Holy Spirit Catholic Church
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SECOND SUNDAY IN
ORDINARY TIME
January 14, 2007
James D. Wolfensohn is a name you might not recognize, but he has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for some of the top organizations and corporations in the United States. He has also received numerous honorary degrees from some of our nation’s most prestigious colleges and universities. He has also been twice elected President of the 182-nation World Bank. So when he speaks, he knows what he is talking about; and when he speaks, people listen.
A couple of years ago Wolfensohn wrote an article for "America" magazine. It is a well respected middle-of-the-road Catholic magazine published by the Jesuits. The article was entitled "A Call to Global Action.” In it, he literally pleads with the 182 nations of the World Bank to begin working together "to give the poorest people of the world a real hope for a better life."
To illustrate the urgency, he pointed out something that I found incredible. He said that "three billion people, half of the world’s population, live on less than $2.00 a day." It's hard to imagine that kind of poverty, especially sitting here in our comfortable lives, but the poverty he is talking about is not found just in poorer nations. Let's take a look at our own nation.
In 2000 the U.S. Census Bureau filed a disturbing report, stating that the average income of the top 20% in our nation is over $100,000.00, while the bottom 20% is less than $8,000.00.
The report went on to say: "More than 38 million Americans, roughly one in every seven of us, live in conditions that the government officially recognizes as impoverished. Incredibly, more than 15 million of these individuals are children."
Finally, the U.S. Conference of Mayors filed this disturbing report about the homeless in their cities. They said the fastest growing segment of the homeless population in their cities is families with children. As a result, 25% of the homeless population is now made up of children under the age of 18.
Commenting on all of this, the U.S. Catholic bishops said this in "Economic Justice for All": The measure of our economy is not only what it produces, but also how that economy touches human life, whether it protects it or undermines it. This brings us to today's readings, especially the Gospel reading from John and the Second Reading from First Corinthians.
The Gospel reading describes the plight of a young couple who were apparently too poor to supply enough wine for their guests. In their moment of need Mary and Jesus come to the rescue, with the first miracle of Jesus' ministry.
And in the Second Reading, St. Paul tells us that we all have God-given gifts. He goes on to say that these gifts have not been given to us simply for our own personal use, but for the benefit of all.
That brings us back to Wolfensohn's article "A Call to Global Action." As we study it more closely, we see that it is basically, a declaration of war on those things in our society that destroy human dignity and human life. He could have just as well entitled it "A Call to Life."
In 1993 Pope John Paul II presided over World Youth Day in Denver. Amazed by the turnout of young people, the secular press called the event a "Catholic Woodstock." The Holy Father told the nearly one million young people that, as a group, they had special gifts that our society needs badly: idealism, energy, enthusiasm, and courage.
He challenged them to imitate Mary and Joseph in today’s Gospel and to use their gifts for the benefit of all. Specifically, he challenged them to use their gifts of idealism, energy, enthusiasm, and courage to do everything they could to elevate human dignity and human life.
Today some commentators credit the Pope's challenge with bringing about a "turning point" in the life of the Catholic Church in America. How so? It has mobilized an army of dedicated Catholic young people who are following up on his challenge. They are devoting their energy and enthusiasm in many ways to elevate the dignity of the human person and value of human life.
Let me conclude with a reflection from John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address. In it, he sounded a "Call to Action", similar to the one Wolfensohn sounded in his article. President Kennedy concluded his address with these words: "With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking God’s blessing… knowing that here on earth God’s work must truly be our own."
This Monday (Jan.15th) we celebrate Martin Luther King Day. That is certainly a reminder that there is much more work to do if we want to end all forms of racism and establish true equality for all of God's children. Next Monday (Jan.22nd) is the March for Life here in Macon. That is certainly a reminder that we still have much more work to do to protect the most vulnerable and defenseless of all God's children. Please check the bulletin for details and make plans on marching with us.
May the men and women, boys and girls, white and black, rich and poor, young and old of this parish always remember that "here on earth God’s work must truly be our own."