July 9, 2023: Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Catholic Social Teaching: Peacemaking
https://churchlifejournal.nd.edu/articles/catholic-social-teachingthe-eighth-principle/
Readings
First Reading: Zechariah 9:9-10
Psalm: 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13-14
Second Reading: Romans 8:9, 11-13
Gospel:Matthew 11:25-30
Catechism of the Catholic Church
“Nothing is more apt to confirm our faith and hope than holding it fixed in our minds that nothing is impossible with God. Once our reason has grasped the idea of God’s almighty power, it will easily and without any hesitation admit everything that [the Creed] will afterwards propose for us to believe – even if they be great and marvelous things, far above the ordinary laws of nature.” (274) From the Daily Roman Missal, Introduction to the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A
Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church:
Zechariah 9:9-10
The prototype of the king chosen by Yahweh is David, whose humble origins are a favourite topic of the biblical account (cf. 1 Sam 16:1-13). David is the recipient of the promise (cf. 2 Sam 7:13-16; Ps 89:2-38, 132:11-18), which places him at the beginning of a special kingly tradition, the “messianic” tradition. Notwithstanding all the sins and infidelities of David and his successors, this tradition culminates in Jesus Christ, who is par excellence “Yahweh’s anointed” (that is, “the Lord’s consecrated one”, cf. 1 Sam 2:35, 24:7,11, 26:9,16; Ex 30:22-32), the son of David (cf. Mt 1:1-17; Lk 3:23-38; Rom 1:3).
The failure of kingship on the historical level does not lead to the disappearance of the ideal of a king who, in fidelity to Yahweh, will govern with wisdom and act in justice. This hope reappears time and again in the Psalms (cf. Ps 2, 18, 20, 21, 72). In the messianic oracles, the figure of a king endowed with the Lord’s Spirit, full of wisdom and capable of rendering justice to the poor, is awaited in eschatological times (cf. Is 11:2-5; Jer 23:5-6). As true shepherd of the people of Israel (cf. Ezek 34:23-24, 37:24), he will bring peace to the nations (cf. Zech 9:9-10). In Wisdom Literature, the king is presented as the one who renders just judgments and abhors iniquity (cf. Prov 16:12), who judges the poor with equity (cf. Prov 29:14) and is a friend to those with a pure heart (cf. Prov 22:11). There is a gradual unfolding of the proclamation of what the Gospels and other New Testament writings see fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth, the definitive incarnation of what the Old Testament foretold about the figure of the king. (378)
Zechariah 9:10
The promise of peace that runs through the entire Old Testament finds its fulfillment 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)
Romans Chapter 8
The salvation offered in its fullness to men in Jesus Christ by God the Father’s initiative, and brought about and transmitted by the work of the Holy Spirit, is salvation for all people and of the whole person: it is universal and integral salvation. It concerns the human person in all his dimensions: personal and social, spiritual and corporeal, historical and transcendent. It begins to be made a reality already in history, because what is created is good and willed by God, and because the Son of God became one of us. Its completion, however, is in the future, when we shall be called, together with all creation (cf. Rom 8), to share in Christ’s resurrection and in the eternal communion of life with the Father in the joy of the Holy Spirit. This outlook shows quite clearly the error and deception of purely immanentistic visions of the meaning of history and in humanity’s claims to self-salvation. (38)
Romans 8:1-11
In her social doctrine the Church offers above all an integral vision of man and a complete understanding of his personal and social dimensions. Christian anthropology reveals the inviolable dignity of every person and places the realities of work, economics and politics into an original perspective that sheds light on authentic human values while at the same time inspiring and sustaining the task of Christian witness in the varied areas of personal, cultural and social life. Thanks to the “first fruits of the Spirit” (Rom 8:23), Christians become “capable of discharging the new law of love (cf. Rom 8:1-11). Through this Spirit, who is ‘the pledge of our inheritance’ (Eph 1:14), the whole man is renewed from within, even to the achievement of ‘the redemption of the body’ (Rom 8:23)”. In this sense the Church’s social doctrine shows how the moral basis of all social action consists in the human development of the person and identifies the norm for social action corresponding to humanity’s true good and as efforts aimed at creating the conditions that will allow every person to satisfy his integral vocation. (522)
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
Deutro-Zechariah numerates a just savior. A king reminiscent of Hebrew judges, who delivered people from their enemies. One who banished emblems of war, the chariot and horse, to proclaim peace. Riding on a donkey, the mode of transportation for the judges (Judges chapter 5), fostering meekness not pomp of elites. A local animal, not a horse purchased from Egypt. With the paradigm portrayed in Ephraim, the central highlands reflective of the totality of Israel, offered as a sign to unify the divided kingdoms and overall prophetic tones of universality. The archetypical leader lifting the yoke of oppression inherent from exile in Babylon and Egypt, laden on in layers of the law from Pharisees’ interpretation of the Torah. With a culmination in Jesus’ invitation to come into His presence for rest from the burdensome absolutes of the law that lack relevance to the shades of gray in the lived reality of life. Something the wise and learned of His day and authoritarian apologists of today fail to grasp. A reality revealed to the little ones, the marginalized who see the absurdity of harkening on absolutes that only materialize in intellectual synopsis. For they fail to enter rest, the place where all created order is in right relationships and believing community delights in goodness. But instead hunker down in their self created silo promoting isolation and trudge in quicksand of self infused enlightenment disguised as religiosity. A place of regulations smothering the moment of mercy and essentials Jesus manifest with virtues of great kindness and slow to anger. Our Savior who is good to all, if we welcome His yoke that seeks to gently guide us and not oppress with a holiness of blind obedience. To raise up the bowed down and lift up the falling to a new realization of the power of the Spirit of God that dwells in each believer to give life. A Spirit that equates God’s presence in the world to animate, a verb meaning reality, that makes our humanity alive not with the flesh of intellectual directives spawning selfishness or idolatry of religious rubrics, but radiating love, generosity and thanksgiving, as we offer the Jewish prayer Jesus proclaimed in the Gospel, to give praise to the Father, Lord of heaven and earth for HIs gracious will.
Individual Reflection: Romans 8:9, 11-13
July 11th is the feast of St Benedict. Learn about his signature work, The Rule
https://osb.org/our-roots/the-rule/
http://www.benedictfriend.org/the-rule.html
Family Reflection: Zechariah 9:9-10
Inspired by 2023 Changemakers, how can you work to become a Changemaker? https://paceebene.org/changemaker-grants
Prayer: July 14th is the feast day of St Kateri Tekakwitha, the first North American indigenous saint. St Kateri Pray for us !
O Saint Kateri, Lily of the Mohawks,
Your love for Jesus,
so strong, so steadfast,
pray that we may become like you.
Your short and painful life
showed us your strength and humility.
Pray that we may become
forever humble like you.
Like the bright and shining stars at night,
we pray that your light
may forever shine down upon us,
giving light, hope, peacefulness
and serenity in our darkest moments.
Fill our hearts, Saint Kateri Tekakwitha
with your same love for Jesus
and pray that we may have the strength and courage
to become one like you in Heaven.
Through Christ our Lord. 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.
Link: 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 July 4, 2023 God Bless the WHOLE World The reflection maybe used in parish bulletins, newsletters or for faith sharing groups without copyright concern.