The Social Dimension of the Paschal Mystery Article 3 Catholic Social Teaching Document #: TX001944

True faith always has a social dimension. p13 Should “religion and politics mix”? Christ cam to afflict the comforted and comfort the afflicted” Our faith pushes us to show compassion to the oppressed, justice builders, and peace makers Image in shutterstock True faith always has a social dimension.

Image in shutterstock God’s plan of salvation is both personal and communal. We need to care about others, not just ourselves. p13

P14 The New Testament teaches us that God’s love is fulfilled through the life and work of Jesus Christ. Image in shutterstock We call this the Paschal Mystery—the life, death, Resurrection, and Ascension of Jesus Christ. The Paschal Mystery is the fulfillment of the New Covenant that God makes with all people.

The Incarnation is the union of human and divine natures in one Divine person, Jesus Christ. P14 Christ gave us a New Law (the Sermon on the Mount) to teach us how to live as citizens of God’s Kingdom, completing the instruction that began with the Old Law. Image in shutterstock The Holy Spirit empowers us to build the Kingdom of God here on earth. By respecting the life and dignity of every person, sharing material goods, and protecting the essential rights of all. Interesting Fact: Matthew’s Gospel refers to the Kingdom of God four times.

The Social Dimension of the Paschal Mystery P15 The NT about living justly… “Not everyone who says Lord, Lord will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the ones who does the will of my Father in heaven.” MT 7:21 “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” James 2:14-17

For people to enter into the New Covenant, we must Image in shutterstock Image in shutterstock Image in shutterstock place our faith in Jesus, and follow Christ’s New Law of Love. be baptized,

Individual and Communal p15-16 Salvation has an individual and communal dimension An individual’s salvation flows from personal decisions and actions How do we choose to “be Christ” (as part of the Body of Christ)? The rich and powerful Jesus frequently challenged the norms of his world regarding the rich and poor Wealth was considered a blessing from God; sickness retribution for sin Whoever wishes to be first among you must shall be your slave.: -Mt 20:25

The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. “There was a rich man* who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day.20And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld,* where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.’ Abraham replied, ‘My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented

Individual and Communal p15-16 When people respond to God’s call, they become members of His Church Sacraments are a communal activity The decision to follow Christ is an individual one, but one lives that out communally As the Church grew, charity was among its essential activities… Sacraments, proclaiming the word and care for widows, orphans, prisoners, needy, and sick

The New Law of Christ requires us to: • be compassionate toward others, • live justly, • respect the life and dignity of every person, • share our material goods to help others in need, • and build just societies that protect the essential rights of all people. By Leon Brocard (originally posted to Flickr as IXS_2631) [CC-BY-2.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

The Holy Spirit calls us to conversion, empowers us for service, and helps us to grow in holiness. Image in shutterstock

Image in shutterstock Each person’s salvation is based on his or her personal decision and actions. We must commit to being a member of the Body of Christ, make decisions to partake in the Sacraments, make good moral choices, serve others, and live a just life.

The communal dimension of salvation is based in community The communal dimension of salvation is based in community. We are united as one family through the Sacraments and are therefore called to take care of all our brothers and sisters in Christ. Image in shutterstock

Image in shutterstock The New Law reveals the Old Law’s true meaning because Jesus fulfilled the Old Law perfectly. He took upon himself all the sins against the Old Law and redeemed them, making salvation possible for all people.

Image in shutterstock The new life we receive from Christ calls us to put love into practice by performing acts of charity and building just social structures.

Jesus welcomed the societal outcasts, and he calls us to do the same. One of the most foundational social justice principles is that we must see the image of God in every person, as did Jesus, our role model. Jesus welcomed the societal outcasts, and he calls us to do the same. WikiMediaComons Image in shutterstock

Jesus taught that mercy and forgiveness are an essential part of God’s justice. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus instructs us to forgive others and not to respond to transgressions by means of violence. By Louise Docker from sydney, Australia [CC-BY-2.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Jesus taught that detachment from wealth is necessary for entering the Kingdom of God. Jesus also asked some of his wealthy followers to share their wealth with those who are poor. Image in shutterstock

Jesus taught that people who care for those who are poor and vulnerable (the corporal works of mercy) are placed at God’s right hand and receive the gift of eternal life. WikiMediaCommons