Tag: social justice

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Christ the King

Jesus holding a globe with puzzle pieces for continents

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The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe Mass Readings

First Reading: Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17
Responsorial: Psalm 23:1-3, 5-6
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28
Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111520.cfm
https://deaconrudysnotes.org/

My brothers and sisters, what does it take to be saved? The answer to that question is what today’s Gospel is all about! If you are the type of person who needs rubrics for the judgment we will all face, then today is your day! In today’s Gospel, Jesus sorts the puzzle of humanity.

We begin by accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. As disciples, we set out on a great quest for holiness marked by selfless love. We also try to help others find their hope in Christ Jesus. But how do we know we are disciples? What separates the good work we do from any other NGO?

Jesus says, “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me,’” (Matthew 25:31-36)

Now the disciples listening are shocked and they ask him when was he hungry or thirsty or naked or in the hospital or in prison. How does Jesus respond? He says, “Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me,” (Matthew 25:45)

And then he ends by saying, “And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life,” (Matthew 25:46).

That’s it. No more and no less. This is the rubric against which you and I will be judged. Notice what he didn’t say? Jesus doesn’t say you be judged by how often you attended mass or how many times you went to confession or how many times you went to adoration or how many times you prayed at all, let alone the rosary. How is that possible?

Let’s break it down.

What does it take to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, and visit the sick and imprisoned?

Look at how Mother Teresa’s ministry began. Twenty years after she joined the Sisters of Loreto, she began teaching poor children whose families couldn’t afford to send them to school. Recognizing the dignity of these poor children, she tried to equip them with the basic tools they needed to break the cycle of poverty. Later, she began to collect dying people from the side of the road – literally dying people thrown in ditches alongside of the road – and she ministered to them through their death. She gave them clean beds to rest. She bathed them. She tended to their wounds. For her, there was no such thing as rationing healthcare! No life, no matter how near to death, is unworthy of attention! Why did she do all of this? She recognized the dignity of the dying person, and she tried to help them meet their maker in peace.

That’s why for centuries the Catholic church has run so many food pantries, hospitals and schools. It’s like we discussed last week about the ART of social justice. We meet a person’s immediate need. Through our acts of charity, we help the person appreciate their own dignity and self-worth. We try to give them the tools they need to live a life of dignity. And we advocate for changes to prevent people from becoming trapped in poverty.

What does it take for me to help the poor, the sick and imprisoned? I have to be willing share what I have – my money, my time and my talent. I can’t outsource my obligation by saying my taxes go to help the poor. Too many of our government programs do not affirm human dignity. Too many programs trap people in poverty or worse dismiss their lives as worthless deciding who can be aborted and who can and cannot receive healthcare. So, no, we cannot rely on government to fulfill our obligation under today’s Gospel.

If we find it difficult to help others, then we need to ask what is standing in our way. Are we placing money, prestige, power above God? If we are not careful, our possessions become a god. Scripture tells us, you cannot serve both God and mammon (Matthew 6:24).

But it’s not just money or possessions that can stand in our way. It can also be hubris, right? There is the intellectual movement poising thought in our educational systems from our universities to our primary and secondary schools that denies the existence of God or any notion of objective truth. To such people, helping the needy isn’t about recognizing the God-given dignity and worth of the human person.

If I can’t see God in the needy, then how can I possibly ever feed them, quench their thirst, clothe them, visit them when they are sick or in prison. If I can’t do any of these things out of love, then have I really accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior?

The great challenge of today’s Gospel isn’t about opening up our pocketbooks. It’s about helping us discern our relationship with God. Do I have a healthy relationship with my time, my money, my talents and my thoughts? I am not saved by my works, but my salvation is evidenced through the way I live my life.

But Satan is clever! We don’t need black Friday sales to remind us of all the comforts and luxuries offered by the world. How do we resist?

My brothers and sisters, Christ our King provides! Christ gave us the Church and the sacraments to nourish our minds, our hearts and our bodies. Why do we go to mass every week? Not to check a box on a form. No! We go to mass every week and we receive the sacraments and we pray often to worship God and to ask for the strength to resist temptation and to help us see all the ways God has graced this world. And these graces help us on our quest to be holy disciples who, out of selfless love for Jesus, feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, and visit the sick and imprisoned.

Homework! Nourished by the Word of God and the Eucharist, I encourage you to reflect on the following two questions.
First, how would you describe your relationship to your possessions or your opinion? Are these more important to you than God?
Second, as Advent begins, what sorts of things can you do the help shift your attention to God present in the needy?

Doing our homework will help us live our lives of salvation. Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May almighty God bless you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

Image Credit: Artist unknown. JPG file.

Notes: Unless otherwise indicated, all Bible quotes are taken from The Bible: A Study Bible freshly translated by Nicholas King. Buxhall, Suffolk UK: Kevin Mayhew, 2013.

References:
1. Mitch, Curtis and Edward Sri. The Gospel of Matthew. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2010. Kindle.
2. Montague, George T., SM. First Corinthians. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2011. Kindle.

Catechism References http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm:
1. Christ as Lord and King: 440, 446-451, 668-672, 783, 786, 908, 2105, 2628
2. Jesus and the poor: 544, 1373
3. Christ as Judge: 678-79, 1001, 1038-1041
4. Works of mercy: 2447
5. “The Kingdom Come:” 2816-2821

The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/112220.cfm
Lectionary: 160

Reading 1
Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17
Thus says the Lord GOD:
I myself will look after and tend my sheep.
As a shepherd tends his flock
when he finds himself among his scattered sheep,
so will I tend my sheep.
I will rescue them from every place where they were scattered
when it was cloudy and dark.
I myself will pasture my sheep;
I myself will give them rest, says the Lord GOD.
The lost I will seek out,
the strayed I will bring back,
the injured I will bind up,
the sick I will heal,
but the sleek and the strong I will destroy,
shepherding them rightly.

As for you, my sheep, says the Lord GOD,
I will judge between one sheep and another,
between rams and goats.

Responsorial
Psalm 23:1-2, 2-3, 5-6
R. (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Reading 2
1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28
Brothers and sisters:
Christ has been raised from the dead,
the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
For since death came through man,
the resurrection of the dead came also through man.
For just as in Adam all die,
so too in Christ shall all be brought to life,
but each one in proper order:
Christ the firstfruits;
then, at his coming, those who belong to Christ;
then comes the end,
when he hands over the kingdom to his God and Father,
when he has destroyed every sovereignty
and every authority and power.
For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
When everything is subjected to him,
then the Son himself will also be subjected
to the one who subjected everything to him,
so that God may be all in all.

Alleluia
Mark 11:9, 10
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Matthew 25:31-46
Jesus said to his disciples:
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory,
and all the angels with him,
he will sit upon his glorious throne,
and all the nations will be assembled before him.
And he will separate them one from another,
as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
Then the king will say to those on his right,
‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father.
Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
For I was hungry and you gave me food,
I was thirsty and you gave me drink,
a stranger and you welcomed me,
naked and you clothed me,
ill and you cared for me,
in prison and you visited me.’
Then the righteous will answer him and say,
‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you,
or thirsty and give you drink?
When did we see you a stranger and welcome you,
or naked and clothe you?
When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’
And the king will say to them in reply,
‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did
for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me.’
Then he will say to those on his left,
‘Depart from me, you accursed,
into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
For I was hungry and you gave me no food,
I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
a stranger and you gave me no welcome,
naked and you gave me no clothing,
ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.’
Then they will answer and say,
‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty
or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison,
and not minister to your needs?’
He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you,
what you did not do for one of these least ones,
you did not do for me.’
And these will go off to eternal punishment,
but the righteous to eternal life.”

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26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

picture of breonna taylor

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Mass Readings

First Reading: Ezekiel 18:25-28
Responsorial: Psalm 25:4-9
Second Reading: Philippians 2:1-11 OR 2:1-5
Gospel: Matthew 21:28-32

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/092720.cfm
www.deaconrudysnotes.org

As you heard the readings this weekend, what words struck you?

The readings today are rich with meaning that for many of us, it might be challenging to pick out any one message. For me, there were two lines. The first comes from the first reading from Ezekiel, “You say, ‘The LORD’s way is not fair!’” (Ezekiel 18:25, NAB). And the second line comes from the Gospel, “Jesus said to them, ‘Amen I tell you, the tax collectors and prostitutes are going ahead of you into the kingdom of God’” (Matthew 21:31).

My brothers and sisters, every weekend, we are being challenged with readings that are trying to shape our discipleship. And this weekend’s readings do not disappoint! In today’s Gospel, we hear the story of two sons. The first son refuses to do what his father asked. He threw a tantrum! In a culture where sons are supposed to honor and obey their fathers, the son’s reaction is offensive. <1> But the son reconsiders and goes out into the vineyard. The second son pays lip service to his dad, saying what his dad wants to hear, but he never goes into the vineyard.

When Jesus asks people which son did his father’s will, it so obvious to everyone – even the chief priests and elders agree. But what Jesus says next shocks them. “Amen, I tell you, the tax collectors and prostitutes are going ahead of you into the kingdom of God” (Matthew 21:31). Whoa! Ezekiel’s words, “The LORD’s way is not fair!” (Ezekiel 18:25, NAB), sound so true! How is it fair that blatant sinners are getting into heaven first?

It’s like we discussed last weekend. We might start out on the same path as God, but at some point, we veer off course. We don’t know it – we might not even want to believe that we’re off course because we are so convinced in how right we are – in the soundness of our thoughts.

Gradually, we equate our way with God’s will, and we might not even realize it, but self-interest begins to creep into our thinking. Can’t we say that at some level, that’s what was operating in the minds of plantation owners in the South when they used Scripture to justify slavery and racism? They violently rejected any interpretation of God’s Revelation in Jesus Christ that challenged their way of life. The threw tantrums!

Perhaps, it’s easy to look back on history and approach it with more clarity then they had at the time. And yet, we too suffer from similar blinders to the events in our own time. That’s the only way I can come to terms with the ugliness of the many Brexit debates or the current presidential campaign in the US. We think we are so right and they are so wrong that we refuse to consider anything else. What tantrums do I throw? Maybe when we come to mass, we pay “lip service to God,” focused only on our vision of God.

Could that be why we didn’t see anything wrong with separating babies from their illegal immigrant parents? Or why we don’t object to efforts to gut access to affordable healthcare? Maybe that’s why some police convinced themselves that it’s ok to cross the line and murder black Americans in custody? Is that why police officers burst into the Breonna Taylor’s apartment and murdered her? I know we don’t have all the facts in her case. Still, I hope and pray there was something substantial to move the grand jury to acquit the police officers who killed Breonna, especially since they returned three counts of wanton endangerment in the first degree against one police officer who fired blindly into three of Breonna’s white neighbors’ apartments. Where is the justice? Of course, people are upset because the poison of racism is so entrenched in our culture we can’t help but doubt the impartiality of the grand jury’s work.

Graphic that says be transformed by the eucharist. Jesus emptied himself in service to others. how can i think like Jesus thinks? www.deaconrudysnotes.org

But there is hope. Yes, even in these turbulent political times, there is hope!

St. Paul, in today’s second reading says, now listen to this: If there is any comfort in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any solidarity of the Spirit, if there is any compassion or pity, fill up my joy: [I want] you to think the same, have the same love, and be of one mind, with just a single thought, with no thoughts that are in line with selfish ambition or empty conceit. No – in humility, think of each other as your superiors; don’t be each of you looking to your own [interests]; instead, look to each other’s interest. Let your thinking be what was in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:1-5).

And then Paul gives us the beautiful hymn to Jesus – Jesus took the form of a slave and emptied himself in service to others. What a challenge! My brothers and sisters, we are not called to imitate Jesus mindlessly. We are called to assimilate ourselves into Jesus’ way of thinking. <2> And we can’t do that unless we are willing to consider the possibility that we might not be as right as we think we are. We can’t assimilate ourselves into Jesus’ way of thinking unless we are ready to believe that the person with whom we disagree with is more important than the ideas we are arguing over.

May the Eucharist and the work of the Holy Spirit transform us so that we become stewards of justice in this world!

Homework! Nourished by the Eucharist today and perhaps a little troubled by the Word of God today, I ask you to do the following at least two or three times this week beginning today,

Prayerfully read and reflect on today’s second reading, Paul’s letter to the Philippians 2:1-11, and ask yourself what you think God is asking you to do.
Here is one approach you could take:
1. Ask God what he wants you to learn from this reading.
2. Pause for a few seconds.
3. Then read the passage at least once – slowly and deliberately.
4. Pause for a few seconds.
5. Picture a small light in the very center of your body. Now picture it growing slowly. Soon your whole body is in this light. Can you feel the warmth?
6. Resting in God’s presence, think about the words of this Scripture passage. What jumps out at you? Why? What is it God is trying to show you? You may spend as much or a little time as you’d like to do this.
7. As you finish, hear Christ’s words: Go and do likewise.

Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

Image Credit:
Cover: Breonna Taylor: Art by Ariel Sinha (IG: @arielsinhaha). Used with permission.
2nd: Deacon Rudy Villarreal. PNG file.

Notes:
Unless otherwise indicated, all Bible quotes are taken from The Bible: A Study Bible freshly translated by Nicholas King. Buxhall, Suffolk UK: Kevin Mayhew, 2013.
1. Mitch, Curtis and Edward Sri, The Gospel of Matthew, Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture, (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2010), Kindle, 275.
2. Hamm, Dennis, SJ, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture, (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academics), 2013. Kindle, “The Best Example of All: Christ’s Self-Emptying Love and Service.”

References:
1. Hamm, Dennis, SJ. Philippians, Colossians, Philemon. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academics, 2013. Kindle.
2. Marchionda, James, OP. “Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time.” Know Before You Go. 22 September 2020. Accessed 27 September 2020. https://www.opcentral.org/node/3424.
3. Mitch, Curtis and Edward Sri. The Gospel of Matthew. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2010. Kindle.

Catechism References http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm:
1. Jesus the Lord, 201, 449
2. The Lordship of Christ, 446-461
3. The Word become flesh, 461
4. Docetism, 465
5. Christ is God and man, 472, 602, 705, 713, 1224, 2812
6. Jesus as our model, 520
7. John the Baptist, 535
8. Parables, 546
9. Life in Christ, 1694, 2842
10. Just person distinguished by habitual rectitude toward others, 1807
11. The obligation of social justice, 1928-30, 2425-26
12. Concern for others, 2635-36
13. Prayer, 2641, 2667
14. “Thy will be done,” 2822-27
15. Only Holy Spirit can give us the mind of Christ, 2842

Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/092720.cfm
Lectionary: 136

Reading 1
Ezekiel 18:25-28
Thus says the LORD:
You say, “The LORD’s way is not fair!”
Hear now, house of Israel:
Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair?
When someone virtuous turns away from virtue to commit iniquity, and dies,
it is because of the iniquity he committed that he must die.
But if he turns from the wickedness he has committed,
he does what is right and just,
he shall preserve his life;
since he has turned away from all the sins that he has committed,
he shall surely live, he shall not die.

Responsorial
Psalm 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9
R. (6a) Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior.
R. Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Remember that your compassion, O LORD,
and your love are from of old.
The sins of my youth and my frailties remember not;
in your kindness remember me,
because of your goodness, O LORD.
R. Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
and teaches the humble his way.
R. Remember your mercies, O Lord.

Reading 2
Philippians 2:1-11
Brothers and sisters:
If there is any encouragement in Christ,
any solace in love,
any participation in the Spirit,
any compassion and mercy,
complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love,
united in heart, thinking one thing.
Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory;
rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves,
each looking out not for his own interests,
but also for those of others.

Have in you the same attitude
that is also in Christ Jesus,
Who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
something to be grasped.
Rather, he emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
coming in human likeness;
and found human in appearance,
he humbled himself,
becoming obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross.
Because of this, God greatly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name
which is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Alleluia
John 10:27
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them, and they follow me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Matthew 21:28-32
Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people:
“What is your opinion?
A man had two sons.
He came to the first and said,
‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’
He said in reply, ‘I will not,’
but afterwards changed his mind and went.
The man came to the other son and gave the same order.
He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir, ‘but did not go.
Which of the two did his father’s will?”
They answered, “The first.”
Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you,
tax collectors and prostitutes
are entering the kingdom of God before you.
When John came to you in the way of righteousness,
you did not believe him;
but tax collectors and prostitutes did.
Yet even when you saw that,
you did not later change your minds and believe him.”