November 4, 2012: 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time Lectionary Reflection

November 4, 2012: 31^st Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

Catholic Social Teaching: Life and Dignity of the Human Person

“…We believe that every person is precious, that people are more important than things…”

 

Readings

First Reading: Deuteronomy 6:2-6

Psalm: 18

Second Reading: Hebrews 7:23-28

Gospel: Mark 12:28-34

 

Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church

 

Mark 12:28 and 29-31

“The universality and integrality of the salvation wrought by Christ makes indissoluble the link between the relationship  that the person is called to have with God and the responsibility he has towards his neighbor in the concrete circumstances of history…The link finds a clear and precise expression in the teaching of Jesus Christ and is definitively confirmed by the supreme witness of the giving of his life, in obedience to the Father’s will and out of love for his brothers and sisters…Inextricably linked in the human heart are the relationship with God—recognized as Creator and Father, the source and fulfillment of life and salvation—and openness is concrete love towards man, who must be treated as another self, even if he is an enemy.  In man’s inner dimension are rooted, in the final analysis, the commitment to justice and solidarity, to the building up of a social, economic and political life that corresponds to God’s plan.” Paragraph 40

 

Mark 12:29-31

“…The fifth commandment, “Thou shalt not kill”, has validity because God alone is Lord of life and death. The respect owed to the inviolability and integrity of physical life finds its climax in the positive

Commandment: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself”, by which Jesus enjoins the obligation to tend to the needs of one’s neighbor.” Paragraph 112

 

Psalm 18

“…The failure of kingship on the historical level does not lead to the disappearance of the ideal of a king who, in fidelity to Yahweh, will govern with wisdom and act in justice.  This hope appears time and again in the Psalms.  In the messianic oracles, the figure of a king endowed with the Lord’s Spirit, full of wisdom and capable of rendering justice to the poor, is awaited in eschatological times.   As true shepherd of the people of Israel, he will bring peace to the nations.  In Wisdom Literature, the king is presented as the one who renders just judgments and abhors iniquity, who judges the poor with equity and is a friend to those with a pure heart.  There is a gradual unfolding of the proclamation of what the Gospels and other New Testament writings see fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth, the definitive incarnation of what the Old Testament foretold about the figure of the king.” Paragraph 378 

 

Reflection

The scribe’s affirmative reply to Jesus, on love of God and neighbor, came not from his intellectual knowledge of the basis of Mosaic Law.  He was able to utter the words, in sincerity, from taking the words to heart.  The principles lived exceeded the worth of all burnt offerings and sacrifices.  Realizing the depth of the scribe’s understanding, Jesus commended him for not being far from the kingdom of God.  Can we delve into living our faith beyond the ease of ritualistic practices, to love God and neighbor in life’s ordinary activities?  Will we take the words to our heart that is open and undivided with other agendas?  Can we enjoin the words in to our being today, not next week or next year when we think it might be more convenient?  When we truly love the Lord, we don’t ignore His words, but are blessed with His love and the love of the Father — as the Gospel acclamation proclaims, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord; and my Father will love him and we will come to him.”

 

Individual Reflection:  Mark 12:28-34

What is one way you can expand your vision of neighbor?

 

Family Reflection: Mark 12:28-34

For a week, ask each family members to daily recite Mark 12:29-31, but replacing the words “Hear, O Israel” with  “Hear, and inset their name—so they feel the words are being spoken to them.  At the end of the week, discuss how these words of Scripture now resonate in your lives.

 

Involvement Opportunities

List one or two upcoming events, legislative action alerts or social justice web sites.

 

By Barb Born October 2012  The reflection may be used in parish bulletins, newsletters or for  faith sharing groups. 

 

October 28, 2012: 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time Lectionary Reflection

October 28, 2012: 30^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

Catholic Social Teaching: Option for the Poor and Vulnerable

“A basic moral test is how our most vulnerable members are faring.  In a society marred by deepening divisions between rich and poor, our tradition recalls the story of the Last Judgment (Matthew 25:31-46) and instructs us to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first.”

 

Readings

First Reading: Jeremiah 31:7-9

Psalm: 126

Second Reading: Hebrews 5: 1-6

Gospel: Mark: 10:46-52

 

Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church

No references

 

Reflection

Today, who sits on the side of the road begging for awareness of their challenges?  How do we rebuke them?  Do we tell them to be silent, as society doesn’t care about them?  Does slander cross our lips and indifference glance our conscience?  Jesus asked those rebuking Bartimaeus to call him over.  Following the Lord, abandoning their own persuasions, they empowered and encouraged the blind man to spring up and come to Jesus.  Jesus asks each of us what we want Him to do for us.  With courage, will we answer in faith for the sake of the common good or rebuke the needs of the disenfranchised to maintain the comfort of the status quo?  Jesus empowered the man with new found sight to go on his way, as his faith saved him.  The man could have gone any way, seen anything or done any desire of his heart.  Instead he followed Jesus on the way — not knowing where they were going or what they would do. Do we live with that same faith when we see the marginalized on the side of the road suffering from disabilities, poverty, racism, or violence? Will we affirm their dignity, gifts, talents and passions to welcome their journey as our journey — just as Jesus did?

 

Prayer

Lord, help us to encourage and empower those society deems the least. Let us not rebuke their call, but in faith openly hear their story as our story. We thank you for the gift of faith and are filled with joy for the great things you have done for us.

 

Individual Reflection: Psalm 126

Write a poem about how you have been awed by the great things the Lord has done for you. Mail it in a letter or card to five friends that may not know the depth of your faith.

 

Family Reflection: Jeremiah 31:7-9

Pass a penny around the dining table and have each person, after reading “In God We Trust”, share how they trust God.

 

Involvement Opportunity

List one or two upcoming events, legislative action alerts or social justice web sites.

 

By Barb Born  October 2012 The reflection maybe used in parish bulletins, newsletters or for faith sharing groups without copyright concerns.

 

October 21, 2012 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time Lectionary Reflection

October 21, 2012: 29^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

Catholic Social Teaching: Solidarity

“We are one human family whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic and ideological differences…At the core of the virtue of solidarity is the pursuit of justice and peace…”

 

Readings

First Reading: Isaiah 53:10-11

Psalm: 33

Second Reading: Hebrews 4:14-16

Gospel: Mark 10:35-45

 

Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church

Mark 10:42-45

“…Solidarity is also an authentic moral virtue, not a feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortune of so many people, both near and far.  On the contrary, it is a firm and preserving 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.  Solidarity rises to the rank of fundamental social virtue since it places itself in the sphere of justice.  It is a virtue directed par excellence to the common good, and is founded in a commitment to the good of one’s neighbor, with the readiness, in the Gospel sense to lose oneself for the sake of the other instead of exploiting him and to serve him instead of oppressing him for one’s own advantage…”, 193

 

Reflection

Before we try to be a servant to others, do we confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and pardon?  The eyes of the Lord rest upon those hoping for His kindness. He preserves them in spite of their spiritual famine.  Though Jesus was without sin, He is able to sympathize with our weakness from being tested in every way we could ever experience.  With the Lord’s mercy upon us, we know His love for justice and right.  Abandoning any qualms, to do whatever He asks of us, we find solace to accept Jesus’ invitation of partaking in His baptism and drinking from His cup.  With grace, we transition from seeking to dominate and making our authority felt, to recognize, in expressions of justice, Jesus challenges us to see our greatest manifestation of His love is to serve, with a commitment to the common good.

 

Prayer

Lord, help us to see when we lose sight of your grace.  Thank you for the times you challenged us to look beyond ourselves and gaze at the reality of the common good.  Refrain our thoughts from indignant slurs against those absorbed with power and guide our work towards your justice with compassion.

 

Individual Reflection: Hebrews 4:14-16

Take time this week to receive the grace from the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

 

Family Reflection: Psalm 33

Each day this week, gather as a family for ten minutes to prayerfully reflect on how you place your trust in God.

 

 

Involvement Opportunity

List one or two upcoming events, legislative action alerts or social justice web sites

 

By Barb Born October  2012  The reflection maybe reproduced in parish bulletins, newsletters or for faith sharing groups without copyright concerns.

 

 

 

October 14, 2012: 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time Lectionary Reflection

October 14, 2012: 28^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

Catholic Social Teaching: Solidarity

 “We are one human family… We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers…Loving our neighbor has global dimensions in a shrinking world…”

 

First Reading: Wisdom: 7:7-11

Psalm: 90

Second Reading: Hebrews 4:12-13

Gospel: Mark 10: 17-30

 

Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church: no references

 

Reflection

Old Testament scripture align God’s favor with wealth and material abundance.  So Jesus’ words, in love to the man that knelt before Him seeking eternal life, penetrated a deeper membrane between soul and spirit.  False security of riches was deemed nothing, in comparison to the goodness of God’s grace, the blessings of following Jesus and treasures of heaven.  We can refrain from inflicting evil on others in the commandments of social mores, but will we venture beyond the crevasse of distancing ourselves from others to sell from our souls riches absorbed with pride?   We are self-righteously rich when we see ourselves better than others in any facet of our life.  No matter the depths of rationalization, our motives cannot remain concealed from God, but always exposed to His eyes. To affirm the dignity of humanity, we must say it is not about what I have, but collectively what society possesses in decency, respect and humility.   Jesus rattled the status quo ideology of His era.  As His disciples, the words, permeating our cultural mindset, amaze us today.  If we seek to follow Jesus, the proposition may seem formidable.  But we are not asked to do it alone, as all things are possible for God, in our surrender to His ways.  All good things come to us in God’s company, as He fills us with His love and at each  daybreak with His kindness.

 

Prayer

Lord, help us to move beyond the commandments of “shall not” to fill us with your commandment of love.   Open our eyes to your love, so we may see the true riches in serving others.

 

Individual Reflection: Mark 10:17-30

Do you own your possessions or do your possessions own you?

 

Family Reflection: Psalm 90

Consider sharing fair trade chocolate this Halloween – to learn more visit Green America’s website:  www.greenamerica.org/programs/fairtrade/trickortreat.cfm

 

 

 

Involvement Opportunities

List one or two upcoming events, legislative action alerts or social justice websites

 

By Barb Born October 2012  The reflection maybe used in parish bulletins, newsletters or for discussion groups without copyright concerns