Parish Social Ministry

 
 
Seventh Sunday of Easter                         June 2, 2019
 
Catholic Social Teaching:  Global Solidarity
Acts of terrorism continue to happen or cause fear in the world.
Preparations for war, or defense efforts, continue in most every nation.
In light of all of this, we may find that the scriptures today challenge us to look again at war and at all things that lead us to war and violence.
 
In the first reading, people cover their ears so as not to hear.  They refuse to listen.  Instead they throw stones and kill Stephen.  Instead of listening to each other, instead of dialogue and understanding, there is killing.  Instead of peace and growth, there is division and violence.
The gospel today is part of the concluding prayer of Jesus at the Last Supper.  It is a prayer for unity and solidarity – that all may be one.  It is an appropriate prayer in the context of remembering the causes of and consequences of war.  It is a prayer for healing and renewal.  Christ wants a unity that can heal the divisions that lead to war and killing.  Christ wants an end to all things that divide and destroy us.
The second reading from Revelations is a vision of men and women coming together – being in solidarity – receiving the gift of life-giving water.  It is a vision of those who come together in response to Christ’s invitation to solidarity and peace.
The theme of the scriptures is solidarity.
Our prayer today is a prayer for an end to all the wars that destroy that solidarity.
Our desire is the desire of Jesus – that all will be one.
 
Pentecost Sunday                           June 9, 2019
 
Catholic Social Teaching:  Global Solidarity
Jesus tells us to love our neighbors, even though they may be different from us.  That means those neighbors who live next door and those who live on the other side of the planet.  Jesus reminds us that we are all part of God’s great family.
 
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 all 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.
The coming of the Spirit transforms the Christian community.
Fear is replaced by courage. Peace is proclaimed. The power to forgive sins is present.
Those who were afraid now speak up boldly. Thousands hear the message in their own language.
The coming of the Spirit is reflected in our social values.  In a world of racism and fear of immigrants, the Spirit speaks to people of every nation under heaven.
In a world of fear, 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.
In a world of economic problems, the Spirit reminds us that the things of the world are meant to be shared by all and are to  be used for the common good.
In a world where the environment is abused and overused, the Spirit calls to reform how we live and to use the earth with care and love.
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.
 
 
The Most Holy Trinity                   June 16, 2019
 
Catholic Social Teaching:  Global Solidarity
“[Solidarity] is not a feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of so many people, both near and far. On the contrary, it is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good; that is to say to the good of all and of each individual, because we are all really responsible for all.”
 
God is Trinity. God is relational. We are like God. We are all connected as a community of faith, hope and love, a community of justice and peace, a community that hopes to be one family, a community that brings rich and poor together. The Spirit of God is part of that community.
The Book of Wisdom includes two themes of Catholic Social Teaching:  
The Spirit of God was present in creation from the very beginning. The sacred and secular are connected, or in other words, God is found to be intimately connected to the world.  We can find God in creation and we hear God’s call to respect creation.
God takes “special delight in the human race”, or in other words, every human person has a special dignity and goodness.
The Letter to the Romans reminds us that this presence and action of the divine is a source of hope. The world is fundamentally good.
The gospel reminds us not to forget that it is the very Spirit of God that will guide us through all the complexity of our life. The Spirit that is with us is the same spirit that creates, redeems and sanctifies. The Spirit is present in the challenges of our human life.
From all of this, it follows that we are concerned with the issues of the world and everyday life. We are concerned with justice and peace and we have hope in the midst of all the concerns and problems of the world.      
God is Trinity. God is relational. So are we.
With the Creator, we respect the creation.
With our Redeemer, we work together to heal divisions and promote justice.
With the Spirit, we are committed to the way of peace and nonviolence.
 
The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi)               June 23, 2019
 
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. We believe people have a right and a duty to participate in society, seeking together the common good and well-being of all, especially the poor and vulnerable.
 
In the gospel, Jesus focuses on the distribution of food so that everyone can eat and so that everyone has enough. The moral teaching of Jesus has something to say about our policies as a nation. The scriptures today give us a special opportunity to reflect on the reality of hunger and good insecurity in our world today. The world produces enough food for everyone. The problem is that some have too much and some don’t have enough. In the gospel, Jesus had to get everyone to share the bounty of bread and fish.
 
The challenge today is a challenge of just distribution and of opportunities for all to participate in our food system in a sustainable and responsible way. The scriptures today proclaim the blessings that come when a meal is shared. For Christians, sharing a meal (Eucharist) is at the heart of the Christian life. 
There is a deep richness in the Catholic theology of Eucharist – in our belief in the real presence of God in our shared meal. We might reflect today on how that depth and richness is present in our practice.
We can ask the question on the level of our sacramental celebration: 
Does our celebration of the Eucharist reflect the excitement and joy of being one in community?
Does our celebration reflect a spirit of deep solidarity?
Are we celebrating our solidarity as the living Mystical Body of Christ?  
Do we recognize Christ in the breaking of the bread?
Is everyone welcome?  Is there diversity in our community?
Does the Eucharist empower us for action – for life?
Our Eucharist celebrates and challenges our sharing and our relationship with each other and with the poor. We can ask the question on the level of our life as a community:
How are we in solidarity with the poor in our city and in the world?
Do we offer direct service to those in need?
Does our solidarity move from the works of charity toward the works of justice?
How are we the living Body of Christ in the world?
 
Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time                           June 30, 2019
 
Catholic Social Teaching:  Global Solidarity
We are all part of one human family—whatever our national, racial, religious, economic or ideological differences. In an increasingly interconnected world, loving our neighbors has global dimensions.
 
The scriptures today address issues of liberty and freedom – the freedom to give up everything and follow Jesus on the Way – the freedom that allows us the ability to “serve one another through love” – the freedom to give oneself unconditionally and completely to something that is most important and bigger than ourselves.
 
Paul reminds the Galatians that the freedom of Christ must not end up being a new sort of slavery – a freedom to do anything regardless of how it affect others or a freedom from one thing only to be enslaved by something else.  Christian faith is a totally liberating commitment to God and to the common good.
 
 
In the American context, we might ask ourselves whether the political freedom that we are so proud of has set us free or allowed us in some way to be enslaved by something else.  The vision of Jesus is the vision of a group of liberated people focused on the journey and the goal.  Jesus invites people to be free enough to focus their energy on a vision of life and love and service and solidarity.  We are challenged today to be aware of those things that get in the way of this freedom and to walk in the values, life and joy of Jesus Christ.
If we take them seriously, the images of the first reading and the gospel are strong and powerful.  As Paul reminds us:  “Brothers and sisters:  For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.”
 
 ---Education for Justice  Lectionary Reflections  By: Fr. John Bucki, S.J.
 
 

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