→ LEARN MORE: I love my neighbor who…
This month, we learned about Catholic Social Teaching (CST) as being concerned with upholding and preserving the inherent dignity of all people—young and old, rich and poor, and of all races and creeds! We learned that the Catholic Church teaches us that we are obligated to look after one another, especially those less fortunate financially, physically, spiritually, emotionally, etc. We learned that there are three pillars to CST: Human dignity, compassion (solidarity) and unity (subsidiary), and that we are called to uphold these in small ways in our lives (and within our ability, of course!).
Well, this may all seem well and good but…how can a middle school student cause any change, especially with the injustices in our world that seem to have no solution in sight. While you cannot fix the big problems of the world, there are small ways you can help make a difference in the lives around you. It starts with YOU. One way you can start is by thinking about the ways you use social media to interact with others. Take a look at this reflection by Fr. Casey on whether you are using social media in a healthy way:
Maybe Social Media Isn’t For You...
→ MONTHLY LECTIO DIVINA: Ben Sira 37:1-6 (also known as Sirach or Ecclesiastius, depending on translation)
Choice of Friends
Every friend declares friendship,
but there are friends who are friends in name only.
Is it not a sorrow unto death
when your other self becomes your enemy?
“Alas, my companion! Why were you created
to fill the earth with deceit?”
A harmful friend will look to your table,
but in time of trouble he stands aloof.
A good friend will fight with you against the foe,
and against your enemies he will hold up your shield.
Do not forget your comrade during the battle,
and do not neglect him when you distribute your spoils.
Questions to Consider
- What do you think Sirach means when he writes, “Every friend declares friendship, but there are friends who are friends in name only?” Have you ever experienced this before?
- Why are good friendships important for us, and for those around us? Can you think of a time when a friend has positively or negatively influenced the way you acted?
- How can good friendships help us change the world around us?
→ MONTHLY VISIO DIVINA: The Last Supper by Peter-Paul Rubens
About this piece
The painting depicts Jesus and the Apostles during the Last Supper, with Judas dressed in blue turning back towards the viewer and away from the table. Other than Jesus, the most prominent figure is Judas. Judas holds his right hand to his mouth with his eyes avoiding direct contact with the other figures in the painting creating a nervous expression. Jesus is dressed in red and has a yellow halo surrounding his head with his face tilted upwards. Jesus is located centrally in the painting surrounded by his disciples with six on each side, and he holds a loaf of bread with a cup of wine in front of him. Out of all of the figures, he is the most in the light with the figures to the farthest left being the most in shadow. "The scene thus represents a perfect conflation of the theological significance of the Last Supper" meaning the conflation between the blessing of the bread and the wine while still being pivotal in the sense of revealing the betrayal.
(Source: https://www.peterpaulrubens.net/the-last-supper.jsp, Freedberg, David. "The Last Supper." In Peter Paul Rubens: Oil Paintings and Oil Sketches. New York: Gagosian Gallery, 1995).
Questions to Consider:
- What catches your eye about this picture? Describe why it catches your eye. What do you think God is trying to tell you through this? How do you see yourself in this picture?
- The disciples were Jesus’ friends. They ate with him, laughed with him, cried with him, and learned from him (even Judas!). In the picture above, all the disciples are staring at Jesus. Judas is not. Why do you think this is?
HOMEWORK
- Write a reflection on Ben Sira 37:1-6 and The Last Supper using the questions as guidance (3-5 sentences for each).
