March 8, 2015: Third Sunday of Lent
Catholic Social Teaching: Rights and Responsibilities
The gratuitousness of this historically efficacious divine action is constantly accompanied by the commitment to the covenant, proposed by God and accepted by Israel. On Mount Sinai, God’s initiative becomes concrete in the covenant with his people, to whom is given the Decalogue of the commandments revealed by the Lord (cf. Ex 19-24). The “ten commandments” (Ex 34:28; cf. Deut 4:13; 10:4) “express the implications of belonging to God through the establishment of the covenant. Moral existence is a response to the Lord’s loving initiative. It is the acknowledgment and homage given to God and a worship of thanksgiving. It is cooperation with the plan God pursues in history”.
The Ten Commandments, which constitute an extraordinary path of life and indicate the surest way for living in freedom from slavery to sin, contain a privileged expression of the natural law. They “teach us the true humanity of man. They bring to light the essential duties, and therefore, indirectly, the fundamental rights inherent in the nature of the human person”. They describe universal human morality. In the Gospel, Jesus reminds the rich young man that the Ten Commandments (cf. Mt 19:18) “constitute the indispensable rules of all social life”. (22) Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
First Reading: Exodus 20:1-17
Psalm: 19:8, 9, 10, 11
Second Reading: 1st Corinthians 1:22-25
Gospel: John 2:13-15
(Masses with the first scrutiny will use Cycle A readings)
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Jesus went up to the Temple as the privileged place of encounter with God. For him, the Temple was the dwelling of his Father, a house of prayer, and he was angered that its outer court had become a place of commerce. He drove merchants out of it because of jealous love for his Father: “You shall not make my Father’s house a house of trade. His disciples remembered that it was written, ‘Zeal for your house will consume me.'” After his Resurrection his apostles retained their reverence for the Temple. (584) From the Daily Roman Missal, Introduction to the Third Sunday of Lent, Cycle B
Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
Man and woman are in relationship with others above all as those to whom the lives of others have been entrusted. “For your lifeblood I will surely require a reckoning, … I will require it … of man [and] of every man’s brother” (Gen 9:5), God tells Noah after the flood. In this perspective, the relationship with God requires that the life of man be considered sacred and inviolable. The fifth commandment, “Thou shalt not kill” (Ex20:13; Deut 5:17), has validity because God alone is Lord of life and death. The respect owed to the inviolability and integrity of physical life finds its climax in the positive commandment: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself” (Lev 19:18), by which Jesus enjoins the obligation to tend to the needs of one’s neighbour (cf. Mt 22:37-40; Mk 12:29-31;Lk 10:27-28). (112)
The Ten Commandments define our relationship with God and those we sojourn with on the journey of life. “You shall not”, articulates what we should not do, but do we define the dichotomy of these precepts? If we do not foster evil and fabricate our spiritual reality with false gods, then our lives should offer positive affirmations of praise to God, relish the gift of Sabbath and offer goodness in thought and deed to humanity. A life of faith is not remaining frozen in a pious posture of prayer mentally and emotionally. But allowing prayer to propel us into the service of others, grounded in respect, allowing no crevice for exploitation. For God seeks to cleanse us from our impurities and give us a new spirit (Entrance antiphon Ezekiel 36:23-26). Attuning our lives to the commandments, we revert from false disguise of inflicting the consequences of our self-seeking gain to dehumanize others. We expand our conscience to reel in God’s mercy, refreshing our souls, enlightening our eyes to see we have come out of a place of slavery.
How many times do our parishes worship the god of the status quo, the god of faith as if the parish was a religious country club or yacht club prioritizing calendar dates for social affairs, with people decked out in fine attire? Making a mockery of the Mass’ purpose, that strengthened from the gift, the call is to use the gift in service to others, not self-serving frivolity. Erecting barriers to inclusion for the disenfranchised, not just seeking their presence at our parishes, highlights foremost economic participation, not a spiritual journey. This spiritual mentality dismisses faith is predicated on God’s gift of His Son (Gospel antiphon John 3:16). To faithfully acknowledge that gift, we must prayerfully strive to live God’s commandments by not just refraining from doing evil, but truly living the depth and breadth of the commandments in pronouncement of the gift we have received.
Individual Reflection: John 2:13-25
Share with your parish community A Scriptural Way of the Cross from the USCCB
Reflect upon the Ten Commandments. How does your family live the positive affirmation of these precepts?
Lord, help us to see out faith is not just about our sinfulness and refraining from evil, but embracing the gift of your presence abounding with goodness. An embrace of compassion, forgiveness and mercy that releases us from the slavery of unworthiness to joyfully accept your gift and freely share its blessings. Help us to see your Father’s commandments are not to restrain us, but liberate us to the freedom of respect for others, so we do not see them as competitors, advisories or label them with dehumanizing epithets. We offer our praise of thanksgiving and may we pause every Sabbath to refresh our souls in the abundance of your grace. Jesus, in your dear name we pray, Amen.
Blogs to Visit:
As we reflect upon Mary’s presence in the mysteries of the Rosary, we are blessed to know her. For her journey, a timeless trek, calls us to surrender, continuing conversion, humbleness and justice now.
Weekly lectionary reflections, for faith sharing groups, parish bulletins, newsletters or personal prayer, from the synergy of the Word we hear and the rich tradition of Catholic Social Teaching.
Catholic Social Teaching offers seven principles for upholding life in our thoughts, decisions and actions.
How we do Catholic Social Teaching.
Creation sustainability ministry resources in the spirit of the St Francis Pledge.
List one or two upcoming events, legislative action alerts or social justice websites
By Barb Born, February 27, 2015 The reflection maybe used in parish bulletins, newsletters or for faith sharing groups without copyright concern.