August 28, 2016: Twenty-second Sunday of Ordinary Time
Catholic Social Teaching: Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
“Blessed are the poor in spirit.” The Beatitudes reveal an order of happiness and grace, of beauty and peace. Jesus celebrates the joy of the poor, to whom the Kingdom already belongs: The Word speaks of voluntary humility as “poverty in spirit”; the Apostle gives an example of God’s poverty when he says: “For your sakes he became poor.” (2546) Catechism of the Catholic Church
Readings
First Reading: Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29
Psalm: 68:4-5, 6-7, 10-11
Second Reading: 12:18-19, 22-24a
Gospel: Luke 14:1, 7-14
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Envy represents a form of sadness and therefore a refusal of charity; the baptized person should struggle against it by exercising good will. Envy often comes from pride; the baptized person should train himself to live in humility: Would you like to see God glorified by you? Then rejoice in your brother’s progress and you will immediately give glory to God. Because his servant could conquer envy by rejoicing in the merits of others, God will be praised. (2540) From the Daily Roman Missal, Introduction to the Twenty-second Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle C
Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church:
Luke 14:1-6
During his earthly ministry Jesus works tirelessly, accomplishing powerful deeds to free men and women from sickness, suffering and death. The Sabbath — which the Old Testament had put forth as a day of liberation and which, when observed only formally, lost its authentic significance — is reaffirmed by Jesus in its original meaning: “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mk 2:27). By healing people on this day of rest (cf.Mt 12:9-14; Mk 3:1-6; Lk 6:6-11, 13:10-17, 14:1-6), he wishes to show that the Sabbath is his, because he is truly the Son of God, and that it is the day on which men should dedicate themselves to God and to others. Freeing people from evil, practising brotherhood and sharing: these give to work its noblest meaning, that which allows humanity to set out on the path to the eternal Sabbath, when rest will become the festive celebration to which men and women inwardly aspire. It is precisely in orienting humanity towards this experience of God’s Sabbath and of his fellowship of life that work is the inauguration on earth of the new creation. (261)
Hebrews 12:22-23
Sunday is a day that should be made holy by charitable activity, devoting time to family and relatives, as well as to the sick, the infirm and the elderly. One must not forget the “brethren who have the same needs and the same rights, yet cannot rest from work because of poverty and misery”. Moreover, Sunday is an appropriate time for the reflection, silence, study and meditation that foster the growth of the interior Christian life. Believers should distinguish themselves on this day too by their moderation, avoiding the excesses and certainly the violence that mass entertainment sometimes occasions.[614] The Lord’s Day should always be lived as a day of liberation that allows us to take part in “the festal gathering and the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven” (cf. Heb 12:22-23), anticipating thus the celebration of the definitive Passover in the glory of heaven. (285)
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
Humble: Not proud or haughty, not arrogant or assertive, absence of vanity, wrath or arrogance
Humility: The state of being humble, refining ourselves from pretentious attitudes and actions
We strive for humility as an end result, a sanctification of our spiritual quest. In reality, humility needs to be our initial imperative to ground our soul. For without humility, we get in the way of God working in our lives. We short-circuit the Trinitarian flow of God’s graces, Jesus’ real presence in our lives and the Holy Spirit’s guidance to ignite faith into action. Without humility, we sap the spiritual amps to charge our own desires, a drain on who God desires us to be. Without humility, we love ourselves more than God, Jesus is an acquaintance not our best friend, the Holy Spirit remains a spiritually pictured dove, not a fire in our lives. We may strive to live a spiritual life, but without humility, we struggle and falter. Without humility, we easily find comfort in the herd of humanity, wandering without vision, encapsulated in the pack, our vision stifled by the humanity compressed around us negating our ability to view and reason with the immensity of divine proportions. Our individual dignity mangled by the hoofs of conformity squashing our divine identity. And a herd stampeding towards a singular agenda voids sight of what becomes trampled underfoot and peripheral vision becomes blurred to miss complexities of human existence that only humility can take the time and compassion to observe and venture into. Without humility, we strive to make ourselves a god instead of following God. Humility opens our heart to listen, to see God is not absent in our world, but present in all people and all creation. In humility, we free not only ourselves but also free and empower others to live with a new dimension of limitless parameters. For God’s love and grace is limitless. We acknowledge that thru humility. Our boundaries, our gifts freeing us from being and doing everything to following the path accentuating our strengths, cloaked in the humility of our weakness. In that poverty of spirit, humility flourishes as our divine inheritance. An inheritance we freely and graciously share, not worrying about reparations. Jesus personifies humility, with an invitation to learn from his humility means venturing to the margins of society not hold fast to the comfort of religiosity. Hands clutching wordy dogma leave no hands to touch the world with humility. Eyes focusing on the letter of the law fail to have the humility to view injustice. Feet always planted securely on the floor of a church lack the humility to freely venture forth in peace to love and serve the Lord. Humility must rest as bedrock to nourish and propel our faith, not something we envision as an attribute of faith.
Individual Reflection: Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29
Write a reflection about humility in your life
Family Reflection: Luke 14:1, 7-14
Discuss how family members practice humility
Prayer: August 29th is the Passion of Saint John the Baptist
Pray that you may have the passion and courage to be a “voice in the wilderness” to live, share and walk humbly the compassion and peace proclaimed in the breadth of the Gospel and teachings of the Church.
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 August 17, 2016 (Ten years of blessings) The reflection maybe used in parish bulletins, newsletters or for faith sharing groups without copyright concern.
