August 3, 2008
The
Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Holy Year of Paul,
the Apostle
“Jesus said to them, ‘There is no need for them to go
away; give them some food yourselves.’”—Matthew 14: 16
Dear Friends;
In
a recent article David J. O’Brien, Loyola Professor Emeritus of Roman Catholic
Studies at the College of the Holy Cross (Worcester, MA) reflected on
capitalism, Christianity, democracy and socialism in United States history[*].
In the article he warns that presently we are persuaded to confuse personal
freedom with the freedom of corporate interests to pursue their own
self-interest (making money) rather than the public interest.
Freedom
is often interpreted as license to be unconcerned for the common good and the
obligations we have to our fellow citizens and creatures of the planet. Such an unrestrained attitude contributes to
relentless consumerism, the worldwide hunger crisis, global warming and the
unraveling of all our human institutions. As citizens of the planet and a
democratic tradition we need to have a serious conversation about our
democratic responsibilities that accompany our privileges.
O’Brien
says: “Democratic self-determination is
about human relationships and the meaning of human history. It rests on a faith
in human dignity and penetrates all of life. Shared responsibility for the
common life is a fact not an option…But the first and most important point is
the conviction—the faith—that history matters, that human survival, human
rights and human solidarity are of ultimate value, and that the future depends
on us…Political democracy and social democracy cannot long survive without a
good measure of economic democracy. Capitalist markets have many virtues…but
left to themselves, markets inevitably produce inequalities of income, wealth
and power that overwhelm institutions of democratic self-government.”
The
challenge that O’Brien gives us is rooted in our Catholic Christian faith. This
faith tells us, that as members joined together in the Body of Christ, we are
mutually responsible for the quality of life on earth. Democracy gives us as
individuals the ability to choose to do good work together—to care for those
most vulnerable, to speak for the voiceless, to transcend the tendency to be
self-serving, to follow the command of Jesus, “give them some food yourselves.”
Our
commitment to our faith, democracy and the planet has to be more than an
emotion or sentiment expressed on a bumper sticker. Like falling in love,
democracy must move us from merely a feeling to an active commitment. We are at
an important crossroad at this time in history. It is important that we decide and act now—for ourselves, our
country and our world and the good of all.
Peace,
Fr Ron