March 2, 2014: Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Catholic Social Teaching: Care for God’s Creation
Matthew 6:26-30 Birds do not sow or reap, wild flowers grow without work
“God’s gift of creation sustains life…” https://cst74life.wordpress.com/
Readings
First Reading: Isaiah 49:14-15
Psalm: 62:2-3, 6-7, 8-9
Second Reading: 1st Corinthians 4:1-5
Gospel: Matthew 6:24-34
Catechism of the Catholic Church
“All Christ’s faithful are to direct their affections rightly, lest they be hindered in their pursuit of perfect charity by the use of worldly things and by ab adherence to riches which is contrary to the spirit of evangelical poverty.” (2545) From the Daily Roman Missal, Introduction to the Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A
Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
Matthew 6:24
To the subjects, whether individuals or communities, that exercise ownership of various types of property accrue a series of objective advantages: better living conditions, security for the future, and a greater number of options from which to choose. On the other hand, property may also bring a series of deceptive promises that are a source of temptation. Those people and societies that go so far as to absolutize the role of property end up experiencing the bitterest type of slavery. In fact, there is no category of possession that can be considered indifferent with regard to the influence that it may have both on individuals and on institutions. Owners who heedlessly idolize their goods (cf. Mt 6:24, 19:21-26; Lk 16:13) become owned and enslaved by them[383]. Only by recognizing that these goods are dependent on God the Creator and then directing their use to the common good, is it possible to give material goods their proper function as useful tools for the growth of individuals and peoples. (181)
Jesus takes up the entire Old Testament tradition even with regard to economic goods, wealth and poverty, and he gives them great clarity and fullness (cf. Mt 6:24, 13:22; Lk 6:20-24, 12:15-21; Rom 14:6-8; 1 Tim 4:4). Through the gift of his Spirit and the conversion of hearts, he comes to establish the “Kingdom of God”, so that a new manner of social life is made possible, in justice, brotherhood, solidarity and sharing. The Kingdom inaugurated by Christ perfects the original goodness of the created order and of human activity, which were compromised by sin. Freed from evil and being placed once more in communion with God, man is able to continue the work of Jesus, with the help of his Spirit. In this, man is called to render justice to the poor, releasing the oppressed, consoling the afflicted, actively seeking a new social order in which adequate solutions to material poverty are offered and in which the forces thwarting the attempts of the weakest to free themselves from conditions of misery and slavery are more effectively controlled. When this happens, the Kingdom of God is already present on this earth, although it is not of the earth. It is in this Kingdom that the promises of the Prophets find final fulfilment. (325)
Matthew 6:25, 31, 33, 34
In his preaching, Jesus teaches man not to be enslaved by work. Before all else, he must be concerned about his soul; gaining the whole world is not the purpose of his life (cf. Mk8:36). The treasures of the earth, in fact, are consumed, while those in heaven are imperishable. It is on these latter treasures that men and women must set their hearts (cf. Mt 6:19-21). Work, then, should not be a source of anxiety (cf. Mt 6:25,31,34). When people are worried and upset about many things, they run the risk of neglecting the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (cf. Mt6:33), which they truly need. Everything else, work included, will find its proper place, meaning and value only if it is oriented to this one thing that is necessary and that will never be taken away (cf. Lk10:40-42). (260)
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Reflection
What did you worry about yesterday? Is it significant today? Are you worrying about something today? Will it be relevant in a week, year or twenty years? Emptying worry from cognitive mind games, our souls can rest in God alone, without disturbance by fleeting issues. The first definition of worry in the dictionary is to choke or strangle. Worry chokes us off from God and strangles us from pouring our hearts out before Him. Worry can be one’s master when one frets over perfection of a meal, not for savoring the pallet of the Divine’s bounty, but to impress others with one’s culinary skills. Wardrobe worries focused on seeking to impress others, instead of grounded in practicality and simplicity, trusts human stature over God.
In acting for justice, worry precipitates into inaction when concerns over the reaction and perceptions of others suppresses one’s conviction. But is we are trustworthy stewards of the mysteries of God, the paradoxes formulated in strength from weakness frees us from obsession of judgment by peers. In the darkness of injustice, the Lord will bring forth light to manifest the motives of people’s hearts. Everyone will receive God’s praise from the illumination. The inflictors of injustice, naysayers for change, by the light will see the folly of discrimination shine forth in equality. While the oppressed let the light expose the path of non-violent resistance to inequity over violent hostilities defined in words and actions. Not seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness fosters a predisposition to worry, because the false security of mammon – wealth and property – fails to fathom we are not the creator only the recipient of the Creator’s gifts. We can only live into the mysteries of God, not create them. A God never forgetting us and our needs.
Individual Reflection: 1st Corinthians 4:1-5
Take the Campaign Nonviolence Pledge. Encourage your parish, school, workplace and family to be involved in supporting the pledge and living nonviolent lives.
http://org.salsalabs.com/o/859/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=14090
Family Reflection: Matthew 6:24-34
Encourage your parish to use sustainable landscaping around the church and eco-friendly floral displays to decorate the inside of the church. If cut flowers are used, encourage fair trade flowers. Learn more about social justice issues associated with flowers at:
http://www.greenamerica.org/programs/fairtrade/products/flowers.cfm
Prayer
Lord, when worry grasps our thoughts, help us to trust in your vision. When motion consumes every moment, help us to rest in God alone. When darkness of injustice obscures light, give us the courage to expose the light of your kingdom. When discrimination wrestles equality in arbitrary dichotomies let the voices expose reality in glaring inequalities. Lord, we thank you for not letting us live a lie that paralyzes us with worry.
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.
http://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 February 19, 2014 The reflection maybe used in parish bulletins, newsletters or for faith sharing groups without copyright concern