February 3, 2013: Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Catholic Social Teaching: Solidarity
“We are one human family…Loving our neighbor has global dimensions and requires us to eradicate racism and address the extreme poverty and disease plaguing so much of the world. Solidarity also includes the Scriptural call to welcome the stranger among us…” Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, USCCB, paragraph 53
Readings
First Reading: Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19
Psalm: 71: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 15, 17
Second Reading: 1st Corinthians 12:31-13:13
Gospel: Luke 4:21-30
Catechism of the Catholic Church
“When we contemplate the blessings of faith even now, as if gazing at a reflection in a mirror, it is as if we already possessed the wonderful things which our faith assures us we shall one day enjoy.” paragraph 163 Presented in the introduction to the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time, Cycle C, Roman Missal
Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
1st Corinthians 12:31
“God shows no partiality…The Incarnation of the Son of God shows the equality of all people with regard to dignity…for you are all one in Christ Jesus…” paragraph 144
1st Corinthians 12:31-14:1
“The immediate purpose of the Church’s social doctrine is to propose the principles and values that can sustain a society worthy of the human person. Among these principles, solidarity includes all the others in a certain way…Light is shed on this principle by the primacy of love, the distinguishing mark of Christ’s disciples…Christians must be deeply convinced witness of this and they are to show by their lives how love is the only force that can lead to personal and social perfection, allowing society to make progress towards the good.” paragraph 580
1st Corinthians 13:12
“…By means of Christ, we share in the nature of God, who gives us infinitely more than all that we ask or think. What mankind has already received is nothing more than a token or a guarantee of what it will receive in its fullness only in the presence of God seen face to face…”, paragraph 122
Reflection
How do you subtly reverberate as resounding gong or clashing cymbal to deafen your ears when beckoned to declare the Lord’s justice? Do you feel grounded in faith and knowledge of God’s mysteries, but contain your initiatives in the safe womb of like-minded individuals? Does your generosity flow from obligation and stresses a contribution instead of the solidarity of presence? When does childlike jealousy seek to inflate your ego and deflate collaborative efforts to cleanse society’s leprosy of discrimination where them never transforms to us?
Where love is detached from action, action appears as a buoyant balloon. The balloon easily drifts away, as the grasp is superficial or a slight nudge breaches the balloon’s thin shell leaving the air hissing into the atmosphere. Love does not mull grudges or dwell in pessimism, but bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things. In seeing a taste of God’s impartial, eternal love, from the grace rained down on our lives, we can love others no matter what part of the sky they live under.
Individual Reflection: 1st Corinthians 12:31-13:13
Reflect upon how God’s grace has transformed your heart from stone to love.
Family Reflection: Luke 4:21-30
In planning a summer vacation, prayerfully consider a service excursion to experience life under a different part of the sky than where you live.
Involvement Opportunity
List one or two upcoming events, legislative action alerts or social justice websites
By Barb Born January 26, 2013 The reflection maybe used in parish bulletins, newsletters or for faith sharing groups without copyright concerns
