This is the commandment we have from Him

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Pope Benedict XVI’s encyclical “Caritas in veritate” is the last of the three encyclicals he wrote, and it is a “social encyclical”. His first encyclical, “Deus Caritas Est” (God is Love), signed Dec. 25, 2005, was more of a theological one, (“On Christian Love”). Like two “bookends”, these two encyclicals remind us of the two great Commandments: Love of God and Love of Neighbor. God’s Truth remains: "If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. This is the commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother." (1 John 4:20 - 21)

It became increasingly important to me, as I began reading this document, to keep listenting to God speaking through His Church the fullness of Truth the Holy Spirit was promised to bring to us. Pope Benedict XVI is speaking God’s Truth to us in this social encyclical, yet it has taken me this long (12 years to even read and listen to what he wrote). I know some on CAF have read at least some threads I’ve posted on this encyclical. I hope they continue and I hope new persons will begin. I looked ahead to tomorrow’s excerpt in which Pope Benedict begins to address the most pressing issue of our time, it seems to me : “Respect for Life”. This is fundamental to loving our neighbor and especially for Christians who are commanded to “love one another.” How can anyone who bears the name “Christian” kill an innocent, defenseless life in the womb? How can we ignore any brother or sister? Today, may we learn more about “Charity in Truth”:

1. Life in many poor countries is still extremely insecure as a consequence of food shortages, and the situation could become worse: hunger still reaps enormous numbers of victims among those who, like Lazarus, are not permitted to take their place at the rich man’s table, contrary to the hopes expressed by Paul VI. Feed the hungry (cf. Mt 25: 35, 37, 42) is an ethical imperative for the universal Church, as she responds to the teachings of her Founder, the Lord Jesus, concerning solidarity and the sharing of goods. Moreover, the elimination of world hunger has also, in the global era, become a requirement for safeguarding the peace and stability of the planet. Hunger is not so much dependent on lack of material things as on shortage of social resources, the most important of which are institutional. What is missing, in other words, is a network of economic institutions capable of guaranteeing regular access to sufficient food and water for nutritional needs, and also capable of addressing the primary needs and necessities ensuing from genuine food crises, whether due to natural causes or political irresponsibility, nationally and internationally. The problem of food insecurity needs to be addressed within a long-term perspective, eliminating the structural causes that give rise to it and promoting the agricultural development of poorer countries. This can be done by investing in rural infrastructures, irrigation systems, transport, organization of markets, and in the development and dissemination of agricultural technology that can make the best use of the human, natural and socio-economic resources that are more readily available at the local level, while guaranteeing their sustainability over the long term as well. All this needs to be accomplished with the involvement of local communities in choices and decisions that affect the use of agricultural land. In this perspective, it could be useful to consider the new possibilities that are opening up through proper use of traditional as well as innovative farming techniques, always assuming that these have been judged, after sufficient testing, to be appropriate, respectful of the environment and attentive to the needs of the most deprived peoples. At the same time, the question of equitable agrarian reform in developing countries should not be ignored. The right to food, like the right to water, has an important place within the pursuit of other rights, beginning with the fundamental right to life. It is therefore necessary to cultivate a public conscience that considers food and access to water as universal rights of all human beings, without distinction or discrimination. It is important, moreover, to emphasize that solidarity with poor countries in the process of development can point towards a solution of the current global crisis, as politicians and directors of international institutions have begun to sense in recent times. Through support for economically poor countries by means of financial plans inspired by solidarity — so that these countries can take steps to satisfy their own citizens’ demand for consumer goods and for development — not only can true economic growth be generated, but a contribution can be made towards sustaining the productive capacities of rich countries that risk being compromised by the crisis.

God has permitted us to “look into this encyclical”. By His Grace may we hear what each of us might do – to love our brothers and sisters truly. I’d be grateful to hear from anyone who has read this thread. Thanks.

 

[Michael_Mayo]

Thank you for this opportunity. I don’t think many Catholics read entire encyclical nor are aware of the complete social teaching of the Church. They can be tough reads. But if we take them in small pieces for meditation they can be quite inspirational.

This current quote two things strike me. "What is missing, in other words, is a network of economic institutions capable of guaranteeing regular access to sufficient food and water for nutritional needs, and also capable of addressing the primary needs and necessities ensuing from genuine food crises, whether due to natural causes or political irresponsibility, nationally and internationally. "The first is that some action needs to go far beyond individual actions, systemic actions. These involve governments and are part of the proper function of governments.

The second has to do with cultivating public conscience that views access to food and water as universal rights. “Public conscience”! Wow so much to be done on so many issues. How do we cultivate public conscience on anything if we can’t do it on life in the womb, access to food, and access to water. How do we as individuals contribute to this larger public edification?

 

[HCTC]

Thank you for this post. Although this encyclical by Pope Benedict XVI was written 12 years ago, it is so relevant today - not surprising since it is obviously timeless in nature.

It stirred two responses in me. The first is my struggle (and feelings of failure) to truly love all of my family members and how my focus on that struggle impedes my reaching out more to those outside my family. It occurs to me that reaching outside my family more could help me to be more loving, kind, and charitable towards individual family members.

My second thought is that to effectively address what are essentially global issues of hunger and the other results of economic disparity requires an organized, consolidate response that needs political will and leadership. Unfortunately, at this moment in the nation that through God’s blessings is most materially advantaged on Earth there is little will and less leadership to address the issues of economic disparity not only globally but even for our own countrymen. Witness the elimination of the School Lunch Program and Meals on Wheels.

 

[MariaChristi]

Thank you for this opportunity. I don’t think many Catholics read entire encyclical nor are aware of the complete social teaching of the Church. They can be tough reads. But if we take them in small pieces for meditation they can be quite inspirational.

This current quote two things strike me. "What is missing, in other words, is a network of economic institutions capable of guaranteeing regular access to sufficient food and water for nutritional needs, and also capable of addressing the primary needs and necessities ensuing from genuine food crises, whether due to natural causes or political irresponsibility, nationally and internationally. "The first is that some action needs to go far beyond individual actions, systemic actions. These involve governments and are part of the proper function of governments.

The second has to do with cultivating public conscience that views access to food and water as universal rights. “Public conscience”! Wow so much to be done on so many issues. How do we cultivate public conscience on anything if we can’t do it on life in the womb, access to food, and access to water. How do we as individuals contribute to this larger public edification?

Dear Michael,

Thanks for your reply. While not many read encyclicals, some do – and you have at least responded to this excerpt. Each member of the Body of Christ needs to function properly, by God’s Grace, if we are to build up the Body in love. So your final question is most important: “How do we as individuals contribute to this larger public edification.?”

It seems to me:

First, we need to pray earnestly to God, through the intercession of Mary our Mother, for the grace to do whatever He tells us.

Second, we need to listen to His Holy Spirit, sent to bring us into All Truth (Jn 16:13) that we may hear, and do the Truth we hear.

Third, we need to remember everything is Grace; without God, we can do nothing.

God alone knows our hearts and why we choose to do or not do what is possible for His Glory and the “larger public edification”. Please let us pray for one another, for the Church and for all those in most need of God’s Mercy that we may be faithful to Him, in all things.

 

[MariaChristi]

Thank you for this post. Although this encyclical by Pope Benedict XVI was written 12 years ago, it is so relevant today - not surprising since it is obviously timeless in nature.

It stirred two responses in me. The first is my struggle (and feelings of failure) to truly love all of my family members and how my focus on that struggle impedes my reaching out more to those outside my family. It occurs to me that reaching outside my family more could help me to be more loving, kind, and charitable towards individual family members.

My second thought is that to effectively address what are essentially global issues of hunger and the other results of economic disparity requires an organized, consolidate response that needs political will and leadership. Unfortunately, at this moment in the nation that through God’s blessings is most materially advantaged on Earth there is little will and less leadership to address the issues of economic disparity not only globally but even for our own countrymen. Witness the elimination of the School Lunch Program and Meals on Wheels.

Dear HCTC,

Thanks for your reply. It is a struggle often to love every member of our family and indeed every soul God creates in His Image and Likeness. I’m thinking I may go back and re-read Pope Benedict’s first encyclical “Deus Caritas Est” (God is Love), after I finish reading this last of his encyclicals “Caritas in veritate” (Charity in Truth). St. John of the Cross wrote that in the evening of life we will be examined on love. (Some translate “examined” as “judged”.) It seems to me, all of us need to look at our relationship with God first in prayer, and see how far we have wandered, or how much closer we need to be, in order to love as He has loved us.

While it is a struggle, by God’s Grace, we need to persevere in remembering that God loved us first and Jesus died that we could be “free” to love and to be in friendship with Him after our first parents sinned. Our journey on this earth is difficult mainly because of sin – our own sins and the sins of others. Nevertheless God continues to offer mercy to repentant sinners, and welcome us home, so we can persevere and grow in our faith in Him, our hope in Him and most of all our love for Him — and our love for others because of our love for Him.

Please let us pray for one another that we may be truly loving in our immediate families and our families will radiate love to others because of God’s grace being shared among us and through us to all those we meet. Nothing is impossible with God!