|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In Paragraph 952, the Catechism of the Catholic Church states this: Everything the true Christian has is to be regarded as a good possessed in common with everyone else. Is this a problem or a challenge? This same scripture is being read everywhere in the world where the Eucharist is being celebrated today. And so people of all different races, and of all different financial standings, are hearing this reading. And I would think that some groups of people are hearing it quite differently from other groups of people. It's too bad that we couldn't have all of those people present with us today. If we could gather all those people, we could have an in depth discussion with them about how they interpret such a passage.
Maybe our basic challenge is not to discover how generous we should be, but to discover who we really are. If we are separate individual persons who have
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
no responsibility for anyone else on this planet, then the concept of generosity shouldn't bother us. If our purpose in life is simply self-preservation and self-protection, than being generous doesn't make any sense. But if we are created out of love, and created as members of the same human family, then the question becomes this: How should I be treating my brothers and sisters?
You and I have many material needs, ranging from food to clothes and shelter and medicine. How we are to balance our own needs against the needs of others will be on ongoing question for many of us. But I hope that it will be a question. I hope that we will not dismiss this problem with the simple assertion that's what mine is mine. I pray that you and I may engage ourselves in that challenge and that question.
Peace, Fr. John
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
