“and you will no longer see me;”
Jn 16:10
Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter
In recent homilies Bishop Patrick J. Zurek has put forth the Encyclical of Pope Francis, Fratelli Tutti, as the standard for love and unity in our diocese. Today, let’s reflect upon paragraph #209 in that regard:
CHAPTER SIX
DIALOGUE AND FRIENDSHIP IN SOCIETY
SOCIAL DIALOGUE FOR A NEW CULTURE
The BASIS of Consensus
209. Otherwise, is it not conceivable that those fundamental human rights which we now consider unassailable will be denied by those in power, once they have gained the “consensus” of an apathetic or intimidated population?
“To love like Christ means saying ‘no’ to other loves that the world offers us: love of money -– those who love money do not love as Jesus loves — love of success, vanity, power,”
Nor would a mere consensus between different nations, itself equally open to manipulation, suffice to protect them.
“everyone — government leaders, businesses, international organizations — to foster cooperation and not competition, and to seek a solution for everyone: vaccines for all, especially for the most vulnerable and needy of all regions of the planet.”
We have ample evidence of the great good of which we are capable, yet we also have to acknowledge our inherent destructiveness.
They said Pope Francis’ encyclical “Evangelii Gaudium” reminds them “that our vocation as Catholic sisters is inherently political”
Is not the indifference and the heartless individualism into which we have fallen also a result of our sloth in pursuing higher values, values that transcend our immediate needs?
“With the world living for more than a year in pandemic mode, I trust that everyone would agree that we need some ‘rearranging’, And so, my hope is that through this monthlong worldwide praying of the rosary, Our Lady will look favorably upon our pleas and present our great need before her Son.”
Relativism always brings the risk that some or other alleged truth will be imposed by the powerful or the clever.
“The growing tension, backed mainly by right-wing radical groups, endangers the already fragile reality in and around Jerusalem,”
Yet, “when it is a matter of the moral norms prohibiting intrinsic evil, there are no privileges or exceptions for anyone.
…it would be “misleading” to present abortion and euthanasia as “the only grave matters of Catholic moral and social teaching that demand the fullest level of accountability on the part of Catholics.”
It makes no difference whether one is the master of the world or the ‘poorest of the poor’ on the face of the earth.
Catholics and all people of good will are urged to contact their state senators and the Governor to support policy and legislative measures that uphold the safety and wellbeing of all persons in our communities and to oppose HB 1927. (“permitless carry”)
Oppose HB 1927 and a culture of violence, Letter signed by Bishop Patrick J. Zurek and all Bishops of Texas
Before the demands of morality we are all absolutely equal”.[202]
Because Bishop Zurek’s memos have stated, “It has been a long time since we have experienced a normal existence here on our beloved planet”, my prayer for today is that in our desire for “normal” in the Diocese of Amarillo, we don’t allow those with the power of “the Quota”, to deny us the existence that Jesus has planned for us through His Advocate, the Holy Spirit, on God’s beloved planet!
