in need.
 
The gifts of the Spirit are for liberation.  The Spirit is an inclusive spirit who desires to set everyone free.  Maybe the greatest manifestation of the spirit is when people have the grace to identify with the needs and struggles of the world, to listen to those who are poor or oppressed, and to speak up for justice.
 
 Reflections and thoughts for your consideration based on the social teachings of the church for
 
The Most Holy Trinity            May 27, 2018
Catholic Social Teaching: Life and Dignity of the Human Person
The Catholic Church proclaims that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society.
 
Someone once described the purpose of life as relationship. On Trinity Sunday, we celebrate the wonder of relationship.  It exists even in God.
 
We have been created with a desire for mutual and loving relationships.  Catholic Social Teaching invites us to work together to create healthy relationships between all of God’s people  - relationship between individuals and also between nations and groups – relationships of mutual respect and collaboration  -  relationships leading toward justice and peace and the fullness of life.
 
The first reading from Deuteronomy reminds the people of the great things that God has done for them, leading the people from slavery into liberation and making them a community.  God always desires healthy, just relationships between peoples.  God wants community.  God wants to free people from all slavery and lead them to live with dignity as children of God.  Today we are invited to enter into this vision.  In the gospel, Jesus commissions the disciples to go out and share this vision with the whole world.
 
The second reading from the letter to the Romans reminds us of our dignity as children of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. The vision reminds us of our Catholic commitment to respect the human rights and dignity of every person.  The vision reminds us that God calls us to live in mutual respect for each other.  This is the way to peace and justice.
 
We read today from Deuteronomy: “You must keep his statues and commandments that I enjoin on you today, that you and your children after you may prosper, and that you may have a long life on the land which the Lord, your God, is giving you forever.”  We need the wisdom of God and the way of Jesus Christ to get our relationships back in order.

--Education for Justice   Lectionary Reflections    Fr. John Bucki, S.J.

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