“How often relations between individuals, between groups and between peoples are marked not by love but by selfishness, injustice, hatred and violence! These are the scourges of humanity, open and festering in every corner of the planet, although they are often ignored and sometimes deliberately concealed; wounds that torture the souls and bodies of countless of our brothers and sisters. They are waiting to be tended and healed by the glorious wounds of our Risen Lord (cf. 1 Pet 2:24-25) and by the solidarity of people who, following in his footsteps, perform deeds of charity in his name, make an active commitment to justice, and spread luminous signs of hope in areas bloodied by conflict and wherever the dignity of the human person continues to be scorned and trampled. It is hoped that these are precisely the places where gestures of moderation and forgiveness will increase!” - URBI ET ORBI MESSAGE, OF HIS HOLINESS, POPE BENEDICT XVI, EASTER 2008.
Often I will scan the Vatican website for new documents, homilies, letters, etc. from our Holy Father. I love that we can read and see the work our Holy Father, the Sheppard of the Christian Church, is doing throughout the world. Notice I said, “Christian Church”, not Catholic. It is important, especially in light of the words spoken by our Pope noted above, that we remember he is the sign of hope and Jesus Christ on Earth to all mankind. Jesus did not say to Peter, “Feed my sheep….but only as long as they all agree and choose to follow me in exactly the same way as you.” No, Jesus simply said, “feed my sheep.”
Our Holy Father in this Urbi Et Orbi message is calling the faithful to love and service of God’s people. Listen to these words of compassion from him, “They are waiting to be tended and healed by the glorious wounds of our Risen Lord (cf. 1 Pet 2:24-25) and by the solidarity of people who, following in his footsteps, perform deeds of charity in his name, make an active commitment to justice, and spread luminous signs of hope in areas bloodied by conflict and wherever the dignity of the human person continues to be scorned and trampled.”
Charity simply means to do good things for God. Not for man. Selfishness is doing things for oneself. A negative faith would lead us to do things for fear of hell. No, our Holy Father calls us to a positive faith with charity in which we love all and serve all because we love God. And that’s it. Because we love God.
So after reading this I am challenged to examine myself and root out judgment and “selfishness, injustice, hatred and violence.” I am challenged to continue evangelizing those I love most. Not with exhortations or dictation, but with love, example, and service. THIS INCLUDES NON CATHOLICS!!!!!
So, here is the hardest part of Christianity as a whole for me. Why should I, Bob 2008 Catholic, evangelize or even show love and service to, a non-Catholic who may be of a faith that calls my Sheppard the Anti-Christ and believes that I’m going to hell? The answer is simple. And it can be found on one billion bracelets that no one reads; what would Jesus do?
Jesus loved those who persecuted Him. Look at Paul, even in prison he evangelized. Peter evangelized until death. And so on. Every Apostle considered the importance of another’s knowledge and belief in Christ higher than their life.
“How often relations between individuals, between groups and between peoples are marked not by love but by selfishness.”
How are your relationships defined? Do you move on from friendships or withdraw from family relationships when the going gets tough or when you disagree, or when your views are challenged? Or do you focus not on the wrong of the other and our selfish need to be right, but instead on the Love of Christ that binds humanity? This is an important character of a true Christian that some, never understand.
St. Joseph, pray for us.
