Day 253: Participation in Public Life (1913-1927)

• It’s Day 253!!

• RESPONSIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION

• We all, to whatever degree that we are able, must participate according to our position and role in promoting the common good

• This is baseline humanity

• We need community

• As part of that community, we need to participate in that community

• We can’t just merely be recipients of the benefits of the common good

• We have to be contributors in some ways as well

• We can’t just be consumers

• We have to participate and take personal responsibility for whatever we can do

• It involves a deeper sense of conversion

• Not just data transfer

• It’s about transformation

• Paragraph 1916 says, “As with any ethical obligation, the participation of all in realizing the common good calls for a continually renewed conversion of the social partners. Fraud and other subterfuges, by which some people evade the constraints of the law and the prescriptions of societal obligation, must be firmly condemned because they are incompatible with the requirements of justice. Much care should be taken to promote institutions that improve the conditions of human life.”

• We are here for conversion

• We are here to take responsibility for our own spiritual lives

• We are here to take responsibility for what we can do to promote the common good and participate in the life of society

• Let’s pray!!

Prayer by Fr. Mike: “Father in Heaven, we praise you and we glorify your name. In the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, we ask that you please help us. Help us to see where it is we have a circle of influence and where we merely have a circle of interest. We ask that you please help us in that circle of influence to act in whatever way is best, not just for ourselves, and for those who are close to us, but also for the common good. Help us to act in whatever way is best for the most amount of people. Help us to always take responsibility for our individual and personal participation in our society, in your Church, and in the way in which you desire to save the world. Jesus, please send us your Holy Spirit. Send your Holy Spirit upon the earth and renew the face of the earth. Pour forth your Spirit into our hearts, into our minds. And help us take responsibility for the tasks and the positions, the roles that you have given to us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen”

• So there we have it!!

• Paragraph 1913 says, “‘Participation’ is the voluntary and generous engagement of a person in social interchange. It is necessary that all participate, each according to his position and role, in promoting the common good. This obligation is inherent in the dignity of the human person.”

• It all comes back to freedom

• It all comes back to human dignity

• As often as we talk about the common good, to help each other, to go beyond our mere selves, and assist and work with others for the advancement of the Church, for the advancement of people in general…

• IT MUST BE CHOSEN FREELY

• It has to come from a place of freedom

• This is not optional

• This is an obligation

• St. Theresa of Calcutta said, “The reason we have no peace is we forgot that we belong to each other.”

• We are not able to have the advancement of the common good is that we do not take personal responsibility in our roles in promoting the common good

• The principle of subsidiarity is that if anything can be done at the local level, whatever that level is, it should not be taken away by a higher level

• Therefore, if I CAN do the thing then I SHOULD  do the thing

• Let’s listen to Fr. Mike’s story…

• SEE A NEED, FILL A NEED

• If we did that, that is the principle of subsidiarity

• Paragraph 1914 says, “Participation is achieved first of all by taking charge of the areas for which one assumes personal responsibility: by the care taken for the education of his family, by conscientious work, and so forth man participates in the good of others and of society.”

• We have a NEED to take personal responsibility

• We cannot be mature Christians unless we take personal responsibility for our spiritual growth

• We cannot be mature adults until we take personal responsibility for the areas in which we ought to be responsible

• If we abdicate responsibility, we will never grow

• We will never be the people God wants us to be if we abdicate responsibility

• When we take responsibility for someone who has been entrusted to us, that is an incredible sign of maturity

• Some people have a primary task of working in the home and they don’t get paid

• They take care of their children, home, and family

• You could be retired

• Being retired is no excuse for abdicating the tasks that God has placed in your life

• Ok Fr. Mike is talking to the retired people so I’m not going to write this down haha…

• In doing a task, how do we do it?

• Conscientiously 

• With purpose

• Paragraph 1915 says, “As far as possible citizens should take an active part in public life. The manner of this participation may vary from one country or culture to another. ‘One must pay tribute to those nations whose systems permit the largest possible number of the citizens to take part in public life in a climate of genuine freedom.’”

• We have a lot of rights as Americans

• BUT…

• Those rights come with responsibilities

• Just like in the Church

• If we have the right to vote, we have an obligation to learn enough to vote wisely

• There are countries that do not allow the largest number of its own citizens to take part in public life

• Or you can participate, but it is not in a climate of genuine freedom

• We have to take an active part in public life to advance the common good

• None of us live in a perfect society

• None of us live under perfect government

• Why?

• Because our government is made up of sinners like us

• Paragraph 1916 says, “As with any ethical obligation, the participation of all in realizing the common good calls for a continually renewed conversion of the social partners. Fraud and other subterfuges, by which some people evade the constraints of the law and the prescriptions of societal obligation, must be firmly condemned because they are incompatible with the requirements of justice. Much care should be taken to promote institutions that improve the conditions of human life.”

• What does that mean?

• Every one of us is broken by sin and affected by Original Sin

• Because of that, there is temptation towards fraud, subterfuge, and to evade the constraints of the law

• This has to be firmly condemned because it is incompatible with justice

• We can’t have justice if some laws apply to some people and they don’t apply to all people

• If you know any of these areas, that might be an area that God is inviting you to support or to participate in

• Paragraph 1917 says, “It is incumbent on those who exercise authority to strengthen the values that inspire the confidence of the members of the group and encourage them to put themselves at the service of others. Participation begins with education and culture. ‘One is entitled to think that the future of humanity is in the hands of those who are capable of providing the generations to come with reasons for life and optimism.’”

• Another Fr. Mike story about a general and the medal of honor…

• “Why Johnny Can’t Tell Right From Wrong” is the name of the book

• We tell stories and stories move us

• Stories shape us

• If we want the next generation to be just, we tell stories of justice

• If we want the next generation to be merciful, we tell stories of mercy

• If we want the next generation to be courageous, we tell stories of courage

• If we want the next generation to be holy, we tell stories of holiness

• It is incumbent on those who exercise authority

• Parents

• Teachers

• Priests

• There is such a need for us to tell those stories that don’t just describe the way forward, but they point the way forward

• They reveal stories of what it means to live justice

• What it means to be honest in this world

• What it means to be brave and courageous

• What it means to choose others before yourself

• What it means to lay down your life

• We get those stories in the Gospels

• It is so important to fill our minds with our biblical stories so that we can shape our lens and see this world as incumbent on us who have any kind of authority over anyone, to tell those stories

• This is a good way to live

• This is the best way to live

• This is the wrong way to live

• This is a great way to live

• That is what all of us are called to do when it comes to participating in our community and in advancing the common good

• Fr. Mike is praying FOR YOU!!

• Please pray for Fr. Mike and for each other!!

• Toodles…..