Parish Social Ministry

Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time                                        October 6^th 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.”USCCB.
 
Jesus tells us to love our neighbor, 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.
The readings for this Sunday speak of the wonderful, positive power of faith amid all kinds of problems and challenges.

• Habakkuk writes: “…the vision still has its time, presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint.”
• Paul speaks of a “rich trust that dwells within us.”
• Jesus says that if you have faith “the size of a mustard seed,” you can move a mountain.

The violence, of which Habakkuk speaks, has been made real in our generation in wars and acts of terrorism, and in all sorts of disputes.
Violence is not new.  It appears again and again throughout human history.  The scriptures today remind us that God has an alternate vision of how life is to be lived.  The “mountain” can be moved.  There is alternative to violence and discord.  We can only address this violence if we know ourselves and our limits.  Without self-knowledge, we are destined to repeat the mistakes that cause violence.  We are “servants.”  We need that increase in faith that can only come from God.  We are not in charge of everything.  We don’t have to use force.  We don’t have to be more than we are.  With this sort of realism and humility, we will have the wisdom to talk to one another, to avoid violence, and bless the world with Christ’s gift of peace and justice.
 

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

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