All Things Are Possible for God
In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, as you attain the goal of [your] faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:6-9
"You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." At that statement, his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions. Mark 10:21
Piety
Lord help us to implement what Peter Maurin calls the “shock maxims of the Gospel.”
Love your enemy.
Go the extra mile.
Turn the other cheek.
Lend, expecting nothing back.
You cannot serve God and mammon.
Give to those who ask of you and if someone takes what is yours, do not demand it back.
Remember the lilies of the field.
Don’t build bigger barns to hold all your worldly goods.
Don’t judge that you may not be judged. You must lose your life in order to gain it.
“Come, you blessed of my Father, to the Kingdom prepared for you from all eternity, for when I was hungry, you gave me to eat, when I was thirsty, you gave me to drink, when I was a stranger, you took me in.”
And then, of course, “Take up your cross and follow Me.”
Study
The Gospel calls us to some very hard tasks. Today we hear about one of them – voluntary poverty.
The encouraging news is that while our possessions might get in the way of our encounter with Jesus, God can overcome any obstacles that we put in the way.
Louise Zwick, co-founder of the Houston Catholic Worker, recognizes the challenges.
It often seems challenging or almost impossible to live out the Sermon on the Mount. Implementing it even in small ways often involves creative thinking outside of the usual patterns of thought as well as discernment about what is happening in our world.[1]
But how to have conversations about what really matters (the Gospel), when people’s concerns and all the professions are centered on having and possessing (as Peter said, on greed instead of creed), nations compete with each other on how to stockpile lethal weapons and wage war, whether through traditional methods or cyberwar, without regard for casualties?
The emphasis on having, financial security, and the will to power – in glaring contrast with the Gospel – almost drowns out the voices for peace, for the common good, and a just economy. But not quite.
Action
The Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival is one way those voices will not be drowned out. Fifty years after the Rev. Martin Luther King led the original campaign, many of the conditions still exist in our society.
The PPC is bringing together people from across the country who are organizing to build a broad and deep national moral movement – led by the poor, impacted, clergy and moral agents. The movement reflects the great moral teachings to unite our country from the bottom up.
Beginning in May, the campaign launched 40 days of moral action from May 13th until June 21, in 39 states and Washington, DC.
The next event (the third week in this campaign) will take place Tuesday, May 29, beginning with a 2 pm rally at the U.S. Capitol. The focus of this non-partisan event is on the War Economy and Gun Violence.
Themes of the campaign include:
Week 2 (May 20-26): Linking Systemic Racism and Poverty
Week 3 (May 27-Jun 2): The War Economy
Week 4 (Jun 3-9): The Right to Health and a Healthy Planet
Week 5 (Jun 10-16): Everybody’s Got the Right to Live
Week 6 (Jun 17-22): A New and Unsettling Force
Week 7 (Jun 23): Global Day of Solidarity, Mass Rally in Washington DC
For more info about this effort and these themes, go to https://www.poorpeoplescampaign.org/index.php/events/ or contact DMV Poor People’s Campaign (washingtondc@poorpeoplescampaign.org).
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