Dear Friends,
A couple of weeks ago, I gave a presentation to the people who will be joining Ixim on the annual mission trip to Huehuetenango in Guatemala. The presentation was on the virtue of solidarity, which is core to what we attempt to do on our mission trips. It is a virtue that is relatively new to our Catholic understanding. It completes our understanding of charity, justice and subsidiarity in the church’s long tradition of enfleshing Jesus’ teachings.
Pope St. John Paul II was a strong proponent of adding solidarity to Catholic teaching. In his encyclical, Solicitudo rei Socialis, he teaches: Solidarity is not a feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of so many people, both near and far. On the contrary, it is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good; that is to say, to the good of all and of each individual, because we are all really responsible for all…Interdependence must be transformed into solidarity, based upon the principle that the goods of creation are meant for all. Solidarity is what is meant in Ephesians when St. Paul writes that we are all “members one of another”. So, the opposite of solidarity are things like inequality, exploitation and oppression, as well greed and selfishness. Solidarity in a very real way transforms both the recipient and the receiver.
The French philosopher, Simone Weil, helped me understand that the heart of solidarity is the life of Jesus, because through the incarnation, God is in a very real way in solidarity with humanity. The historical reality of the life of Jesus as a human being lifts solidarity beyond the fellowship of people into something altogether more mystical and powerful. In addition, because we know, as Christians, that all of us are formed in the image of God, loving our neighbor becomes also an act of solidarity towards and with God. Every act of solidarity, understood in this way, becomes an act of communion with God.
For our Lenten Mission at Cabrini, we have Danny Ledger. He is the founder of Hope of the Poor which is dedicated to loving the poor among us in Omaha. I am sure you will find Danny to be an inspiration, and he will help you imagine Jesus’ love in action through you. Please, come and join us for one night or for all three.
We will also have our Lenten Reconciliation Service on Thursday evening at 7:00. Come to that and receive God’s mercy!
Peace,
Fr. Damian
Pastor’s Letter 3.22.26
