The
Community
at
Prayer
Reflection
by
Father
Paul
M.
Baca
September
20,
2009,
25th
Sunday
in
Ordinary
Time
Our
second
reading
today
comes
from
the
Letter
of
St.
James
and
I
reflected
for
a
while
on
the
opening
verse,
"Where
jealousy
and
selfish
ambition
exist,
there
is
disorder
and
every
foul
practice."
I
thought,
This
really
spells
out
the
condition
of
our
society
in
so
many
countries
where
political
leaders
are
jockeying
for
power
and
seemingly
forgetting
that
as
political
leaders,
they
should
be
united
in
serving
the
people
that
they
are
supposed
to
be
leading.
However, I chose to reflect on the following verse. "But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits without inconstancy or insincerity; and the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace." Yesterday I visited a friend that I had not seen for a long while and as we talked he brought out a great basic truth. He said, "If society is going to progress in the way of life enhancement and dignity, each one of us has to start with the concept I am my brother's keeper." As I drove home I appreciated the wisdom of that short comment because if I am my brother's keeper, I must embrace compassion at its fullest; that is, I must suffer with those who are suffering and I must celebrate life with those of us who have the luxury of being well taken care of. I find it so sad that there are so many voices coming at us from all directions that seem to be totally detached from any semblance of compassion. Concern for the marginalized and voiceless is noticeably missing from their constant message. Little wonder that St. James addresses the result of the absence of compassion, "Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice."
In these troubled times for the human family I believe that it is very beneficial as human beings and Christians to keep in mind the basic message of Jesus, "Love God above all things and love your neighbor as yourself." I try to imagine the result that would ensue if the human family, and I mean every member of it, would embrace the teaching of Jesus and the concept I am my brother's keeper.
I
am
very
aware
that
not
the
whole
human
family
is
enslaved
by
unbridled
greed
and
self
indulgence,
but
so
often
I
find
it
difficult
to
focus
on
all
the
wonderful
people
that
so
generously
live
the
teaching
of
Jesus.
Brian
Williams
has
a
closing
portion
of
his
newscast
entitled,
"Making
a
Difference."
It
seems
that
he
does
not
have
any
difficulty
in
finding
the
many
people,
mostly
ordinary
people,
who
daily
make
a
difference
in
the
lives
of
those
around
them.
I
believe
that
we
would
do
well
by
focusing
on
people,
rich
and
poor,
who
make
it
a
point
to
make
a
difference
for
the
betterment
of
our
society.
And
I
believe
that
the
words
of
St.
James
will
always
be
helpful,
"But
the
wisdom
from
above
is
first
of
all
pure,
then
peaceable,
gentle,
compliant,
full
of
mercy
and
good
fruits
without
inconstancy
or
insincerity;
and
the
fruit
of
righteousness
is
sown
in
peace
for
those
who
cultivate
peace."