March 31, 2013: Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord
Catholic Social Teaching: Rights and Responsibilities
“The Catholic Tradition teaches that human dignity can be protected and a healthy community can be achieved only if human rights are protected and responsibilities are met. Therefore, every person has a fundamental right to life and a right to those things required for human decency. Corresponding to these rights are duties and responsibilities – to one another, to our families and to the larger society.” Themes from Catholic Social Teaching USCCB
Readings
First Reading: Acts 10:34a, 37-43
Psalm: 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23
Second Reading: Colossians 3:1-4 or 1st Corinthians 5:6b-8
Gospel: John 20:1-9
Catechism of the Catholic Church
“The Paschal Mystery has two aspects: by his death, Christ liberates us from sin; by his Resurrection, he opens for us the way to a new life…” (654) Listed in the Introduction for Easter Sunday, Roman Missal
Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
Acts 10:34
“God shows no partiality, since all people have the same dignity as creatures made in his image and likeness…There is neither Jew or Greek, there is neither slave or free, there is neither male or female…Since something of the glory of God shines on the face of every person, the dignity of every person before God is the basis of the dignity of man before other man. Moreover, this is the ultimate foundation of the radical equality and brotherhood among all people, regardless of their race, nation, sex, origin, culture or class.” (144)
Reflection
How will you celebrate the Easter feast? Does the message of liberation free your soul from fast tracking to the mall for clothes to out glitz others? Will the echoes of liberation free your heart from self-serving prophecy to awaken compassion for segments of society you previously despised? Can liberation give you courage to extend your hand as a sign of peace to someone from another faith tradition or political perspective? From the liberation of the Resurrection, we have profound freedom waiting to unravel our lives. May we use that freedom to bear witness, in sincerity and truth, as yeast leavening society from malice? Liberation is not a battle with those oppressed by devils of bigotry and indifference, but offering a paradigm of freedom. So in the challenges of the social milieu, when we venture into the tomb of faith and believe, others are not an enemy we jawbone about to silence. In love, we listen and invite them to participate in going about and doing good.
Individual Reflection: Psalm 118
During each day of the Easter season, keep a journal reflecting on “This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad.”
Family Reflection: 1st Corinthians 5:6b-8
Buy some unleavened bread to serve with leavened bread you normally eat. Compare and contrast the two styles of bread. How can the two styles of bread be analogies for faith?
Involvement Opportunities
List one or two upcoming events, legislative action alerts or social justice websites
By Barb Born March 20, 2013 The reflection maybe used in parish bulletins, newsletters and for faith sharing groups without copyright concerns.
