Fifth Sunday of Easter Lectionary Reflection May 3, 2015

May 3, 2015: Fifth Sunday of Easter

 

Catholic Social Teaching: Solidarity

A Commitment to the Christian Life

The commitment to living the Christian life provides an essential element of the culture of witness. To those seeking answers to the increasing secularization, individualism, and materialism of society, a Christian life provides a powerful witness to the Gospel. The public profession of one’s faith through active participation in prayer, the sacraments, and especially Sunday Mass contributes to the sanctification of the world. Additionally, the works of charity and justice as well as the promotion of solidarity, justice, peace, and stewardship of creation build up the Kingdom of God.Increasingly, we recognize that generosity of spirit and commitment to charity and justice are vehicles to bring people into relationship with Jesus and his Church. Social justice and direct service opportunities provide powerful experiences with the person of Jesus, especially for adolescents and young adults. Service, when understood as serving Christ in others and as a means to share the Gospel, has the ability to bring the server and the one being served closer to Christ.  From Disciples Called to Witness: The New Evangelization, p. 14, USCCB

 

Readings

First Reading: Acts 9:26-31

Psalm: 22:26-27, 28, 30, 31-32

Second Reading:1^st John 3:18-24

Gospel: John 15:1-8

 

 

Catechism of the Catholic Church

By this power of the Spirit, God’s children can bear much fruit. He who has grafted us onto the true vine will make us bear “the fruit of the Spirit: . . . love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”  “We live by the Spirit”; the more we renounce ourselves, the more we “walk by the Spirit.”  Through the Holy Spirit we are restored to paradise, led back to the Kingdom of heaven, and adopted as children, given confidence to call God “Father” and to share in Christ’s grace, called children of light and given a share in eternal glory. (736)  From the Daily Roman Missal, Introduction to the Fifth Sunday of Easter, Cycle B

 

 

Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church: no references this week

For complete text visit: http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/justpeace/documents/rc_pc_justpeace_doc_20060526_compendio-dott-soc_en.html

 

Reflection

Who will you introduce to your justice and peace ministry?  Inviting people to outreach, sharing educational resources to impart fact not fear, they become part of God’s vine to bear fruit. Care must be taken  to foster an intergenerational matrix to maintain the vine’s vitality and longevity.  As branches on the vine, our objective should not be competition to see who can be the tallest, greatest to sap the vine of energy, but nurturing a supportive structure of collaboration that bears a diversity of fruits. Realizing fruits need to be complementary, not competitive sustains the Church guided in peace and growing in purpose.  Fruits not in platitudes of speech, but blossoming in deeds and truth.  For love expressed in words without deeds is a disciple without a heart, a hollowness of faith.  Knowing Jesus and the love He has for us, we manifest His love to others to remain in Him. To hear His words, but refrain from action to foster justice and peace, we ignore His commandments by failing to engage ourselves in the daily reality of humanity.  Pointing fingers and piercing the air with barbed words lacks love expressed in patience, kindness, gentleness and understanding.  For the Spirit is not present in hatred, rivalry and jealousy to sap branches of forthright energy.  Separated from the vine and vine grower, our efforts are futile and we can do nothing.  Only when ministry is guided and sustained by the Holy Spirit, will a culture of welcome to engage involvement with a faith lived, not hypothesized, be an invitation for believers to live as disciples, remain in Jesus as He remains in us to bear much fruit.

 

Individual Reflection: Acts 9:26-31

Prayerfully reflect upon whom you might encourage to participate in justice and peace ministry.

 

Family Reflection: John 15:1-8

Visit a local arboretum or county park.  Look at various vines and related them metaphorically to the Gospel reading.

 

Prayer

As we continue to celebrate the Resurrection, may the hope fulfilled sustain us to be fruitful disciples.  May we see the spirit of discipleship in others, to collaborate with them and not fear their involvement.

Let us be receptive to diversity to sustain discipleship in all the families of nations, now and for future generations.  Only with the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we know this is possible.  For apart from you, Jesus, and your Father, we cannot bear fruit.  Thank you for letting us be a branch on your true vine.  In your name, Jesus, we pray, Amen.

 

Blogs to Visit:

http://marynow.wordpress.com/

As we reflect upon Mary’s presence in the mysteries of the Rosary, we are blessed to know her.  For her journey, a timeless trek, calls us to surrender, continuing conversion, humbleness and justice now.

https://peaceonjustice.wordpress.com/

Weekly lectionary reflections, for faith sharing groups, parish bulletins, newsletters or personal prayer, from the synergy of the Word we hear and the rich tradition of Catholic Social Teaching.

https://cst74life.wordpress.com/

Catholic Social Teaching offers seven principles for upholding life in our thoughts, decisions and actions.

http://idocst.wordpress.com/

How we do Catholic Social Teaching.

https://csmresources.wordpress.com/

Creation sustainability ministry resources in the spirit of the St Francis Pledge.

 

Involvement Opportunities

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

 

By Barb  Born, April 25, 2015 The reflection maybe used in parish bulletins, newsletters or for faith sharing groups without copyright concern.

 

 

Fourth Sunday of Easter Lectionary Reflection April 26, 2015

April 26, 2015: Fourth Sunday of Easter

Catholic Social Teaching: Life and Dignity of the Human Person

“…We believe that every person is precious, that people are more important than things and that the measure of every institution is whether it threatens or enhances the life and dignity of the human person.”  Themes from Catholic Social Teaching, USCCB

 

Readings

First Reading: Acts4:8-12

Psalm: 118: 1, 8-9, 21-23, 26, 28, 29

Second Reading: 1^st John 3:1-2

Gospel: John 10:11-18

Catechism of the Catholic Church

Jesus entrusted a specific authority to Peter: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. “The “power of the keys” designates authority to govern the house of God, which is the Church. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, confirmed this mandate after his Resurrection: “Feed my sheep.” The power to “bind and loose” connotes the authority to absolve sins, to pronounce doctrinal judgements, and to make disciplinary decisions in the Church. Jesus entrusted this authority to the Church through the ministry of the apostles and in particular through the ministry of Peter, the only one to whom he specifically entrusted the keys of the kingdom.(553) From the Daily Roman Missal, Introduction to the Fourth Sunday of Easter, Cycle B

Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church: No references this week

For complete text visit: http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/justpeace/documents/rc_pc_justpeace_doc_20060526_compendio-dott-soc_en.html

Reflection

God’s love bestows on us the inheritance to be called children of God. The opportunity to live in a paradigm blessed in meaning beyond trivial genre of worldly endeavors.  An affirmation to live lives of holiness prayerfully grounded in service.  A trust, in the eternal hope, to take us beyond fears and questioning God’s eternal plan.  Jesus was and is today the manifestation of our filial relationship as children of God.  The cornerstone, strength of our faith, our savior where we take refuge, instead of trusting in man or earthly fiefdoms. Not living an agrarian lifestyle, we may have trouble grasping Jesus as the Good Shepherd, ourselves as sheep or envisioning wolves coming to disrupt the placid, serenity of grazing lands.  This was the reality of the countryside in the days of the early Christian community, but they offer powerful metaphors when dwelling on the Scriptures today.  That we can never pay or hire someone to attend to our soul, for faith can only be genuine if we receive it as a gift.  The openness and receptivity to be transformed totally beyond the realm of financial transactions or attraction based on material possessions. Transformation coming from  belief in the Triune God abounding in love.  Many pseudo wolves scatter us from being community today, individualism, pride, fear of the other.  They can attack us by distracting our focus from the true meaning of our lives, to prevent us from loving as we have been loved, as God’s children.  The Good Shepherd knows us from the union with His Father.  Do we hear His voice in the quiet, in the reception of His Body and Blood, in absorbing Scripture or do we let pseudo wolves scatter us or even become a pseudo wolf to scatter others.  Not just by actions, but sometimes thru inaction, lack of compassionate concern or bullying with obsession over religious purity.  The Good Shepherd loves us even to the point of giving His life for us.  Only by surrendering our lives to His care, can we understand and receive His love.

Individual Reflection: John 10:11-18

There are many Biblical references to the Shepherd and sheep in the Old and New Testaments.  Which are most meaningful to you?  Share your experience of being a sheep with five people this week.

Family Reflection: John 10: 11-18

Discuss pseudo wolves you must be cognizant of.  How might they distract you from living as children of God?  Let each family member share and discuss.

Prayer

Jesus, thank you for being the Good Shepherd.  Your attentive care, compassionate ways and love will nurture us into eternity.  Protect us from wolves in the disguise of sheep. Shepherd us from seeking God in ways that do not fully surrender to His design.  As children of God, may we always affirm our inheritance in service.  Thank you for all that you teach our hearts and guide our intellect, so life is abundant in meaning, as you teach us to say BAAH, for we are Blessed, Alive, Attuned and Humble with you as our Good Shepherd.  Jesus, in your name we pray Amen

Blogs to Visit:

http://marynow.wordpress.com/

As we reflect upon Mary’s presence in the mysteries of the Rosary, we are blessed to know her.  For her journey, a timeless trek, calls us to surrender, continuing conversion, humbleness and justice now.

https://peaceonjustice.wordpress.com/

Weekly lectionary reflections, for faith sharing groups, parish bulletins, newsletters or personal prayer, from the synergy of the Word we hear and the rich tradition of Catholic Social Teaching.

https://cst74life.wordpress.com/

Catholic Social Teaching offers seven principles for upholding life in our thoughts, decisions and actions.

http://idocst.wordpress.com/

How we do Catholic Social Teaching.

https://csmresources.wordpress.com/

Creation sustainability ministry resources in the spirit of the St Francis Pledge.

Involvement Opportunities

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

By Barb  Born, April 11, 2015  The reflection maybe used in parish bulletins, newsletters or for faith sharing groups without copyright concern.

Third Sunday of Easter Lectionary Reflection April 19, 2015

April 19, 2015: Third Sunday of Easter

Catholic Social Teaching: Call to Family, Community and Participation

“The sacredness and dignity of human life exists not in isolation, but affirmed through individuals growing in community and seeking together the well-being of all, especially the poor and vulnerable.”   Read more at:  https://cst74life.wordpress.com/

Readings

First Reading: Acts 3:13-15, 17-19

Psalm: 4:2, 4, 7-8,9

Second Reading: 1^st John 2:1-5a

Gospel: Luke 24: 35-48

Catechism of the Catholic Church

He who believes in Christ becomes a son of God. This filial adoption transforms him by giving him the ability to follow the example of Christ. It makes him capable of acting rightly and doing good. In union with his Savior, the disciple attains the perfection of charity which is holiness. Having matured in grace, the moral life blossoms into eternal life in the glory of heaven. (1709)  From the Daily Roman Missal, Introduction to the Third Sunday of Easter, Cycle B

Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church:

Luke 24:36

The promise of peace that runs through the entire Old Testament finds its fulfilment in the very person of Jesus. Peace, in fact, is the messianic attribute par excellence, in which all other beneficial effects of salvation are included. The Hebrew word “shalom” expresses this fullness of meaning in its etymological sense of “completeness” (cf. Is 9:5ff; Mic 5:1-4). The kingdom of the Messiah is precisely the kingdom of peace (cf. Job 25:2; Ps 29:11; 37:11; 72:3,7; 85:9,11; 119:165; 125:5, 128:6; 147:14; Song 8:10; Is 26:3,12; 32:17f.; 52:7; 54:10; 57:19; 60:17; 66:12; Hag 2:9; Zech 9:10; et al.). Jesus “is our peace” (Eph 2:14). He has broken down the dividing wall of hostility among people, reconciling them with God (cf.Eph 2:14-16). This is the very effective simplicity with which Saint Paul indicates the radical motivation spurring Christians to undertake a life and a mission of peace.

On the eve of his death, Jesus speaks of his loving relation with the Father and the unifying power that this love bestows upon his disciples. It is a farewell discourse which reveals the profound meaning of his life and can be considered a summary of all his teaching. The gift of peace is the seal on his spiritual testament: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you” (Jn 14:27). The words of the Risen Lord will not be any different; every time that he meets his disciples they receive from him the greeting and gift of peace: “Peace be with you” (Lk 24:36; Jn 20:19,21,26). (491)

Luke 24:46-49

God, in Christ, redeems not only the individual person but also the social relations existing between men. As the Apostle Paul teaches, life in Christ makes the human person’s identity and social sense — with their concrete consequences on the historical and social planes — emerge fully and in a new manner: “For in Christ Jesus you are all children of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ” (Gal 3:26-28). In this perspective, Church communities, brought together by the message of Jesus Christ and gathered in the Holy Spirit round the Risen Lord (cf. Mt 18:20, 28:19-20; Lk 24:46-49), offer themselves as places of communion, witness and mission, and as catalysts for the redemption and transformation of social relationships. (52)

For complete text visit: http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/justpeace/documents/rc_pc_justpeace_doc_20060526_compendio-dott-soc_en.html

Reflection

The author of life was put to death by those who handed Him over to crucifixion, even when they had the opportunity to not deny His identity.  An action of ignorance, but the truth would be revealed.  How significantly does ignorance contribute to strife in our world today?  A limited awareness to understand social and economic complexities hinder dialogue, leading to distancing of people that should be interacting.  The abyss of unknowing can shrink so acuity sharpens to define challenges.   Solutions come into a clear perspective as ignorance crumbles when mirrors of illusions shatter under the weight of education that does not paint mirages, but informs of the reality.  But are people afraid of education—not just book knowledge, but an education of the senses to see the dynamics of struggles first hand.  Eyes open for a compassionate response, not a fleeting glance searching for paths of comfort.  Ears attentive to deep yearnings in lives that maybe invisible.  Education can also dispel fear rooted in ignorance, to cease brandishing stereotypes as weapons of hate.  Ignorance leaves someone snoozing in a hammock, suspended in thin air, day dreaming, but education engages heartfelt solutions.  Where the quest for peace does not startle or terrify us of embracing enemies fostered in indifference.  Ignorance of earthly realities separates us ultimately from the Divine reality.  For not looking at the hands and feet, touching those distanced from us by ignorance, that encounter of humanity, we fail to move beyond a superficial faith to grasp that the words of the prophets and psalms have been fulfilled.  To come to an understanding of the Scriptures, beyond book knowledge, where one comes to an education of the heart.  For when we truly believe our sins are forgiven and live in that freedom, we attentively preach in deed and witness by our lives what we have had made known to us in the breaking of the bread.

Individual Reflection: Acts 3: 13-15, 17-19

How might you become involved in your diocese’s restorative justice program to offer hope and healing to those handed over to incarceration?  What are their needs for education, counseling, job skills and spiritual enrichment where you might share your gifts?

Family Reflection: Psalm 4:2, 4,7-8, 9

How might your family support shelters that give those without a home a peaceful place to sleep?

Prayer

Reflect on the words of the song Open My Eyes Lord

Blogs to Visit:

http://marynow.wordpress.com/

As we reflect upon Mary’s presence in the mysteries of the Rosary, we are blessed to know her.  For her journey, a timeless trek, calls us to surrender, continuing conversion, humbleness and justice now.

https://peaceonjustice.wordpress.com/

Weekly lectionary reflections, for faith sharing groups, parish bulletins, newsletters or personal prayer, from the synergy of the Word we hear and the rich tradition of Catholic Social Teaching.

https://cst74life.wordpress.com/

Catholic Social Teaching offers seven principles for upholding life in our thoughts, decisions and actions.

http://idocst.wordpress.com/

How we do Catholic Social Teaching.

https://csmresources.wordpress.com/

Creation sustainability ministry resources in the spirit of the St Francis Pledge.

Involvement Opportunities

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

By Barb  Born, April 11, 2015  The reflection maybe used in parish bulletins, newsletters or for faith sharing groups without copyright concern.