Breaking Open the News for Fifth Sunday in Lent—A
To see how you might use one of these points in your catechesis, read “How to lead a 90-minute catechetical session.”
The Way of Faith
Explain that our faith is often tested by the trials of this world.
In the news
New claims for unemployment benefits last week rose to a seasonally adjusted 652,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 644,000, the Labor Department said Thursday. The total number of people claiming benefits jumped to 5.56 million, worse than economists’ projections of 5.48 million, a ninth straight record and the highest total on records dating back to 1967. (Jobless claims set new record; GDP down more in 4Q)
In the readings
I will put my spirit in you that you may live, and I will settle you upon your land; thus you shall know that I am the LORD. I have promised, and I will do it, says the LORD. (Ez 37:12-14)
In the tradition
Now, however, “we walk by faith, not by sight”; we perceive God as “in a mirror, dimly” and only “in part”. Even though enlightened by him in whom it believes, faith is often lived in darkness and can be put to the test. The world we live in often seems very far from the one promised us by faith. Our experiences of evil and suffering, injustice and death, seem to contradict the Good News; they can shake our faith and become a temptation against it.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 164)
The Way of Faith
Explain that Christians believe in the resurrection of the dead and in life everlasting.
In the news
The brutal deaths of four Oakland police officers prompted an outpouring of sympathy Tuesday, from makeshift memorials to donations to a vigil that drew hundreds to the scene of some of the weekend’s bloodshed. (Oakland holds vigil for 4 slain officers)
In the readings
If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead
will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit dwelling in you. (Rom 8:8-11)
I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. (Jn 11:1-45 or 11:3-7, 17, 20-27, 33b-45)
In the tradition
We firmly believe, and hence we hope that, just as Christ is truly risen from the dead and lives for ever, so after death the righteous will live for ever with the risen Christ and he will raise them up on the last day. Our resurrection, like his own, will be the work of the Most Holy Trinity. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 989)
The Way of Faith
Explain that natural disasters are not God’s punishment, but an occasion for Catholics to show strength, hope, and generosity.
In the news
The Westboro Baptist Church, whose members tour the country protesting at military funerals because they claim America is tolerant of homosexuality, is thanking God for record flooding in North Dakota. (Westboro Baptist Church thanks God for North Dakota’s flooding)
In the readings
“Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who had come with her weeping, he became perturbed and deeply troubled, and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Sir, come and see.” And Jesus wept. (Jn 11:1-45 or 11:3-7, 17, 20-27, 33b-45)
In the tradition
But why did God not create a world so perfect that no evil could exist in it? With infinite power God could always create something better. But with infinite wisdom and goodness God freely willed to create a world “in a state of journeying” towards its ultimate perfection. In God’s plan this process of becoming involves the appearance of certain beings and the disappearance of others, the existence of the more perfect alongside the less perfect, both constructive and destructive forces of nature. With physical good there exists also physical evil as long as creation has not reached perfection. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 310)
But as followers of Jesus we cannot rush to blame victims for the evil visited upon them ” nor can we blame God, whom Scripture reveals as all loving and all merciful. That doesn’t mean we will come to an easy understanding of why bad things happen to good people ” most times we will have to wait with the patience of a Job to learn the answers to those questions ” which God will tell us surely; but not necessarily on this side of heaven. (Bishop Thomas Wenski, Bishop of Orlando, in response to the Hurricane Katrina tragedy)
Have you seen other breaking news this week that needs to be discussed? Click on comments to share your thoughts.
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