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The Catholic Social Ministry Gathering (CSMG) takes place from tomorrow, Jan. 28, to Tuesday, Jan. 31. The theme is "Blessed are the Peacemakers," which comes from the Beatitudes. Not coincidentally, the Beatitudes are also part of this Sunday's Mass readings, which will be read at the CSMG vigil Mass on Saturday evening. A perfect match, as they say. The Beatitudes are Jesus' plan of action. His disciples embrace them, too. Some people - Sigmund Freud, most famously - considered the Beatitudes a pipe dream, similar to the hallucinations of an opium addict. But Jesus in no way wants his disciples to hide from reality. Jesus wants his disciples to engage the world at a higher level of action, fueled by a deep contemplation of his words and deeds, so that the kingdom of heaven is longed for and anticipated here on Earth. .png) Editorial credit: alefbet / Shutterstock.com |
When the world was under the power of sin, God's commandments were stated negatively: thou shalt not do this, thou shalt not do that. Indeed, the commandments remain a sure path to avoid sin. But with Jesus the kingdom of heaven breaks into the world. By his grace, Jesus makes it possible and calls his disciples to live as citizens of heaven now. A disciple who yields himself or herself to Christ can resolve to be poor in spirit, to mourn, to be meek. Even when he or she is insulted or persecuted or misunderstood, the disciple can rejoice and be glad in the faith of Christ that sin and death have already been conquered. The disciple is set free not merely to avoid evil but to achieve the good. Many people around the world have been re-examining the writings of Pope Benedict XVI since his death on Dec. 31, 2022. He, perhaps more than any pope, encouraged Christians to carry out the work of love, as part and parcel of one's relationship with Jesus. Indeed, he reminded us that Christians have the duty to organize social life justly and for the common good (albeit without confusing the legitimate roles of Church and State). Striving to live by the Beatitudes requires great effort, and it is an act of faith. Meetings like CSMG help by bringing disciples together for fellowship, learning, and encouragement. In the work for peace, for example, it is a grace to be with people committed to the same goal, especially at a time when peace (at any level of society) seems impossible to achieve in a world as divided as ours. But again, we can remember that, as disciples of Jesus, we are not trying to create a utopia on Earth. We are preparing ourselves and the world to receive Jesus when he ushers in his kingdom in its fullness. |
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