Fr. Michael Carlini, SX
FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
In the first reading prophet Isaiah speaks to his people, who were returning to their homeland, Israel, from exile in Babylon. He is disappointed to see that the wealthier and the greedy are very quick to grab the best land on which to settle and to enjoy the limited riches. As it happened many times in history, the poorer are left behind and forgotten. Once again, the law of the jungle prevails. But the prophet preaches a different ethical approach: “Share your bread with the hungry, and shelter the homeless poor, clothe the person you see to be naked”(Is 58:7). Instead of being obsessed with accumulating, we are reminded of the duty to share. The former is the logic behind capitalism and neoliberism, the latter is the roadmap to building the kingdom of God.
Pope Saint John Paul II has made universal the doctrine of the “Preferential option for the Poor”: the Church will always be on the side of the marginalized and the exploited. Jesus inaugurated his mission in Galilee by proclaiming the good news to the poor (Lk 4).
“Feed the hungry, shelter the homeless”: the ancient message of Isaiah will be used by Christ on judgment day (Mt 25). Christian life is not only about saving one’s soul, but about changing the present situations of injustice that surround us.
This social message of the bible has a parallel in the recent agenda of the United Nations, as it appears in its “Sustainable Development Goals” (SDGs): they outline 17 objectives, in the communal effort to transform our world, to end poverty, to protect the planet, and to ensure prosperity for all. The first ones among them are: ‘No poverty, zero hunger, good health, quality education, ...’. As believers we are also citizens of this planet, and therefore it is our duty to be informed and active about these important issues. For the SDGs to be attained, everyone needs to do his part: governments, the private sector, civil society and people like you and me. The first step is to know about them and the second is to pass on the message. Then we need to take actions together.
In this way, “our light will shine, and people will give glory to God” (Gospel).
FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
In the first reading prophet Isaiah speaks to his people, who were returning to their homeland, Israel, from exile in Babylon. He is disappointed to see that the wealthier and the greedy are very quick to grab the best land on which to settle and to enjoy the limited riches. As it happened many times in history, the poorer are left behind and forgotten. Once again, the law of the jungle prevails. But the prophet preaches a different ethical approach: “Share your bread with the hungry, and shelter the homeless poor, clothe the person you see to be naked”(Is 58:7). Instead of being obsessed with accumulating, we are reminded of the duty to share. The former is the logic behind capitalism and neoliberism, the latter is the roadmap to building the kingdom of God.
Pope Saint John Paul II has made universal the doctrine of the “Preferential option for the Poor”: the Church will always be on the side of the marginalized and the exploited. Jesus inaugurated his mission in Galilee by proclaiming the good news to the poor (Lk 4).
“Feed the hungry, shelter the homeless”: the ancient message of Isaiah will be used by Christ on judgment day (Mt 25). Christian life is not only about saving one’s soul, but about changing the present situations of injustice that surround us.
This social message of the bible has a parallel in the recent agenda of the United Nations, as it appears in its “Sustainable Development Goals” (SDGs): they outline 17 objectives, in the communal effort to transform our world, to end poverty, to protect the planet, and to ensure prosperity for all. The first ones among them are: ‘No poverty, zero hunger, good health, quality education, ...’. As believers we are also citizens of this planet, and therefore it is our duty to be informed and active about these important issues. For the SDGs to be attained, everyone needs to do his part: governments, the private sector, civil society and people like you and me. The first step is to know about them and the second is to pass on the message. Then we need to take actions together.
In this way, “our light will shine, and people will give glory to God” (Gospel).