Building Peace with Justice

Building Peace with Justice is a brief, weekly bulletin reflection on Catholic social teaching written by members of a Rochester Diocese Public Policy sub-committee. This is the reflection for April 5:

Headlines scream that we are in dark times; they tell us what we have lost or could be losing - security, job, health, wealth, home. The Scriptures tell us what we have and cannot lose. Isaiah praises God who is our stronghold. Paul to the Philippians assures us that Jesus, as fully human, understands our situation completely and embraces us in our struggles. Mark points the way through the darkest times to the enlightened time of resurrection and the irrevocable gift of eternal life with our God.

REFLECT: Can we embrace these familiar scriptures as assurances of hope and light? In these difficult economic times can we rejoice that our faith promises unconditional love and eternal life? Can each of us be a source of hope and light, generosity and love, understanding and companionship for our friends and neighbors in hard times? What do we really have to lose?