Lesson of the Week: A Loving Community

Fr. Albertus Herwanta, O.Carm

Now, we live in a global world where nations across all continents are interconnected and interdependent through advancements in transportation and communication technologies. This has created a new culture called globalization, which motivates many international economic and political leaders to take advantage of its advantages. They believe that globalization will bring a better future for humankind.

Globalization has positive impacts on social, political, and economic development. Some effects on economic development include increased trade and investment opportunities, greater efficiency and productivity, the spread of new technologies and knowledge, and the potential for economic growth.

However, globalization also negatively impacts many sectors of life, such as widening income inequality and environmental degradation. Rich countries are getting richer, and the poor ones are getting much poorer. Globalization also facilitates the spread of terrorism in the international arena. It has brought various crises and has not successfully created the just society people dream of. It is a big challenge for the global community.

As part of the global community, Christians are called to fight against all inequality. In his exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium (EG), Pope Francis states,

"Today, in many places, we hear a call for greater security. But until exclusion and inequality in society and between peoples are reversed, it will be impossible to eliminate violence. The poor and the poorer peoples are accused of violence, yet without equal opportunities, the different forms of aggression and conflict will find a fertile terrain for growth and eventually explode" (EG no. 59).

The readings on the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time remind us of that call. The Book of Nehemiah describes the joy that the people of Israel experienced upon their return to Jerusalem. They enjoyed being one community and listened to God's words and wisdom.

Saint Paul teaches us about the Church, the mystical body of Christ. All members of the Church are united to be one body by and in Christ Jesus. "As the body is one, having many members, and all the members, while being many, form one body, so it is with Christ. All of us, whether Jews or Greeks, enslaved people or free, have been baptized in one Spirit to form one body, and all of us have been given to drink from the one Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:12-13).

It illustrates that the "DNA" of Christians is love and unity, and they follow Jesus to build one loving community. There is no discrimination against anyone in the community. Instead, they respect each member's uniqueness. Moreover, they help each other so that nobody is left without any care from others.

They learn how to do this from Jesus Christ, the Messiah, who comes to bring good news to the poor, proclaim liberty to captives and new sight to the blind, free the oppressed, and announce the Lord's year of mercy (Luke 4:18-19). Jesus said, "Today, these prophetic words come true, even as you listen" (Luke 4:21).

Do we see Today the fulfillment of Jesus' words? Do we not still see wars and conflicts, injustice and oppression? So many prisoners have not yet been set free. However, we believe that Jesus has brought the prophecy into reality. This is obvious from what Jesus did for the poor, the oppressed, and the captives.

Today, Jesus continues his work of salvation in His body, the Church. It is the responsibility of all Christians to build a loving community. We can do that because Jesus Christ has granted us a gift of love. (*)