March 27, 2016: Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord
Catholic Social Teaching: Life and Dignity of the Human Person
It is the proper duty of the lay faithful to proclaim the Gospel with an exemplary witness of life rooted in Christ and lived in temporal realities: the family; professional commitment in the world of work, culture, science and research; the exercise of social, economic and political responsibilities. All secular human realities — both personal and social, including various environments and historical situations, as well as structures and institutions — are the context in which the lay Christian lives and works. These realities are places where God’s love is received; the commitment of the lay faithful must correspond to this vision and is to be considered an expression of evangelical charity; “for the lay faithful to be present and active in the world is not only an anthropological and sociological reality, but in a specific way, a theological and ecclesiological reality as well” (543) Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
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. This new life is above all justification that reinstates us in God’s grace, “so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” Justification consists in both victory over the death caused by sin and a new participation in grace. It brings about filial adoption so that men become Christ’s brethren, as Jesus himself called his disciples after his Resurrection: “Go and tell my brethren.” We are brethren not by nature, but by the gift of grace, because that adoptive filiation gains us a real share in the life of the only Son, which was fully revealed in his Resurrection. (654) From the Daily Roman Missal, Introduction Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord, Cycles A, B and C
Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church:
Acts 10:34
“God shows no partiality” (Acts 10:34; cf. Rom 2:11; Gal 2:6; Eph 6:9), since all people have the same dignity as creatures made in his image and likeness. The Incarnation of the Son of God shows the equality of all people with regard to dignity: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3:28; cf. Rom 10:12; 1 Cor 12:13, Col 3:11).
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 men. 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)
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
We buy a loaf of bread from the grocery store or bakery. Freshly made, a hard crispy or soft crust, wheat, rye or sourdough, we take a slice from the wrapper or cut a slice from the loaf. Seeing the finished product, do we realize the incorporated ingredients? Obviously, the flour, some water, maybe a little milk, a bit of sweetener, sugar or honey, a splash of oil. But the two less visible, least ingredients by volume, salt and yeast bring the bread to fruition. Without their presence, the bread would not rise and just be a hunk of dough. Our lives are like yeast, a leaven to society. A choice we must make to give rise to malice and wickedness or a world kneaded with sincerity and truth.
The Bread of Life rose from the tomb to give us newness of life, continually expressed, like the freshness of each new loaf of bread baked, never stale, irrelevant or meaningless. Like the witness of Mary Magdala, we must seek it early each day, as we rise and in the challenges, disappointments we try to walk away from as evening sets, like the disciples on the road to Emmaus. We must not let our faith be hijacked by people baking just one type of bread and saying no other flavors should grace our pallet. For Jesus gave us the example of healing all the oppressed and we must realize one leaven of charity or justice, compassion or hope does not address the needs of everyone. Coming in life and death, as an instrument of healing, Jesus brought the Father’s love not condemnation for everyone receptive to the gift. Jesus commissioned us to testify He is the one appointed by God the Father to deliver the message of salvation. How do we see Jesus taken from the tomb of resurrection and mercy and personified as wrathful, absorbed with our misdeeds, concerned with only a handful of issues? Let us be leaven in our society and our Church to say Jesus cannot be entombed in such a small, narrow enclosure hewn in stone, like the resurrection never happened. Every day, that the Lord has made, we are called to be Easter people of hope for all people. Let us rejoice and be glad !
Individual Reflection: John 20:1-9
Read about the hope given by the elisha c. Foundation in Haiti:
elishac.org
Family Reflection:1st Corinthians 5:6b-8
As we start the fifty day Easter season, how will each family member be yeast to contribute to sincerity and truth in the family and their work, school and community environment?
Prayer:
Jesus, your resurrection gives us hope to live as Easter people. Help us freely give the gifts you have given us, our talents, our time, our resources to offer positive leaven for change in our world. Let us express your love for all people, so we see with eyes of faith and hearts of charity and justice, for the least, the hopeless. The ones you love the most, may we love them the beyond our fears. Thank you from freeing us from sin and in the newness of life, let us dismiss condemnation and rejoice and be glad.
In your dear name Jesus, this Easter day, Amen
Blogs to Visit:
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.
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 March 17, 2016 St Patrick’s Feast Day The reflection maybe used in parish bulletins, newsletters or for faith sharing groups without copyright concern.
peaceonjustice 