Friday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time
And as for you,
And as for
Study
http://www.usccb.org/nab/100507.shtml
On the one hand, today’s readings contain some pretty stern warnings. The notes in the NAB teach that the “call to repentance that is a part of the proclamation of the kingdom brings with it a severe judgment for those who hear it and reject it.”
On the other hand, our sins may be no worse than those of our ancestors who also failed to heed the message of the Lord and the prophets. That does not excuse us…however, it reminds us that despite the advances of our society in the fields of medicine, technology, aerospace, engineering and more, we continue to make the same selfish mistakes of people who were far less sophisticated than we are. So despite our ability to go from zero-to-sixty in four point three seconds as we accelerate in the Beltway, we still stumble when challenged by the Good News.
No matter how much we falter and fail, our names remain written in heaven thanks to the ultimate sacrifice made in our honor. Throughout this chapter, Luke reminds us that w must not just listen…we must act.
Jesus shares the parable of the Good Samaritan who listens and acts on the word of God. And he concludes this chapter with a flourish, underscoring the skill of listening with the story of Mary and Martha.
As they continued their journey he entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary (who) sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” Luke 10:39-42
ActionForty years ago, Pope Paul VI wrote in his encyclical, Populorum Progressio, “If you want peace, work for justice!” Here is a chance to learn more about how to make that a reality.
The Parish Social Ministry groups Nativity Parish and St. Mary of Sorrows Parish joined with Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington to organize a fabulous eight-session series to help you understand more deeply the social principles our Church teaches. These principles provide us with guidance in moral decision-making for our every day living. The series features expert leaders in their field exploring these principles and helping us to learn even more about our Church's teaching and how to apply this to our everyday lives -- just as Jesus did when he walked on our earth.
We must continue to beat the drum for justice in our world -- and, to effect change for justice we must listen and learn, pray and act. Justice is constitutive to our Catholic Faith -- we have no choice but to work for it. Our Church teaching demands it.
Please, come and learn with us, pray with us and let us help each other act on behalf of justice. The sessions will take place on the following dates and topics. The first four will be at St. Mary of Sorrows and the next four will be at Nativity Parish.
October 9, 2007 “Introduction to Catholic Social Teaching”
Dr. Stephen Colecchi, Director of International Justice and Peace
November 13, 2007 “Life and Dignity of the Human Person”
Rev. Matthew Hillyard, OSFS, Principal
December 4, 2007 “The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers”
Thomas Shellabarger, Policy Advisor, Urban and Economic Issues, USCCB
January 15, 2008 “Call to Family, Community, and Participation”
Joan Rosenhauer, Coordinator, Special Projects, Department of Social Development and World Peace, USCCB
February 12, 2008 “Option for the Poor and Vulnerable”
Donna Grimes, Education Specialist,Catholic Campaign for Human Development, USCCB
Walt Grazer, Grazer and Associates, LLC, formerly a USCCB policy advisor on human rights
No comments:
Post a Comment