April 28, 2019: Second Sunday of Easter: Divine Mercy Sunday
Catholic Social Teaching: Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers
May 1st is the Feast of St Joseph the Worker. How will you stand in solidarity with workers in your community this week, this month, this year? How do you see workers exploited locally and globally? What is your response?
Readings
First Reading: Acts 5:12-16
Psalm: 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24
Second Reading: Revelation1:9-11a 12-13, 17-19
Gospel: John 20:19-31 (Gospel Cycles A, B and C)
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Faith is the theological virtue by which we believe in God and believe all that he has said and revealed to us, and that Holy Church proposes for our belief, because he is truth itself. By faith “man freely commits his entire self to God.” For this reason the believer seeks to know and do God’s will. “The righteous shall live by faith.” Living faith “work[s] through charity.”(1814) From the Daily Roman Missal, Introduction to the Second Sunday of Easter: Divine Mercy Sunday, Cycle C.
Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church:
John 20:19, 21, 26
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)
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
Endurance defined as permanence, the ability to withstand hardship, adversity or stress exemplifies the Divine Mercy Jesus offers believers. The apostles gathered in Solomon’s portico, out among the people, freed from the confines of the upper room by the coming of the Spirit, accompanied more believers to faith. A faith spread by verbal transmission, so people, from the towns in the vicinity of Jerusalem, gathered to be transformed and receive healing in the Holy City. Or Paul exiled, in the penal colony of Patmos in the Aegean Sea, received Divine Mercy through the Lord’s words “Do not be afraid” and affirmation of His everlasting dominion. Clothed in ankle length robe with a gold sash, like a priest in the Temple, the words affirmed Divine Mercy extended beyond the past rubrics of priestly sacrifice in the Temple to even the most remote and challenging confines. The Divine Mercy of peace even offered to doubters, like Thomas, to give his faith endurance to say, “My Lord, My God ” as one of the boldest acclamations recorded in Scripture and would give him endurance to journey beyond Jerusalem to India. Those were only a few signs of endurance bestowing Divine Mercy recorded in the Gospel. A few, so we ponder their continual unfolding among the multitudes, the confines of isolation and depths of doubt that we too may grasp to faith with endurance to receive Divine Mercy to have life in His name. Our strength and courage is grounded in endurance, this day and everyday, so we maybe glad and rejoice in the world, among people wherever our journey of faith takes us. No need to be timid, fear humanity, bemoan the secular society or isolate ourselves making sure the doors securely bar the questioning, doubting or leave the windows closed to prevent a breath of fresh air. For at the Resurrection Jesus told Mary Magdalene to stop holding on to Him to go proclaim the Resurrection. Do we hold on to Jesus because we envision faith is meant to be lived hanging out in the edifice of a building we call Church? With that paradigm, we dismiss Church as the people of God, dismiss that Jesus lived in the world and sent His followers to the ends of the earth blessed by His affirmations of peace and be not afraid. Why would we think He would want anything different today? To ignore Jesus’ invitation, we exclude ourselves from encounters of His Divine Mercy in the world to rob ourselves of blessings and grace to instead let our faith fizzle into self-centered holiness void of interconnectedness with all creation.
Individual Reflection:John 20:19-31
Read Mercy in the City by Kerry Weber.
Family Reflection:Revelation 1:9-11a,12-13, 17-19
Discuss spiritual endurance with an analogy of physical endurance.
Prayer:
Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet
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.
Social Ministry Resources Engaging Parishes: Monthly and liturgical seasons resources for use with parish websites, bulletins and newsletters
Involvement Opportunities
List one or two upcoming events, legislative action alerts or social justice websites
By Barb Born April 24 2019 The reflection maybe used in parish bulletins, newsletters or for faith sharing groups without copyright concern.