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Monday, March 17, 2014

Still on the mountain with Jesus

I love all the accounts of the Transfiguration of Jesus. It was such a special time for his three close friends. He had invited them to go up the mountain with him to pray. He wanted to strengthen them as he had begun to prepare them for his passion and death. I think that Jesus still invites us to have a glimpse of His Divinity to help us through the difficult moments when we will not feel His presence with us. I am grateful for this Gospel placed on the second Sunday of Lent. May I stay on the mountain with Jesus and then, as they did, look up and see only Jesus.

Here is a bit more from the Pope's The Joy of the Gospel:


  1. Solidarity is a spontaneous reaction by those who recognize that the social function of property and the universal destination of goods are realities which come before private property. The private ownership of goods is justified by the need to protect and increase them, so that they can better serve the common good; for this reason, solidarity must be lived as the decision to restore to the poor what belongs to them. These convictions and habits of solidarity, when they are put into practice, open the way to other structural transformations and make them possible

  1. Sometimes it is a matter of hearing the cry of entire peoples, the poorest peoples of the earth, since "peace is founded not only on respect for human rights, but also on respect for the rights of peoples".154 Sadly, even human rights can be used as a justification for an inordinate defense of individual rights or the rights of the richer peoples. With due respect for the autonomy and culture of every nation, we must never forget that the planet belongs to all mankind and is meant for all mankind; the mere fact that some people are born in places with fewer resources or less development does not justify the fact that they are living with less dignity. It must be reiterated that "the more fortunate should renounce some of their rights so as to place their goods more generously at the service of others".155 To speak properly of our own rights, we need to broaden our perspective and to hear the plea of other peoples and other regions than those of our own country. We need to grow in a solidarity which "would allow all peoples to become the artisans of their destiny", since "every person is called to self-fulfillment."
There is much to reflect on as we seem to be living in an unjust world and so much needs to be changed. I still take the world to prayer, but wonder what more the Lord is asking me to do? I guess I need to come down from the mountain...

154 Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, 157.

155 Paul VI, Apostolic Letter Octogesima Adveniens (14 May 1971), 23:
 

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