The lectionary as a guide to thinking about poverty (original) (raw)
THE CHRISTIAN RESPONSE TO POVERTY: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE 21st CENTURY CHURCH
Journal of Community Positive Practices, 2021
The concept of poverty is multifaceted as regards to humanity because of its description as being spiritual and material. From its antiquity, poverty has contributed to hunger and other related effects such as diseases which have fuelled the devastations of global community in matters of food production. This article focuses on the Christian response to poverty and its implications to the 21st century Church. It addresses the nature of poverty as absolute and relative. The causes based on the Church's historical proponents, theologians and biblical causes are highlighted. In its implications, one should take a holistic approach towards human sustenance of good life. God is the source of this wealth and material possessions are good and valuable, that man should not pride with it in exclusion of God. In conclusion, transformation of the sinful humanity is the beginning of the alleviation of both spiritual and material poverty. Stewardship and generosity are the gateway out of poverty.
Poverty in the Early Church and Today
2019
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In this paper I will present ‘my theology of poverty.’ I will seek to present a synthesis of the learning that I have experienced over the last the semester, as I have journeyed under the watchful eye of my Professor Karen McKinney. I will provide biblical texts that have helped guide my understanding of poverty and also report on skills and techniques that I have learnt to engage biblical texts, in an attempt to discover the meaning of the Holy Scriptures. Furthermore, I will look deeper at the current issues of poverty today, in the light of materials covered in class, as well as contemporary issues of poverty facing our 21st century society. Finally, I will summarize my thoughts, in presenting my theology of poverty and the way in which I intend to live out my convictions that are propelled by my theology.
A few remarks about the lectionary after fifty years of existence
This paper aims to present the historical development of the lectionary for use in the Holy Mass, then to summarize the principles of the present lectionary and its ecumenical meaning, more specifically, its influence on the protestant lectionary. Based on the historical facts and the recent documents of the Holy See, the proposal for partial renewal of the Sunday Lectionary will be discussed. The main method used in the study is the analysis of the historical sources, documents of the Holy See, and theological studies. The critical analysis and comparative method will lead to the synthetic presentation of postulates of the partial renewal of the present lectionary after fifty years of usage in the liturgy. The analysis conclusions provide suggestions for the enrichment of the lectionary: firstly, with the passages from the Old Testament read in their whole context, not only according to the harmonization with the text of the Gospel; secondly, with the thematic selection of the second reading compatible with the first reading, and the Gospel reading; thirdly, with the texts pointing out the role of women in the history of salvation.
2018
The poor continues to struggle in the midst of their powerlessness. What does it mean to be the 'Church of the Poor' in our time? Pope Francis recognizes the challenges and dangers in the mission to protect the powerless. In the face of conflicts, the Catholic Church believes that its evangelizing mission involves a moral as well as a difficult political task. The Church contributes to the realization of social justice. But decades after Vatican II, secularism threatens the important position of the Church in human society. A Church that is silent about violence and oppression is morally troubling. In a way, protecting the dignity of persons is a type of commitment that calls for radical engagement. The question is, how can the Church remain significant in the struggle of the people against injustice? The paper argues that the universal Church should pursue its evangelizing mission of emancipating the oppressed from institutional forces that threaten the dignity of persons through the radical power of Christ's message of love.
Old Testament Preaching from the Lectionary: Challenge, Case Study, and Reflection
This article reflects upon preaching Old Testament texts from the Revised Common Lectionary in light of a recent three-year experiment of favoring the Old Testament readings for sermon development. Old Testament texts in the lectionary experience re-contextualization due to their appropriation as supporting material for the Synoptic Gospel readings and the metanarrative of the “church year.” Countering the resulting transformation or loss of meaning calls for attention to canonical context, including the trajectory that Old Testament texts themselves set toward New Testament themes.
A Revolution in Catholic Thought on Poverty: Engaging the Poor Means Engaging in History
The American Journal of Economics and Sociology, 2021
Perhaps nowhere else has the Vatican II document Gaudium et spes been appropriated more radically and completely than by the Catholic Church of Latin America. The gathering of bishops at Medellín, Colombia in 1968 and the documents produced there represent a significant appropriation of the new possibilities opened up by Gaudium et spes. The new emphasis on "justice" allowed the Church to leave older "charity" approaches aside and the "dynamism" embodied by social doctrinal change would allow this episcopal body to affirm a preferential option for the poor that was both multifaceted and revolutionary. A careful consideration of documents from the Medellín Conference reveal the strong influence of Gaudium et spes, especially in how the Latin American Church moved beyond the traditional societas perfectas model of church/state relations indicative of past centuries with its new commitment to transforming the world. This presentation will highlight certain texts of Gaudium et spes and their influence upon the Medellín documents.
Poverty and Philanthropy: Understanding the Church's Initiatives towards Poverty Reduction
International Journal of Scientific Research Studies, 2024
Global poverty is one of the world's most pressing contemporary problems. Different scholars define poverty in different ways. According to the United Nations (1995) and the World Bank (1990), poverty can take different forms like homelessness, an inadequate, unsafe, and degraded environment; hunger and malnutrition; poor health; limited or no access to education and other essential services; increased morbidity and mortality from illness; and social exclusion and discrimination. In all these, the African continent is not exempted. Faith-based organisations, including the church, have always played a central role in supporting those experiencing poverty. The objectives of this study are to examine the causes and effects of poverty and its prevalence in contemporary Nigerian society. The study will also ascertain the roles some churches are playing in poverty reduction. Interviews with some selected Christians were conducted. The researcher also interacted with some secondary sources like related literature, newspapers and internet sources. Findings revealed that some churches in Ilorin West L.G.A employ different methods like setting up welfare committees; organizing workshops and vocational training and empowerment; free education and scholarship to the indigents; securing jobs for the people; and providing free transportation to relieve members of the financial burden of transporting themselves to church. These findings and implications were discussed within the purview of divine command theory towards the reduction of poverty. The following recommendations were made at the end of the paper: The Church must have an interest in or concern for the poor and demonstrate philanthropic gestures to them; involvement in advocacy for poverty reduction in public spaces; organization of training in proper income management and growth.