Parish Social Ministry

Reflections and thoughts for your consideration based on the social teachings of the church for Fourth Sunday of Easter – The Ascension of the Lord
 
Fourth Sunday of Easter    May 7, 2017
Catholic Social Teaching:  Rights and Responsibilities
As human beings, we have a right to live and grow in peace.  Because we have that right, we have the responsibility to make sure others enjoy the same opportunity too.
 
Today’s image of Christ as the Good Shepherd invites us to promote peace and apply this image to the issues of our world.
+ Does not the Good Shepherd challenge our international institutions to show a special care for those  in need – the poor, the powerless, women, children, refugees, etc.?
+ Does not the Good Shepherd challenge our nation and its institutions to a more sincere and effective respect for human rights?
+ Does not the Good Shepherd want us to create a world with less inequality and injustice among all
people?
+ Does not the Good Shepherd call us to energy and environmental policies which respect the planet and all the creatures?
 
A world that makes real the loving care of the Good Shepherd must work to put an end to all kinds of abuse that may be endured by God’s people.
 
Like the people in today’s story from Acts who were “cut to the heart,” we are aware of our own failures, personal and communal.  Peter says, “Repent.”  He says forgiveness and reform is possible and thousands come to salvation.  Our church, our nation, and our world can also move toward a new life and redemption.  Our world can come to salvation!  As John Paul II once wrote, “Do not abandon yourselves to despair.  We are Easter people and hallelujah is our song.”
 
 
Fifth Sunday of Easter  May 14, 2017
Catholic Social Teaching:  Call to Family, Community and Participation
The person is not only sacred but also social.  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.
 
The gospel of Jesus is not simply a “personal interior message or experience” which changes the way we feel.  Genuine belief leads to works.  Spirituality is connected to action.  Faith is connected to our behavior.  As Jesus says in today’s gospel, “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these.”
 
The work of the gospel is reflected in the concern of the early church for the poor.  In today’s example from Acts, it is reflected in a concern for the widows in the community.  The work of the gospel is about service and especially service to those who are most in need.  It is a responsibility of the whole community – not just a responsibility for the apostles.  Deacons are appointed.  The whole community is involved in these local needs. (In some way this story reflects the principle of subsidiarity which is one of the key principles of Catholic Social Teaching.)  The apostles also seek to create a structure for responding to the needs for the long term. (This too is important in Catholic Social Teaching, for we desire to offer more than charity to respond to some immediate need but to create structures of justice that empower people.)
 
In the gospel Jesus reassures his disciples that he wants to see them taken care of.  He speaks of a house with many dwelling places.  We may think of this image as some vision of heaven where everyone will have a fine mansion.  We might also think of the vision of Jesus as speaking to our world here and now.
 
Might not Jesus envision a world where all God’s people have descent, safe, and affordable housing here today?  Might not Jesus envision a world where refugees find a safe home and those who come out of prison are welcomed back to the community?  Might not Jesus envision a world in which all men and women enjoy a sense of belonging and community wherever they live?  Is this not what the early community is trying to create as they appoint deacons to make sure that everyone is included in the resources of the world?  Is this not what we all want to be about?  Are we not all called to focus on the “common good?”
 
 
Sixth Sunday of Easter   May 21, 2017
Catholic Social Teaching:  Global 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.
 
If one is aware of world problems, one can feel overwhelmed and discouraged.  Justice for the poor, peace between nations, food for all the hungry, housing for the homeless, equal rights for all men and women, an end to human trafficking, basic income equality, human rights for the oppressed, and an end to war and violence, can all seem to be impossible.
 
The first reading talks of joy and healing.  Catholic Social Thought must not fall into the trap of discouragement and guilt.  God is calling us and our world to healing and even joy.  Good things can happen with the power of the Spirit.  We must not lose hope.
 
The second reading speaks of hope.  The healing that God wants for our world can happen.  Good can overcome evil.  We must not lose hope.
 
The gospel speaks of a relationship of love and solidarity between the Father and Jesus and then with all of us.  This unity and solidarity can be made real, not just in our hearts or not just in an interior feeling, but also in the way people is treated and in the way love is expressed in action for justice and peace.  We must not lose hope.  We must put our faith into practice.
 
As people of faith we are more aware than ever of countless world problems and examples of injustice. As people of faith we are more aware than ever that we want an end to all the injustice.  As people of faith we believe more than ever that with God’s help we can offer something better to our world and its people.
 
 
The Ascension of the Lord   May 28, 2017
Catholic Social Teaching:  Life and Dignity of the Human Person
Every human person is created in the image of God and redeemed by Jesus Christ, and therefore is invaluable and worthy of respect as a member of the human family.
 
In the first reading the followers of Jesus looked up to heaven.
The angels ask them “Why?”
It is as if they are 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 and you will hear the call of Christ.
Look around and you will know the power of the Spirit.
Look around and you will be empowered.
Look around and you will be filled with joy.
You will be involved in the struggle for justice and peace.
You will hear the voice of God among the poor and needy of the world.
You will hear God speak in the struggle for peace and justice.
You will see God in the goodness and faith of people.
You will see God in those who struggle to do what is right and good.
You will be led into life and grace.
God dwells in the world.
 
In the 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 disciples are sent out not with a rigid ideology or a fully spelled out set of rules, but rather with a spirit of openness - a spirit that proclaims “repentance and forgiveness of sins to all nations.”
 
Even though our world today, on a certain level, is radically different than the world of 2,000 years ago, Christ can still be found.  Christ is still alive and present.  The Ascension is the key that allows all this to happen.  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.

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

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