Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time [A]

Readings
Ezekiel 33:7-9
Romans 13:8-10
Matthew 18:15-20

CalendarSept 5th: Labor Day in the United States
Sept 8th: Feast of the Nativity of Mary
Sept 8th: International Literacy Day (For details go to: http://www.reading.org/association/meetings/literacy_day.html)
Sept 11th: Anniversary of the terrorism events of 2001

Quotes
Among the actions and attitudes opposed to God's will two are very typical: greed and the thirst for power. Not only individuals sin in that way; so do nations and world-blocs. That is why we spoke of "structures of sin," Hidden behind all kinds of so-called economic or political considerations, are real forms of idolatry: the worship of money, ideology, class, and technology.
John Paul II, Solicitudo Rei Socialis, no. 37

We can see that all that we have, and all that we are, is but a gift of an incredibly generous God who asks of us only that we respond to our brothers and sisters in the same gracious, generous spirit.
Archbishop Renato R. Martino, Apostolic Nuncio, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, September 1, 2002

The solidarity which binds all people together as members of a common family makes it impossible for wealthy nations to look with indifference upon the hunger, misery and poverty of other nations whose citizens are unable to enjoy even elementary human rights. The nations of the world are becoming more and more dependent on one another and it will not be possible to preserve a lasting peace so long as glaring economic and social imbalances persist.
Pope John XXIII, Mater et Magistra, no. 157

Every time you make a choice, you are turning the central part of you, the part of you that chooses, into something a little different from what it was before. And, taking your life as a whole, with all your innumerable choices, all your life long you are slowly turning this central thing either into a Heaven creature or into a hellish creature -- either into a creature that is in harmony with God, and with other creatures, and with itself, or else into one that is in a state of war and hatred with God, and with its fellow creatures and with itself. To be the one kind of creature is Heaven: that is, it is joy, and peace, and knowledge, and power. To be the other means madness, horror, idiocy, rage, impotence, and eternal loneliness. Each of us at each moment is progressing to the one state or the other.
C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Thoughts for Your Consideration
If we think of the first and third readings only in terms of individual sinfulness, we may miss part of what God is telling us. In the rich tradition of Catholic Social Teaching, we are called not only to look at and repent of our personal sin, but also look at the world and its structures and the need for reconciliation and repentance with respect to social sin.

The prophet in the first reading and the followers whom Jesus addresses, are called to help others be aware of the sin of the world í¢â‚¬" a sin for which no one person is responsible. We all share responsibility. We are all invited to acknowledge our need for reconciliation as we face the realities of social sin -- racism in American society, extreme poverty, economic inequality, structures that allow the violation of human rights, the deterioration of our environment, the repeating practice of war and terrorism, etc. etc.

Catholic Social Teaching challenges us to move away from a privatized religion to a religion that is rooted in community and care for the common good. We are invited to see our sin as not just something between "God and me," but also as something that involves the community í¢â‚¬" that affects the community. Our repentance is reflected in our work to promote justice for this breaks down barriers and creates reconciliation.

The words of Jesus remind us of the need for creative dialogue and conversation between individuals and groups í¢â‚¬" not condemnation and judgment. This is the spirit that is needed as we work to bridge what divides us í¢â‚¬" north and south í¢â‚¬" black and white í¢â‚¬" rich and poor í¢â‚¬" Israeli and Palestinian í¢â‚¬" Iraqi and American í¢â‚¬" worker and manager í¢â‚¬" women and men í¢â‚¬" powerful and powerless.

Questions for Reflection in your Faith Sharing Group
When have you spoken up or challenge your brothers or sisters about some ethical, moral, or social issue? What happened? How did it affect you? How did it affect them?

Actions í¢â‚¬" Links
This weekend we celebrate Labor Day in the United States. The rights of workers and the rights of unions are affirmed by Catholic Social Teaching.

The church fully supports the right of workers to form unions or other associations to secure their rights to fair wages and working conditions. . . . No one may deny the right to organize without attacking human dignity itself. Therefore, we firmly oppose organized efforts, such as those regrettably now seen in this country, to break existing unions and prevent workers from organizing. Migrant agricultural workers today are particularly in need of the protection, including the right to organize and bargain collectively. U.S. labor law reform is needed to meet these problems as well as to provide more timely and effective remedies for unfair labor practices.
U.S. Bishops, Economic Justice for All, #104

Interfaith Worker Justice is "a network of people of faith that calls upon our religious values in order to educate, organize and mobilize the religious community in the United States on issues and campaigns that will improve wages, benefits and working conditions for workers, especially low-wage workers." Go to: http://www.nicwj.org/

The United Farm Workers Union was founded by Cesar Chavez and continues to organize today. It even continues various campaigns on line and invites participation. http://www.ufw.org/.

The Working Families Network (WFN) is "a network of unions that utilize the Internet to get timely news updates and information to those interested in issues concerning America's workers." See http://www.unionvoice.org/wfn/main.html.

Prayer í¢â‚¬" Meditation

Prayer for Peace of Pope John Paul II

To you, Creator of nature and humanity, of truth and beauty, I pray:

Hear my voice, for it is the voice of the victims of all wars and violence among individuals and nations.

Hear my voice, for it is the voice of all children who suffer and will suffer when people put their faith in weapons and war.

Hear my voice, when I beg you to instill into the hearts of all human beings the wisdom of peace, the strength of justice and the joy of fellowship.

Hear my voice, for I speak for the multitudes in every country and every period of history who do not want war and are ready to walk the road of peace.

Hear my voice, and grant insight and strength so that we may always respond to hatred with love, to injustice with total dedication to justice, to need with sharing of self, to war with peace.

O God, hear my voice, and grant unto the world your everlasting peace.

* * *

Worker Justice Litany

One: Let us gather as members of one body before one God.

All: By one Spirit we were baptized into the body of Christ.

One: As one body, we share common hurts, common joys, and a common labor. When poultry workers dignity is abused on the job,

All: We all suffer with them.

One: When a group of janitors finally get health care after months of struggle,

All: We all rejoice with them.

One: When health care workers are fired for trying to organize a union,

All: We all suffer with them.

One: When managers find the courage to call for change in their companies,

All: We all rejoice with them.

One: We are members of one another in the body of Christ. Let us celebrate our baptism in our worship and our living.

All: Thanks be to God!

By Rev. Rebekah Jordan, United Methodist Deacon and former intern at the National Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice. From Labor in the Pulpits 2002, Interfaith Resources for Labor Day Services.