Gospel: Today's Parable of the Good Samaritan (Lk 10) is beautifully exegeted in Pope Francis's encyclical #FratelliTutti: "The parable shows us how a community can be rebuilt by men and women who identify with the vulnerability of others....
....who reject the creation of a society of exclusion, and act instead as neighbors, lifting up and rehabilitating the fallen for the sake of the common good....
At the same time, it warns us about the attitude of those who think only of themselves and fail to shoulder the inevitable responsibilities of life as it is."
Image: "The Good Samaritan," by Vincent Van Gogh.

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More from @JamesMartinSJ

6 Oct
To those who have asked me, sincerely, how President Trump's "Do not be afraid of Covid" differs from Jesus's "Be not afraid," some thoughts:

First, Jesus often told his followers "Be not afraid." In fact, that phrase brackets his earthly life. I.e., the Angel Gabriel...
....says that to the Virgin Mary at the Annunciation. And after his Resurrection, the Risen Christ says it to his disciples. It's one of the few phrases Jesus utters several times in the Gospels. He is encouraging his followers to turn away from fear and rely on him. But...
....Jesus is not telling us to ignore the reality of human life. That is, God does not ask us to check our brains at the door and be stupid about our bodies. We don't jump off of tall buildings expecting not to get hurt. We don't drink poison expecting not to get sick....
Read 7 tweets
6 Oct
Gospel: Today's reading, in which Jesus tells busy Martha that her sister, who sits by Jesus's feet, has chosen the "better part," is often unfairly used to denigrate active people (Lk 10). But, as I see it, Jesus isn't favoring action over contemplation. Rather, he's telling... Image
...Martha, who is "anxious and worried about so many things," that there is a time and place for everything. Jesus is visiting the two sisters, so it's time to be with him. It's fine to be active--after all, someone had to cook that meal--but there is a time for contemplation.
Image: "Christ in the House of Martha and Mary," by Vermeer.
Read 4 tweets
30 Sep
"Racism is a sin that constitutes a serious offense against God."

St. John Paul II

St. John Paul II was not the only Pope, or Catholic leader, to oppose racism, racial discrimination and white supremacy.
"One of humanity’s greatest challenges today is to end racism."

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.
"Men rightly consider unjustifiable and reject as inadmissible the tendency to maintain or introduce legislation or behavior systematically inspired by racialist prejudice."

"Octogesima Adveniens" St. Paul VI
Read 8 tweets
30 Sep
Bishop Heinrich Timmerevers of Dresden has called on the Catholic Church to "reposition itself" on homosexuality: "It is my wish that we further develop and strengthen acceptance and tolerance for homosexuals in our parishes as well as in the whole church,” the Bishop of...
....the Diocese of Dresden-Meissen told Germany’s Catholic News Agency (KNA) in an interview on Monday. He also advocated permitting blessings for gay couples which the Catholic Church does not currently allow....
"The question is: what do I bless? I bless people. And if a person stands before me and asks for a blessing--how can I refuse this blessing? After all, a blessing is God’s approval.” That did not mean that he blesses and approves of everything a person does, Timmerevers added...
Read 9 tweets
30 Sep
"Do not put your trust in princes,
    in mortals, in whom there is no help.
When their breath departs, they return to the earth;
    on that very day their plans perish.
Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
    whose hope is in the Lord their God,
 who made heaven and earth,
    the sea, and all that is in them;
who keeps faith forever;
    who executes justice for the oppressed;
    who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets the prisoners free;
     the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
    the Lord loves the righteous.  The Lord watches over the strangers;
    he upholds the orphan and the widow,
   but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin
Read 4 tweets
28 Sep
Pope Francis: Tax evasion is part of a "structure of sin." He also quoted this article: "It has become evident that those who do not pay taxes do not only commit a felony but also a crime: if there are not enough hospital beds and artificial respirators, it is also their fault."
Sources: Tax evasion for the wealthy and for corporations as part of "structures of sin" americamagazine.org/politics-socie…
Quoting an article that calls it a "crime," taking away public resources from the sick: reuters.com/article/us-hea…
Read 5 tweets

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