The bishops of Massachusetts told government officials and their fellow citizens that the nation’s budgetary problems are not over and must not be resolved on the backs of the poor. In the devastation of shrinking city and state budgets across the country, all face excruciating choices. In view of our religious and moral responsibilities, we use this occasion to make a pledge and to issue a plea .Our pledge is that we will do all we can as bishops to enable our institutions –parishes, catholic charities, health care facilities and schools to continue to do their best in extending help to our neighbors in need. Our plea is that in the decisions facing our elected officials and in the discussions and actions of all citizens there be preserved, for the sake of human dignity, a special place and regard for the vulnerable – those forced to choose between heat and food, and between shelter and clothing – those for whom the destination of every dollar is now so consequential ”.This quote is taken from the Feb 24th issue of Catholic News Service, of Us Conference of Catholic Bishops Now this message in the form of ‘Pledge’ and a ’Plea’ applies to all of us who claim to be Christ’s followers.
Pope Benedict in his Lenten message said that: ”Lent is a time for self-examination and for letting go of selfishness, which is the root of violence The greed of possession leads to violence, exploitation and death, which is why during Lent the church encourages almsgiving, which is the capacity to share” We are moved to free our hearts every day from the burden of material things, from a self-centered relationship with the world that impoverishes us and prevents us from being available and open to God and our neighbor.” Origins March 2011.
Certainly when we look through Christian lenses at what is taking place in our world right now-the Japanese earthquake should force us to make our own the words of Pope Benedict:" We are moved to free our hearts every day from the burden of material things." AND what is happening in the Middle East and N. Africa is forcing us to acknowledge the old order of things are passing away. I was reading Time or Newsweek and it showed many presidents embracing these men, because supposedly they were on our side, while acting like dictators, oppressing brutally their own people. So very similar to Abram in the first reading, we are forced to leave that world of thinking where leaders committing atrocities, are supported by us;” Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation and I will bless you. Abram went as the Lord directed him. We have to move away from our thinking that allowed dictators whom we supported, as they oppressed millions of God’s people. That might be a far more radical moved than God requested from our Father in faith. AND THE MORE WE ACCEPT THIS POSSIBILITY, THE MORE WE AS INDIVIDUALS, AND AS A COMMUNITY WILL TRULY BE TRANSFORMED-TO BE MORE LIKE Christ. Amen.
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