Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord Lectionary Reflection March 25, 2018

March 25, 2018: Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord

Catholic Social Teaching: Option for the Poor and Vulnerable

In the present condition of global society, where injustices abound and growing numbers of people are deprived of basic human rights and considered expendable, the principle of the common good immediately becomes, logically and inevitably, a summons to solidarity and a preferential option for the poorest of our brothers and sisters. This option entails recognizing the implications of the universal destination of the world’s goods, but, as I mentioned in the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, It demands before all else an appreciation of the immense dignity of the poor in the light of our deepest convictions as believers. We need only look around us to see that, today, this option is in fact an ethical imperative essential for effectively attaining the common good. (158) Laudato Si, Pope Francis

Readings
First Reading: Isaiah 50:4-7
Psalm: 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24
Second Reading: Philippians 2:6-11
Gospel: Mark 14:1-15:47

Catechism of the Catholic Church
How will Jerusalem welcome her Messiah? Although Jesus had always refused popular attempts to make him king, he chooses the time and prepares the details for his messianic entry into the city of “his father David”. Acclaimed as son of David, as the one who brings salvation (Hosanna means “Save!” or “Give salvation!”), the “King of glory” enters his City “riding on an ass”. Jesus conquers the Daughter of Zion, a figure of his Church, neither by ruse nor by violence, but by the humility that bears witness to the truth.310 And so the subjects of his kingdom on that day are children and God’s poor, who acclaim him as had the angels when they announced him to the shepherds. Their acclamation, “Blessed be he who comes in the name of the Lord”, is taken up by the Church in the “Sanctus” of the Eucharistic liturgy that introduces the memorial of the Lord’s Passover. (559)
From the Daily Roman Missal, Introduction to Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, Cycles A, B and C

Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church:

Mark 14:7

Human misery is a clear sign of man’s natural condition of frailty and of his need for salvation Christ the Saviour showed compassion in this regard, identifying himself with the “least” among men (cf. Mt 25:40,45). “It is by what they have done for the poor that Jesus Christ will recognize his chosen ones. When ‘the poor have the good news preached to them’ (Mt 11:5), it is a sign of Christ’s presence”.

Jesus says: “You always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me” (Mt 26:11; cf. Mk 14:7; Jn 12:8). He makes this statement not to contrast the attention due to him with service of the poor. Christian realism, while appreciating on the one hand the praiseworthy efforts being made to defeat poverty, is cautious on the other hand regarding ideological positions and Messianistic beliefs that sustain the illusion that it is possible to eliminate the problem of poverty completely from this world. This will happen only upon Christ’s return, when he will be with us once more, for ever. In the meantime, the poor remain entrusted to us and it is this responsibility upon which we shall be judged at the end of time (cf. Mt 25:31-46): “Our Lord warns us that we shall be separated from him if we fail to meet the serious needs of the poor and the little ones who are his brethren”. (183)

 

Philippians 2:8

The unsurpassed apex of the perspective indicated here is the life of Jesus of Nazareth, the New Man, who is one with humanity even to the point of “death on a cross” (Phil 2:8). In him it is always possible to recognize the living sign of that measureless and transcendent love of God-with-us, who takes on the infirmities of his people, walks with them, saves them and makes them one. In him and thanks to him, life in society too, despite all its contradictions and ambiguities, can be rediscovered as a place of life and hope, in that it is a sign of grace that is continuously offered to all and because it is an invitation to ever higher and more involved forms of sharing.

Jesus of Nazareth makes the connection between solidarity and charity shine brightly before all, illuminating the entire meaning of this connection: “In the light of faith, solidarity seeks to go beyond itself, to take on the specifically Christian dimensions of total gratuity, forgiveness and reconciliation. One’s neighbour is then not only a human being with his or her own rights and a fundamental equality with everyone else, but becomes the living image of God the Father, redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ and placed under the permanent action of the Holy Spirit. One’s neighbour must therefore be loved, even if an enemy, with the same love with which the Lord loves him or her; and for that person’s sake one must be ready for sacrifice, even the ultimate one: to lay down one’s life for the brethren (cf. 1 Jn 3:16)” (196)

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 Palm Sunday narrative concludes with the stone rolled across the entrance of the tomb while Mary and Mary Magdalene watched the apparent finality. Two women mentioned. How many others peering from afar? The discourse not a cliff hanger but a silent reminder of power structures thinking they have the last word. Fourteen steps of betrayal woven with tenderness. If we could pause the action and enter the story how would we see ourselves reacting to the course of events? Can we enter the struggles of injustice in our world today? Are we in or out of the picture?

This Holy Week will we rush through ignoring the intricacies, refusing to enter the silence, more concerned with the lavishness of Easter dinner instead of the starkness of the cross? How can we take the journey of Holy Week and not leave it behind when the sun rises on Easter morning? For by ignoring the overcome of betrayal, defusing earthly power that thinks they control everything by their dictates or decrees, we forsake the message of the Resurrection. May living the Paschal Mystery of Holy Week give us voice from pausing to hear. Our faces like flint not cold, chilled to the world around us, but prophetic in our attributes. Resulting in a well trained tongue to comfort, inspire and rouse the weary from our time well spent in absorbing the Mystery with ears open to hear and hearts tamed from rebellion against God.

Individual Reflection: Isaiah 50:4-7
Thank you Mary Martin for sharing this resource from the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary

Four weeks of Prayer from Water Day to Earth DayENG

Family Reflection: Mark 14:1-15:47
As a family, spend 15 minutes in silence each day this week

Prayer: Watch the Art and Faith video for Palm Sunday Cycle B
https://www.loyolapress.com/our-catholic-faith/liturgical-year/lent/arts-and-faith-for-lent/cycle-b/arts-and-faith-palm-sunday-cycle-b

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.
https://smrep.wordpress.com/
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 March 21, 2018 The reflection maybe used in parish bulletins, newsletters or for faith sharing groups without copyright concern.

Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time Lectionary Reflection October 16, 2016

October 16, 2016: Twenty-ninth Sunday of Ordinary Time

 

Catholic Social Teaching: Call to Family, Community, Participation

The lay faithful must strengthen their spiritual and moral lives, becoming ever more competent in carrying out their social duties. A deepening of interior motivations and the acquisition of a style appropriate for their work in the social and political spheres are the results of a dynamic and ongoing formation directed above all to the attainment of harmony between life, in all its complexity, and faith. In the experience of believers, in fact, “there cannot be two parallel lives in their existence: on the one hand, the so-called ‘spiritual’ life, with its values and demands; and on the other, the so-called ‘secular’ life, that is, life in a family, at work, in social relationships, in the responsibilities of public life and in culture”

Bringing faith and life together requires following the path judiciously indicated by the characteristic elements of Christian living: the Word of God as a reference point; the liturgical celebration of the Christian Mystery; personal prayer; the authentic experience of Church enhanced by the particular formational services of discerning spiritual guides; the exercise of the social virtues and a persevering commitment to cultural and professional formation. (546) Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church

Readings

First Reading: Exodus 17:8-13

Psalm: 121:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8

Second Reading: 2^nd Timothy 3:14-4:2

Gospel: Luke 18:1-8

 

Catechism of the Catholic Church

“Pray constantly . . . always and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.” St. Paul adds, “Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance making supplication for all the saints.” For “we have not been commanded to work, to keep watch and to fast constantly, but it has been laid down that we are to pray without ceasing.” This tireless fervor can come only from love. Against our dullness and laziness, the battle of prayer is that of humble, trusting, and persevering love. This love opens our hearts to three enlightening and life-giving facts of faith about prayer. (2742)

From the Daily Roman Missal, Introduction to the Twenty-ninth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle C

 

Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church:

2^nd Timothy 4:2-5

At the dawn of this Third Millennium, the Church does not tire of proclaiming the Gospel that brings salvation and genuine freedom also to temporal realities. She is mindful of the solemn exhortation given by Saint Paul to his disciple Timothy: “Preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, and exhort, be unfailing in patience and in teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths. As for you, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry” (2 Tim 4:2-5). (2)

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

In the face of injustice, how do we react?  We can pout, mope, whine, bray the inequities to let the injustice sap and detract our energies to act for change.  Or we can ground ourselves in God’s word and pray for the insights, guidance and strength to engage ourselves to address the injustices.

 

Allegorically, the widow portrays the least empowered member of a patriarchal antiquical society.   She was to have no voice or power, but live as an invisible member of society.  Instead, she provides a model of continual perseverance to an unjust judge entrusted to enforce societal edicts.  We may feel a lack of empowerment in a large world controlled by economic, media and ecclesial elites seeking to dictate agendas.  But our individual and collective perseverance must remain focused on rendering injustice into justice.  By removing the “in”, we enter “into” the struggle.  The Word sustains us to define the path, the cause, rest in the sacrifice needed and the hope to come.  Out of fidelity to our Creator and Redeemer, we must pray, not endless loops of devout holiness to separate us from the gracious warmth of Divine love, but prayers from the pressing challenges and joyous thanksgivings of our sincere hearts praising God’s providence to guard our ways. Prayers uttered in sincerity woven with communal bonds of solidarity to build God’s kingdom flourishing in justice.  Like Moses and his companions, our prayers must resonate and collaborate with one another, so faith does not languish in isolation but flourish in unified community. If we ignore this spiritual synergy and retrench to devout holiness with hands in prayerful posture, a chasm develops between oneself and the Divine.  Pious holiness causes us to shun the loving embrace of the Divine with open arms, prevents us from realizing Jesus is our closest friend, someone to have a chat with, hold our hand along the way.  The pursuit of intense holiness, laden with pious prepositions only further separates us from God.  We defile our relationship to the Divine into an idolistic worship. Because placing God on a pedestal, we distance ourselves on a treadmill of unworthiness prioritizing continual sanctification instead of a continual conversation and conversion rooted in friendship instead of slavery.

 

Faithful to our belief in Scriptural values of justice, love, mercy and forgiveness with the beauty of prayer to sustain, comfort and encourage, we realize the gift of our salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.  From that gift, we realize the imperative and abiding strength to ask challenging questions, the challenge to include all people, the challenge to love when hate and judgment festers.  Not a job, but defining life’s overriding purpose.

 

Individual Reflection: Luke 18:1-8

October 18^th is the Feast of St Luke. Reflecting on the Gospel of Luke and Acts, also attributed to St Luke, what are five meaningful readings that inspire your faith?  Share them with five people this week.

 

Family Reflection: Luke 18:1-18

Learn about Human Thread’s campaign for more fair trade clothing options and the perseverance needed to have sustainable and equitable clothes

http://www.humanthreadcampaign.org/advocacy/campaign-with-macys-and-kohls/

 

Prayer: Have a cool chat with Jesus

 

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  October 12, 2016 The reflection maybe used in parish bulletins, newsletters or for faith sharing groups without copyright concern.