At the start of the new year, the Church is in the middle of the season of Christmas and the secular world is in the middle of making resolutions. Why not combine the two? The message of Christmas is a message of light, peace, and justice (see the readings for Midnight Mass). This year, resolve to do something to bring more light (to those who dwell in a land of gloom), peace (to those who find themselves in turmoil), and justice (for those who are suffering) to the world. Every person can do something along these lines, and every person should try.
Copyright © 2010, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Holy Families & Social Justice
[Note: This sound-bite should run in bulletins on Sunday, December 27. It is being posted early for those parishes with early bulletin deadlines due to Christmas.]
Today's Feast of the Holy Family calls us to consider every family's role in the promotion of justice in the world. The love between father and mother should be a reminder to all of the love we should have for all peoples, and love of the other is the basis for justice. Furthermore, when their children are baptized, parents promise to bring their children up in this same love, training them in the ways of the Catholic faith. This means teaching them to love and care for other people and all creation.
The Second Vatican Council, in its Decree on the Apostolate of Lay People, put it this way: "The mission of being the primary vital cell of society has been given to the family by God... This mission will be accomplished if the family... offers active hospitality, and practices justice and other good works for the benefit of all its brothers and sisters suffering from want."
Copyright © 2009, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins.
Today's Feast of the Holy Family calls us to consider every family's role in the promotion of justice in the world. The love between father and mother should be a reminder to all of the love we should have for all peoples, and love of the other is the basis for justice. Furthermore, when their children are baptized, parents promise to bring their children up in this same love, training them in the ways of the Catholic faith. This means teaching them to love and care for other people and all creation.
The Second Vatican Council, in its Decree on the Apostolate of Lay People, put it this way: "The mission of being the primary vital cell of society has been given to the family by God... This mission will be accomplished if the family... offers active hospitality, and practices justice and other good works for the benefit of all its brothers and sisters suffering from want."
Copyright © 2009, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Religious Freedom & Social Justice
At this time of the year, a number of major religions celebrate a major festival. Every year, Christians celebrate the Nativity of Jesus on December 25, and Jews celebrate Hanukkah (the anniversary of the re-dedication of the Jerusalem Temple) during eight days in late November to late December (dates vary annually). Additionally, from 2006 through 2010, the Islamic holy day of Eid al-Adha (the festival of the sacrifice of Abraham) falls between mid-November and early January.
Recently, there has been controversy over holiday displays on public property and in public schools. On a larger level, Switzerland recently had a nationwide election as to whether to permit the construction of minarets, the towers from which Muslims are called to prayer at various times of the day. The Catholic Church supported the rights of Muslims in Switzerland to construct minarets because of our teaching on religious freedom.
The Catholic Church teaches that religious freedom is a concern of the common good, thus linking it to our social teaching. In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the ability for all people to worship as they choose is mentioned in the sections on the rights and dignity of the human person, and the first and fourth commandments.
Copyright © 2009, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins.
Recently, there has been controversy over holiday displays on public property and in public schools. On a larger level, Switzerland recently had a nationwide election as to whether to permit the construction of minarets, the towers from which Muslims are called to prayer at various times of the day. The Catholic Church supported the rights of Muslims in Switzerland to construct minarets because of our teaching on religious freedom.
The Catholic Church teaches that religious freedom is a concern of the common good, thus linking it to our social teaching. In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the ability for all people to worship as they choose is mentioned in the sections on the rights and dignity of the human person, and the first and fourth commandments.
Copyright © 2009, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins.
Monday, December 7, 2009
"He preached good news to the people."
These are the final words of this Sunday's gospel (Luke 3:10-18). And just what was the "good news" that John the Baptist was preaching that day? It was to give someone one of your cloaks if you have two; to share your food; do not falsely accuse anyone; and be satisfied with your wages. In other words, the good news according to John the Baptist was to live justly. In these last few days before Christmas, let us prepare for Jesus' coming by taking John's words to heart, by committing ourselves to living justly.
Copyright © 2009, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins.
Copyright © 2009, Deacon Carl D. Smith. All rights reserved. Reprint permission granted to parishes for use in Sunday bulletins.
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