Ordinary time week 14, Mt 9, 32-38
Vatican II introduced different models of Church, one being a Pilgrim People on a journey together to God. This shared journey of faith could be likened to a journey with God or as Jacob experienced it, a struggle with God. It takes little imagination to recognise that our journey with God is a constant struggle and, like Jacob, we don’t let go even if, at times, our hold on God seems very, very weak. It is because of this struggle that our understanding of God grows and through our interaction, we strengthen and encourage each other. Fortunately, for the majority, the struggle does not end with a damaged sciatic nerve! Like Jacob, we are given a new name and identity. We are called Christian - a family open to everyone without exception. Since the experience of God is unique to each of us, we can only develop a fuller understanding of God together not just within the Catholic family but also with other Christians and members of other faiths.
We cannot truly call on God, the Father of all, if we refuse to treat fraternally anyone created in the image of God as we all are. Our relationship with the Father and the Father’s relationship with all others is linked: as Scripture states: "He who does not love does not know God" (1 Jn 4:8). There is no theoretical or practical support for any kind of discrimination as far as their human dignity and rights are concerned. The Church reproves, as foreign to the mind of Christ, discrimination or harassment of any kind because of a person’s race, colour, condition of life, or religion. On the contrary, following in the footsteps of the apostles Peter and Paul, all the faithful are implored to "maintain good fellowship among the nations" (1 Pt 2:12), and, if possible, to live in peace with everyone, (14) so that they may truly be children of the Father in heaven.”
by Fr Thomas O'BRIEN a.a