It Don’t Matter if You’re Black or White
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Today’s Gospel (Matthew 22:34-40) speaks of something that almost all Christians and many non-believers have heard: the two greatest commandments. Love God totally and completely and love your neighbor as yourself (I’m paraphrasing, of course).
I can talk about this in very vague ways that won’t offend anyone. But the Church teaches that we can have good, constructive, respectful arguments. Free of hate and judgment. Free of condemnation. So I write this not to upset or offend anyone, but to challenge us to really reflect on our beliefs. And if any of you would like to sit down face to face and talk about this, let’s do it. Emails and tweets and posts can only do so much.
There is so much hype around being able to speak your mind. Being able to express your opinion. It has become such a “right,” that it supersedes what is most important: the Truth. People believe that their opinion is fact and truth.
But what is the Truth? Well, if you’re a Catholic it’s pretty easy to know what the Truth is. Right?
There are Catholics in every corner of this spherical globe – from all types of cultures of every age. Does the Catholic Church really believe that every single one of us needs to believe the exact same thing about every situation?
No. She doesn’t.
It’s one of the beautiful (and also most frustrating) aspects of the Church. There are times when I see or hear of Catholics doing something that I think doesn’t really represent Church teaching. But that doesn’t mean it actually goes against Church teaching (for one, I don’t know everything the Church teaches).
There are a whole lot of ways to celebrate and live out the Catholic faith. You have people who live a celibate life (from priests and nuns to single lay people). There are people who serve the Church as missionaries, evangelists, and apologists. There are people who serve the Church by helping the homeless and hungry. Who serve the Church by donating their time outside of work, their treasure from work, and their talent from God (well, their time and treasure also come from God, technically).
There are a variety of ways to celebrate Mass (big difference between a daily Mass in Morgan Hill and a Mass in the perspective of Black Culture…biiiig difference).
And there’s a difference between the Truth and the truth. There is the Truth that every Catholic should believe, and the truth that Catholics can believe. Catholics can believe in the miracles that happen – but they don’t need to. Catholics should believe that every human life has value. But do they? Many Catholics support abortion, the death penalty, and turning away refugees.
Some of you might think, Deepu, you’re getting too political. Maybe, but why is caring for other human beings considered politics? The Catholic Church doesn’t fall under Republicans or Democrats. It’s not left or right, black or white. It’s not in the middle either. The Church is exactly where it needs to be.
Today’s First Reading (Exodus 22:20-26) can very easily get political – especially with what’s been happening with DACA (and people say the Bible isn’t relevant).
But I don’t think the argument is really over whether immigrants have a right to live a dignified life. I think the argument is more about who’s responsibility it is to provide or help get each person to live that life.
Well, since the 1st Reading & Gospel are always connected, what does the second greatest commandment (according to Jesus, anyway) say about it?
a hee hee!
