Author: dw

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Catechism Current Events Scripture

Society and Justice

Society ensures social justice when it provides the conditions that allow associations or individuals to obtain what is their due, according to their nature and their vocation. Social justice is linked to the common good and the exercise of authority.

Vaticana, Libreria Editrice. Catechism of the Catholic Church . United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Kindle Edition. Paragraph 1928

Is our society one that “ensures social justice”?

Do we, as a society, care about providing “the conditions that allow associations or individuals to obtain what is their due”? Do we care if our habitual ways of doing things, as a society, hinder or block some people and groups of people from living out what God made them to do?

Does society care about the “common good”? Can society care if most of its participants don’t?

Does the Church care whether or not society cares? Do Catholics or Protestants or Evangelicals care?

Do I care? Do you care?

This morning, I read in Matthew 25 that what we do “to the least of these” we do unto Jesus.

That’s because Jesus cares.

Grace and peace to you

dw

Categories
Catechism Current Events light and darkness

Recognize your Dignity

“Christian, recognize your dignity and, now that you share in God’s own nature, do not return to your former base condition by sinning. Remember who is your head and of whose body you are a member. Never forget that you have been rescued from the power of darkness and brought into the light of the Kingdom of God.”

Vaticana, Libreria Editrice. Catechism of the Catholic Church . United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Kindle Edition. Paragraph 1691

The Catholic catechism speaks clearly about politics and social justice. In this election year we need to be reminded of what it says.

    Why?

    Not because I think it is authoritative and should be followed (I’m not Catholic). It is one voice among many.

    But it’s an important voice in a time when large swaths of the church in the US – including Catholics, Protestants, and Evangelicals – have aligned with a single political party whose policies, words, and deeds are considered ‘right’ or at least ‘acceptable’ in order to achieve a political end.

    It’s a voice coming from a long historical perspective and broad geopolitical context. It gives space for the Oscar Romeros and Dorothy Days of this world. It punctures the bubble of the popular ‘Make America Great Again’ political movement. It is much needed in the nano-second we are living in now.

    The quote above is how the section starts. It hearkens us back to Jesus, the Light not overcome by darkness, our Head to whom we give our allegiance, the One who spoke the words of the Sermon on the Mount (see the previous post).

    His voice is the one we need to hear clearly in this election season and in all seasons. I think the voice of the Catholic Catechism can help us.

    Grace and peace to you

    dw

    Categories
    Current Events Scripture

    Voting Tips: 1

    1. If you read the Bible regularly, proceed here. If not, go to Step 2.
      1. Read the Gospel of Matthew, chapters 5 through 7 – the Sermon on the Mount. Take your time.
      2. Now read it again. Take your time and ponder what Jesus is saying.
      3. Consider what he says in chapter 7 about how you will know people ‘by their fruit’.
      4. Consider the candidates and the people they pick to be around them as advisors. What do their words and deeds tell you?
      5. Listen to what your heart is telling you.
      6. Go to Step 4.
    2. If you are a church-goer, proceed here. If not, go to Step 3.
      1. It’s time to start reading your Bible. Go to Step 1a.
    3. Consider getting familiar with the Bible by going to Step 1a.
    4. Plan to vote accordingly. Tell your friends and family.
    Categories
    Current Events Music Prayers

    Begging for mercy

    Live during Communion at All Saints Church, July 2017.
    Music by dw. Video by dw. Performed by worship team.
    See prior post for more information.

    Lamb of God
    You take away the sins of the world:
    Have mercy on us.

    Lamb of God
    You take away the sins of the world:
    Have mercy on us.

    Lamb of God
    You take away the sins of the world:
    Grant us your peace.

    Praying for Gaza
    The Palestinian people
    The Israeli people


    Ukraine
    And Russia


    Conservatives
    And Liberals


    And for the whole world

    Please pray with me

    Grace and peace to you
    and to the whole world…

    dw

    More musical prayers for these perilous times:
    Prayers for Perilous Times
    Petition

    Categories
    Catechism

    Search and rescue

    So that this call should resound throughout the world, Christ sent forth the apostles he had chosen, commissioning them to proclaim the gospel: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.”4 Strengthened by this mission, the apostles “went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that attended it.”5

    4 Mt 28:18-20 5 Mk 16:20

    Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 2

    In our age, the idea of “making disciples” is often met with a good deal of skepticism.  For good reason.

    Conversion is too often coercion.

    The “good news”, instead of resounding, too often amounts to irritating noise (at best) or really bad news.

    Too often the good news is disconnected from the sheer goodness of God and amounts to no more than another avenue for human pride, prejudice, power, and greed.

    God calls us to seek him because he is the best there is.

    He has made a way for us to recognize and find him – Jesus. 

    He sends search teams to find and rescue us, to bring us across the border into his kingdom, to foster and adopt us as children, family.

    That is the good news, the really good news.

    May that news resound throughout the world.

    Grace and peace to you…

    dw