Let us open wide our hearts to Black Catholic history

Posted on November 20, 2020 by Joseph Kopacz

By Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.

In 1990 Black Catholic History month began to be celebrated in November in various parts of the United States. At the 30 year mark our Catholic people have grown to better understand that the Catholic Church in the United States and Black Catholic History are deeply intertwined.

Over the past 40 years the Bishops of the United States have produced three documents that resurrect the gift of the African American Catholic experience, and the unrelenting struggle to overcome the legacy of slavery and racism that afflict our nation and Church. Brothers and Sisters to Us 1979 — What we have Seen and Heard 1984 — Open Wide Our Hearts, The Enduring Call to Love 2018. In their 1979 document the Black Catholic bishops embraced the words of Pope Paul VI when he spoke at the Eucharistic Conference in Kampala, Uganda in 1969 – ”You must now be missionaries to yourselves, and you must give the gift of Blackness to the whole Church.”

“Do you know the gift?” is the title of the feature article by Richard Lane in the current edition of the Catholic TV Monthly. It provides, in part, a fascinating glimpse of the African presence in the church from the beginning. Three of our popes were of African origin, and Pope Melchiades held the Keys of Peter when Constantine issued the Edict of Milan in 313 ending the nearly three centuries of brutal martyrdom. This successor of Peter needs to be front and center when we recall this watershed moment in church history. Do we know the gift?

Remember that St. Monica and her son, St. Augustine hailed from Algeria, and remain models of parental devotion and intellectual prowess. Do we know the gift?

The Black bishops in their 1984 document portray a perspective of history that is easily overlooked. “Just as the church in our history was planted by the efforts of the Spaniards, the French and the English, so did she take root among Native Americans, Black slaves and the various racial mixtures of them all. Blacks whether Spanish speaking, French speaking or English speaking, built the churches, tilled church lands, and labored with those who labored in spreading the Gospel. From the earliest period of church history in our land, we have been the hands and arms that helped build the church from Baltimore to Bradstown, from New Orleans to Los Angeles, from Saint Augustine to Saint Louis. Too often neglected and too much betrayed, our faith was witnessed by Black voices and Black tongues — such as Pierre Toussaint, Elizabeth Lange, Henriette Delille and Augustus Tolton.”

The Bishops also point out in “What We Have Seen and Heard” that Catholic dioceses and religious communities across the country for years have committed selected personnel and substantial funds to relieve oppression and to correct injustices and have striven to bring the Gospel to the diverse racial groups in our land. The church has sought to aid the poor and downtrodden, who for the most part are also the victims of racial oppression. But this relationship has been and remains two-sided and reciprocal; for the initiative of racial minorities, clinging to their Catholic faith, has helped the church to grow, adapt, and become truly Catholic and remarkably diverse. Today in our own land the face of Catholicism is the face of all humanity – a face of many colors, a countenance of many cultural forms.”

All of this resonates with the history of the Catholic faith in Mississippi, and one of our own, Sister Thea Bowman, FSPA, embodies our proud tradition. In February 2018, the Catholic Diocese of Jackson announced it has begun researching the life, writings and works of Sister Thea Bowman, FSPA, as a preliminary step in opening an official cause for sainthood.

Sister Thea’s story is well known and her amazing journey of faith from a star struck child in Holy Child School in Canton, Mississippi into the heart of the Catholic Church as a religious sister was pure grace. Her prophetic spirit, brilliant mind and boundless stamina inspired many, and became a beacon for the church to embrace more authentically the essence of Catholicity. Her suffering over the final years of her life from an incurable cancer united her to the Cross of the Lord Jesus, and served to deepen her love and her graceful spirit. Indeed, she lived until she died.

The 30th anniversary of her death was to have been celebrated with much love and fanfare, but the pandemic derailed the festivities. Nevertheless, Sister Thea was a gift to the church from the moment she set foot in Holy Child School right up to the moment when she addressed the United States Catholic Conference at Seton Hall toward the end of her life. She remains a gift in death. From a star struck child to a shooting star, her cause will be a beacon of light and hope for the church and for our nation.

Open Wide our Hearts, the Enduring Call to Love 2018 will direct the efforts of the Diocese of Jackson in the months ahead in our commitment to be faithful as disciples of the Lord Jesus. The Bishops in their 1984 document prophetically address the work of justice for which every generation must sacrifice. “The cause of justice and social concern are an essential part of evangelization. Our own history has taught us that preaching to the poor and to those who suffer injustice without concern for their plight and the systematic cause of their plight is to trivialize the Gospel and mock the cross. To preach to the powerful without denouncing oppression is to promise Easter without Calvary, forgiveness without conversion, and healing without cleansing the wound.”

May the words of the Prophet Micah burn brightly. “Do Justice, love goodness, and walk humbly with God.”

Citizenship in heaven

Posted on November 6, 2020 by Joseph Kopacz

We are inspired to remember that this Cloud of Witness who come from all nations and peoples, young and old, all shapes and sizes, are alive in
our midst as witnesses and intercessors.

By Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.

Throughout the month of November and well into Advent the Word of God offers ample opportunity to contemplate our ultimate destiny as human beings, but especially as Christians. We can tweak light and darkness for an hour with daylight saving time, but we cannot halt the advance of time marching inevitably into the arms of eternity. More starkly, the Psalmist assures us, “who can live and not see death? No one can escape the grasp of the grave.” (Psalm 89:48)

Since March the pandemic has hammered home this reality with the loss of normalcy, the loss of life, and, tragically on far too many occasions, the enforced separation and isolation from loved ones at death. Without diminishing the suffering and agony on all fronts, the church faithfully proclaims the undying hope in the knowledge that all creation, times and seasons, and eternal life to follow, belong to the Lamb of God, the crucified and resurrected Lord. This is wonderfully pronounced as the Paschal Candle is prepared at the Easter Vigil.

Christ yesterday and today, the Beginning and the End, the Alpha and Omega. His are the times and ages. To Him be glory and dominion through all ages of eternity. Amen.

On the feast of All Saints the church proclaims the power of memory, the potential in the present moment, and the hope of future glory. The past and future converge in St. John’s vision of timelessness in the Book of Revelation that reveals the saints in glory, a multitude too numerous to count, robed in white, their garments washed clean in the blood of the Lamb.

We are inspired to remember that this Cloud of Witness who come from all nations and peoples, young and old, all shapes and sizes, are alive in our midst as witnesses and intercessors. This is the parade of champions of which we boast who hold out to us the ultimate prize of our citizenship in heaven.

In the traditional imagery that extends back to the New Testament (Ephesians 6), we are the church militant who are to fight the good fight of faith and finish the race (1Timothy 6). There are many ways to express our dignity and destiny in the Lord, and on the Feast All Saints we heard from the first letter of John in the New Testament. “We are God’s children now. What we shall later be has not yet come to light. We know that when it does we will be like God because we shall see the Lord as he is. Meanwhile, for those of us who hold onto this hope are to keep ourselves pure.”

What exactly are the attitudes and actions that characterize God’s children in this world, Jesus unfolds throughout the Sermon on Mount (Matthew Chap. 5-7), beginning with the Beatitudes, the Gospel for All Saints. His words will echo for all time. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, the pure of heart, the peacemakers, the meek, the merciful, the sorrowful, the hungry and thirsty for justice, those persecuted for the sake of righteousness, and all who endure persecution, hostility rejection for the sake of the name.”
Phew, how blessed can one be? Jesus doesn’t follow it up by saying just hang in there for this too will pass. “Rather, rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.”

As usually is the case with the wisdom of God, we have to immerse ourselves in the Lord’s words, his eternal wisdom, over and again, to discover or to rediscover the mercy, peace and fulness of life that he promises, now and forever.

For months now the political world has engulfed us in messaging and with divergent directions for our society. Through it all we know that our citizenship requires our involvement at the ballot box and much more, by our commitment to the common good every day of the year. Without a doubt, at times, our citizenship in heaven is going to conflict with our citizenship on earth, and in those moments we will know where our loyalty abides. I believe that the values revealed by the Lord for all citizens of heaven would also be a blessing for the world and our nation. In season and out of season, we are to be the salt of the earth, the light of the world, and leaven for the bread of daily life. May the allotted time we have in this world be a gift for God’s glory.

Ciudadanía en el cielo

Posted on November 6, 2020 by Joseph Kopacz

Nos inspira a recordar que esta Nube de Testigos
que proviene de todas las naciones y pueblos,
jóvenes y viejos, de todas las formas y tamaños,
está viva entre nosotros como testigos e intercesores.

Por Obispo Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.
Durante todo el mes de noviembre y bien entrado el Adviento, la Palabra de Dios ofrece una amplia oportunidad para contemplar nuestro destino final como seres humanos, pero especialmente como cristianos. Podemos modificar la luz y la oscuridad durante una hora con el horario de verano, pero no podemos detener el avance del tiempo, que marcha inevitablemente hacia los brazos de la eternidad. Más crudamente, el salmista nos asegura, “¡Nadie puede vivir y no morir nunca! ¡Nadie puede librarse del poder de la muerte!” (Salmo 89:48)
Desde marzo, la pandemia ha machacado esta realidad con la pérdida de la normalidad, la pérdida de vidas y, trágicamente, en demasiadas ocasiones, la separación y el aislamiento forzados de los seres queridos al morir. Sin disminuir el sufrimiento y la agonía en todos los frentes, la iglesia proclama fielmente la esperanza eterna en el conocimiento de que toda la creación, los tiempos y las estaciones, y la vida eterna por venir, pertenecen al Cordero de Dios, el Señor crucificado y resucitado. Esto se pronuncia maravillosamente cuando se prepara el Cirio Pascual en la Vigilia Pascual.
Cristo ayer y hoy, Principio y Fin, Alfa y Omega. Suyos son los tiempos y las edades. A él sea la gloria y el dominio por todas las edades de la eternidad. Amén.

En la fiesta de Todos los Santos, la iglesia proclama el poder de la memoria, el potencial en el momento presente y la esperanza de la gloria futura. El pasado y el futuro convergen en la visión de la atemporalidad de San Juan en el Libro del Apocalipsis que revela a los santos en la gloria, una multitud demasiado numerosa para contar, vestidos de blanco, sus vestiduras lavadas en la sangre del Cordero.
Nos inspira a recordar que esta Nube de Testigos que proviene de todas las naciones y pueblos, jóvenes y viejos, de todas las formas y tamaños, está viva entre nosotros como testigos e intercesores. Este es el desfile de campeones del que nos jactamos y que nos ofrecen el premio máximo de nuestra ciudadanía en el cielo.
En la imaginería tradicional que se remonta al Nuevo Testamento (Efesios 6), somos la iglesia militante que debe pelear la buena batalla de la fe y terminar la carrera (1 Timoteo 6). Hay muchas formas de expresar nuestra dignidad y destino en el Señor, y en la Fiesta de Todos los Santos, escuchamos de la primera carta de Juan en el Nuevo Testamento. “Queridos hermanos, ya somos hijos de Dios. Y aunque no se ve todavía lo que seremos después, sabemos que cuando Jesucristo aparezca seremos como él, porque lo veremos tal como es. 3 Y todo el que tiene esta esperanza en él, se purifica a sí mismo, de la misma manera que Jesucristo es puro.”(1 Juan 3:2-3)
¿Cuáles son exactamente las actitudes y acciones que caracterizan a los hijos de Dios en este mundo? Jesús las desarrolla a lo largo del Sermón del Monte (Mateo cap. 5-7), comenzando con las Bienaventuranzas, el Evangelio para Todos los Santos. Sus palabras resonarán para siempre. “Bienaventurados los pobres de espíritu, los de corazón limpio, los pacificadores, los mansos, los misericordiosos, los afligidos, los que tienen hambre y sed de justicia, los perseguidos por hacer lo que es justo y todos los que soportan persecución, hostilidad, rechazo por el por el nombre.”
¡Ah!, ¿cuán bendecido puede ser uno? Jesús no lo dice solo pidiendo simplemente algo como ‘…aguanta porque esto también pasará,’ más bien como “regocíjense y estén orgullosos, porque su recompensa será grande en los cielos.”
Como suele ocurrir con la sabiduría de Dios, tenemos que sumergirnos en las palabras del Señor, su sabiduría eterna, una y otra vez, para descubrir o redescubrir la misericordia, la paz y la plenitud de vida que él promete, ahora y siempre.
Desde hace meses, el mundo político nos ha envuelto en mensajes y con direcciones divergentes para nuestra sociedad. A pesar de todo, sabemos que nuestra ciudadanía requiere nuestra participación en las urnas y mucho más, por nuestro compromiso con el bien común todos los días del año. Sin duda, en ocasiones, nuestra ciudadanía en el cielo va a entrar en conflicto con nuestra ciudadanía en la tierra, y en esos momentos sabremos dónde mora nuestra lealtad. Creo que los valores revelados por el Señor para todos los ciudadanos del cielo también serían una bendición para el mundo y nuestra nación.
A tiempo y fuera de tiempo, seremos la sal de la tierra, la luz del mundo y la levadura del pan de la vida diaria. Que el tiempo asignado que tenemos en este mundo sea un regalo para la gloria de Dios.

Faithful Citizenship and our political responsibility

Posted on October 26, 2020 by Joseph Kopacz

“In this statement, we bishops do not intend to tell Catholics for whom or against whom to vote. Our purpose is to help Catholics form their consciences in accordance with God’s truth. We recognize that the responsibility to make choices in political life rests with each individual in light of a properly formed conscience, and that participation goes well beyond casting a vote in a particular election.” – Faithful Citizenship

By Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.
JACKSON – With the elections on national, state and local levels on the near horizon, the Catholic Church in the United States once again is active in the political process to foster the common good: a culture of life, justice and peace. There is obvious division in the church and in the nation over the candidates and the issues, perhaps more strident nowadays, but certainly nothing new. Social media and the 24-hour news cycle incessantly heap coals on the fires of partisanship that burn no less intense that those consuming millions of square miles in the western states. Unfortunately, then, politics in our country often can be a contest of powerful interests, partisan attacks, sound bites and media hype. Yet, as Pope Francis reminds us, “Politics though often denigrated, remains a lofty vocation and one of the highest forms of charity inasmuch as it seeks the common good.” In this spirit the church seeks to be a trustworthy compass for voting in November, an appeal to faith and reason in the stillness of one’s conscience.

Included in this issue of the paper is the introduction to the bishops’ document, entitled “Faithful Citizenship.” It is a document, refined over decades of election cycles, that has been forged in the fire of Gospel truth and the church’s teaching for nearly 2000 years. The bishops state: “The Catholic community brings important assets to the political dialogue about our nation’s future. We bring a consistent moral framework, drawn from basic human reason that is illuminated by Scripture and the teaching of the church, for assessing issues, political platforms and campaigns. We also bring broad experience in serving those in need and educating the young.” From this abundant and fruitful tradition of faith, social action and education, the Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us, “It is necessary that all participate, each according to his position and role, in promoting the common good … As far as possible citizens should take an active part in public life.” CCC 1913-15

“In this statement, we bishops do not intend to tell Catholics for whom or against whom to vote. Our purpose is to help Catholics form their consciences in accordance with God’s truth. We recognize that the responsibility to make choices in political life rests with each individual in light of a properly formed conscience, and that participation goes well beyond casting a vote in a particular election.” Faithful Citizenship further states: Conscience is the voice of God resounding in the human heart, revealing truth to us and calling us to do what is good while shunning what is evil.

Finally, prayerful reflection is essential to discern the will of God.” Clergy and laity have complementary roles in public life. We bishops have the primary responsibility to hand on the church’s moral and social teaching, and as Pope Benedict taught in Deus Caritas Est, “The direct duty to work for a just ordering of society is proper to the lay faithful.” #29

To form consciences and to promote a just ordering of society the church’s teaching rests upon four pillars: the dignity of the human person made in the image and likeness of God – fostering the common good which is a commitment to establishing conditions where all can thrive — solidarity, springing from the conviction as children of God, that unity built upon cooperation and collaboration wherever possible is the goal — subsidiarity, the empowerment of individuals, families and local entities. Based on these principles we pray, work, serve and vote to do good and avoid evil.

The following excerpts from Faithful Citizenship go to the heart of the matter for voting citizens. “Catholics often face difficult choices about how to vote. That is why it is so important to vote according to a well-formed conscience. A Catholic is not in good conscience if voting for a candidate who favors a policy promoting an intrinsically evil act, such as abortion, euthanasia, assisted suicide, unjust war, subjecting workers to subhuman living conditions, torture, racist behavior, e.g. if the voter’s intent is to support that position. In such cases a Catholic would be guilty of formal cooperation in grave evil.” At the same time, “there may be times when a Catholic who rejects a candidate’s unacceptable position, even on policies promoting an intrinsically evil act, may responsibly decide to vote for that candidate for other morally grave reasons. Voting in this way would be permissible only for truly grave moral reasons, not to advance narrow interests or partisan preferences or to ignore fundamental moral evil.”

It is in our DNA as Catholics to be “all in” in every dimension of life, including the political realm. The Lord Jesus calls us to be “salt and light,” in order to create societies of life, justice and peace. Pope Francis reminds us. “An authentic faith always involves a deep desire to change the world, to transmit values, to leave this earth better than we found it. We love this magnificent planet on which God has put us, we love the human family that God has put here, with all its tragedies and struggles, its hopes and aspirations, its strengths, and weaknesses. The earth is our common home and all of us are brothers and sisters.”

Faithful guardians of human life

Posted on October 9, 2020 by Joseph Kopacz

Whenever darkness overshadows the goodness of God’s creation, it is tragic, because each day we are to be guardians of the world entrusted to us, especially on behalf of human life.

By Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.
JACKSON – During the month of October we celebrate Respect for Life, a reality that we foster as Catholics and disciples of the Lord Jesus every day of the year but with greater focus this month.

At the outset of this month we celebrate the lives of two remarkable saints, Therese and Francis, and positioned deftly between them is the commemoration of the Guardian Angels. Without a doubt, Therese of Lisieux and Francis of Assisi upheld the integrity of our tradition of faith as guardians of the Gospel and guiding lights for an encounter with Jesus of Nazareth, the Lord of history.

The Guardian Angels provide a wonderful lens through which we can deepen our commitment to life and the mystery of God’s glory, everywhere present. On an occasion when Jesus was teaching he embraced the opportunity to welcome children and to reveal the ministry of guardian angels in God’s plan of salvation. “See that you do not look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 18:10)

Immediately before this marvelous revelation Jesus ardently stated that “unless you become like little children you shall not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” (18:3) In other words, our vision will be stunted, we will be unable to see the glory of God on the face of Jesus Christ, and our capacity to embrace and respect life will be diminished. Whenever darkness overshadows the goodness of God’s creation, it is tragic, because each day we are to be guardians of the world entrusted to us, especially on behalf of human life.

The church remains ardent guardians of unborn life, a commitment that can be traced to the earliest sources in our Catholic tradition. It is the fullness of understanding of the Lord’s words and gestures to embrace and welcome the little one, because in doing so we see the glory of God on the face of newborn life. In our prayer and teaching, in our advocacy and loving service we have been faithful guardians of life in the womb with the most profound respect. This is the foundation of life and it is to be set upon the rock of God’s plan, not the sand of a throwaway culture.

Upon this foundation the Catholic church throughout the world, in our nation, and in our diocese labors unceasingly for greater justice and decency across the life span and in all social contexts, again through prayer and teaching, advocacy and loving service. We embrace community, solidarity and the common good. We strive to be faithful guardians to assure that a solid structure of justice and peace sits upon a firm foundation of life.

Throughout this month we will highlight and celebrate much of what is done on behalf of life, evidence that we are members of the household of God. “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:19-22)

A key component of our respect for life these days is our ongoing vigilance during the pandemic. Although the dispensation for Sunday Mass is still in effect, the commandment to keep the Lord’s Day holy is never dispensed from. Whether at home or in church be faithful guardians of your faith. Know that our churches are maintaining the strict protocol of sanitizing, distancing and mask wearing. This is respect for one another’s lives. In closing, I encourage you to remain holy, vigilant, and respectful, and to be guardians of all that is sacred and precious, especially the gift of life.

Fieles guardianes de la vida humana

Posted on October 9, 2020 by Joseph Kopacz

Por Obispo Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.
Durante el mes de octubre celebramos el Respeto por la Vida, una realidad que fomentamos como católicos y discípulos del Señor Jesús todos los días del año, pero con un mayor enfoque en este mes.

A principios de este mes, celebramos la vida de dos santos notables, Teresa y Francisco, y entre ellos se encuentra la conmemoración de los Ángeles de la Guarda. Sin duda, Teresa de Lisieux y Francisco de Asís mantuvieron la integridad de nuestra tradición de fe como guardianes del Evangelio y luces orientadoras para un encuentro con Jesús de Nazaret, el Señor de la historia.

Los Ángeles de la Guarda proporcionan una lente maravillosa a través de la cual podemos profundizar nuestro compromiso con la vida y el misterio de la gloria de Dios, presente en todas partes. En una ocasión en que Jesús estaba enseñando, aprovechó la oportunidad de dar la bienvenida a los niños y de revelar el ministerio de los ángeles de la guarda en el plan de salvación de Dios. “No desprecien a ninguno de estos pequeños. Pues les digo que en el cielo los ángeles de ellos están mirando siempre el rostro de mi Padre celestial.” (Mateo 18:10)

Inmediatamente antes de esta maravillosa revelación, Jesús declaró con ardor que “ si ustedes no cambian y se vuelven como niños, no entrarán en el reino de los cielos.” (Mateo 18:3) En otras palabras, nuestra visión se atrofiará, seremos incapaces de ver la gloria de Dios en el rostro de Jesucristo y nuestra capacidad para abrazar y respetar la vida disminuirá. Siempre que la oscuridad eclipsa la bondad de la creación de Dios, es trágico, porque cada día debemos ser guardianes del mundo que se nos ha confiado, especialmente en nombre de la vida humana.

La iglesia sigue siendo guardiana ferviente de la vida por nacer, un compromiso que se remonta a las fuentes más antiguas de nuestra tradición católica. Es la plenitud del entendimiento de las palabras y los gestos del Señor para abrazar y acoger al pequeño porque al hacerlo vemos la gloria de Dios en el rostro de la vida del recién nacido. En nuestra oración y enseñanza, en nuestra defensa y amoroso servicio, hemos sido fieles guardianes de la vida en el útero con el más profundo respeto. Este es el fundamento de la vida y debe asentarse sobre la roca del plan de Dios, no sobre la arena de una cultura de usar y tirar.

Sobre esta base, la iglesia católica en todo el mundo, en nuestra nación y en nuestra diócesis trabaja incesantemente por una mayor justicia y decencia a lo largo de la vida y en todos los contextos sociales, nuevamente a través de la oración y la enseñanza, la defensa y el servicio amoroso. Abrazamos la comunidad, la solidaridad y el bien común. Nos esforzamos por ser fieles guardianes para asegurar que una estructura sólida de justicia y paz se asiente sobre una base firme de vida.

A lo largo de este mes destacaremos y celebraremos mucho de lo que se hace a favor de la vida, evidencia de que somos miembros de la familia de Dios. “Por eso, ustedes ya no son extranjeros, ya no están fuera de su tierra, sino que ahora comparten con el pueblo santo los mismos derechos, y son miembros de la familia de Dios. Ustedes son como un edificio levantado sobre los fundamentos que son los apóstoles y los profetas, y Jesucristo mismo es la piedra principal. En Cristo, todo el edificio va levantándose en todas y cada una de sus partes, hasta llegar a ser, en el Señor, un templo santo. En él también ustedes se unen todos entre sí para llegar a ser un templo en el cual Dios vive por medio de su Espíritu.” (Efesios 2:19-22)

Un componente clave de nuestro respeto por la vida en estos días es nuestra vigilancia constante durante la pandemia. Aunque la dispensa de la Misa dominical todavía está en vigor, el mandamiento de santificar el día del Señor nunca se dispensa. Ya sea en casa o en la iglesia, sean fieles guardianes de su fe. Sepa que nuestras iglesias mantienen el estricto protocolo de desinfección, distanciamiento y uso de máscaras. Esto también es respeto por la vida de los demás. Para terminar, los animo a permanecer santos, vigilantes y respetuosos, y a ser guardianes de todo lo sagrado y precioso, especialmente el don de la vida.

Working within God’s providence

Posted on September 10, 2020 by Joseph Kopacz

By Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.
JACKSON – Over the Labor Day holiday as I enjoyed the blessings of a long weekend, I mulled over the surge that occurred in unemployment due to COVID-19 over the past six months. At its peak, the furloughed were at the astronomical figure of 33%, a level not seen since the great depression in the 1930s. The present hardship and anxiety over the future that afflicts many families are heavy burdens. Fortunately, the unemployment figures have dropped back down below double digits; yet far too many are pushed to the edge or beyond. This free fall in the work force makes it crystal clear how essential work is as a vital component of what it means to be human, more than just a job.

With the advent of the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century the Church has taught extensively on the nature, dignity and necessity of work beginning with Leo XIII in Rerum Novarum, on the New Order of Things, right up to the present day with the exhortations of Pope Francis. In doing so, the church always returns to the biblical source in Genesis when God worked for six days on the progression of creation with rest following on the seventh. God then ordained that the crown of his creation, male and female, was to subdue the earth and exercise dominion over this amazing planet. (Genesis 1:28) However, this task is not a license to be high-handed or reckless. On the contrary in it is a matter of cultivating and caring for the magnificent garden that has been entrusted to us. (Genesis 2:15) The material world was not created by humankind but is bestowed upon us as a precious gift that the Creator placed under our responsibility. Therefore, all work can be a participation in and furtherance of the will of God and the gift of creation.

Within the perspective of faith, the fruits of our labor are for our own wellbeing, for those who depend on us, especially the family, for the common good, for a just society and for the glory of God. It is not just a job. The family, therefore, must rightfully be an essential agent of economic life, guided not solely by the market mentality but by the logic of sharing and solidarity among generations. Justice is the virtue that governs the social order, and the market must aim for a standard of living to maintain a family and to allow it to live decently. (Pius XI) The demand for justice precedes concern for profit. “Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice.” (Proverbs 16:8)

The leisure of Labor Day, an oxymoron of sorts, portrays the intricate web of life that God intends. Jesus a man of work, devoted most of his years on earth to manual labor at the carpenter’s bench. (John Paul II) In his teachings Jesus regularly refers to the reality of work to unfold the mystery of the Kingdom of God. He praises the faithful and prudent servant whom the Master finds hard at work at the duties entrusted to him (Mt 24:46), and condemns the behavior of the useless servant, who hides his talent in the ground. (Mt 25:14ff) He describes his own mission as that of working. “My father is working still, and I am working.” (Jn 5:17) His disciples are workers in the harvest of the Lord (Mt 9:37-38), and the laborer deserves his wage.” (Lk 10:7)

Work in the home or in the marketplace is an essential part of being human. The awareness that “the form of the world is passing away” (1Cor 7:31) is not an exoneration from being involved in work. (2Thes 3:7-15) No Christian, believing that he belongs to others and to God, has the right not to work and to live at the expense of others. All are charged by the Apostle Paul to make it a point of honor to work, to be dependent on nobody. (1Thes 4:12), and to practice a solidarity by sharing the fruits of their labors with those in need. (Eph 4:28) St. James defends the trampled rights of workers: “Behold the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the Lord of host.” (Jas 5:4)

Yet there needs to be balance. In his preaching, Jesus teaches man and woman not to be enslaved by work. Before all else they must be concerned about their souls. Gaining the whole world is not the purpose of life. (Mk 18:36) The treasures of earth are consumed, while those in heaven are imperishable. It is on these latter treasures that men and women must set their hearts. (Mt 6:19-21) For we look not to what is seen, but to what is unseen. For what is seen is transitory; what is unseen is eternal. (2Cor 4:18) This is the gift of Sabbath rest on the Lord’s Day, a time for healing, a time dedicated to God and others, cultivating relationships that allow humanity to set out on the path to the eternal Sabbath.

For many, the pandemic has incited a crisis and we hope that they can remain steady through the storm. For many more who are fine materially, yet restricted socially, we hope that the opportunity will not be lost to restore lasting balance in their lives within God’s creative providence.

The City of God

Posted on August 28, 2020 by Joseph Kopacz

By Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.

JACKSON – The French Revolution hit the western world like a hurricane that overturned and overwhelmed everything in its wake. It followed on the heels of the American Revolution of 1776, a struggle that lasted 10 years following the storming of the Bastille in 1789. The forces that were eventually unleashed had been building for a long time, and the monarchies in England and France could not withstand the press of humanity yearning to breathe free.

Charles Dickens was born into this emerging new world in England in 1812 and would become for much of the 19th century a preeminent social critic. His classic A Tale of Two Cities addressed the widespread social ills that led to revolution and still persisted in his lifetime which he portrayed in the opening lines of his novel. “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair … We were all going directly to heaven, or we were all going the other way.”

Ultimately, this classic work challenged the people of his day to go beyond the foolishness, incredulity, darkness and despair and embrace wisdom, belief, light and hope, in other words, redemption and new life on a personal and societal level. Ages earlier, St. Augustine called this the City of God, anchored in the death and resurrection of the Lord and his abiding presence.

How would be describe our nation and world in the 21st century? What direction are we going in? Is the pandemic creating the worst of times? The truth is that Charles Dicken’s words are timeless and can properly be applied to every generation.

Evidence abounds in our society of many people living righteously and compassionately as good citizens, people of diverse religious faith, or no faith. Consider the fire fighters who throw themselves into the path of infernos to save lives and property, the health care workers who daily care for those stricken by the coronavirus, the first responders who are now assisting those in the paths of the hurricanes, Laura and Marco.

Sadly, the reverse is all too true when we consider the culture of death that destroys life in the womb, tramples the poor, and deprives too many of the basics to flourish in this world. Of course, far too many squander the blessings of liberty and personal responsibility and choose a path in life that, in the words of Dickens, “is going the other way.” There is much to ponder and much to do.

Ever since Jesus gave the keys of the kingdom to Peter, the Catholic church has proclaimed the Gospel of salvation by immersing herself in the lives of the people and cultures where the Gospel takes root. The ultimate goal is the salvation of souls as St. Paul eloquently wrote, “with eyes fixed on the goal pushing on to secure the prize of God’s heavenward call in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians) But that’s not a directive to wear blinders as we journey through life, because the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of justice, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 14:17)
In our Catholic tradition hope for this world and the next is written into our DNA. It’s not an either or. From a historical perspective we know that if injustice is not confronted and overcome, then sooner or later revolutions explode on the scene. The convulsions and outcries that surge through our nation in the present moment must awaken the nation to reconcile and heal the past, and to recommit ourselves to the work of justice and peace in this generation, indisputable signs of the “City of God.”

From the “Constitution on the church in the Modern World, Gaudium et Spes,” during the Second Vatican Council, we have this inspired vision for our world. “Though earthly progress is to be carefully distinguished from the growth of Christ’s Kingdom, yet in so far as it can help toward the better ordering of human society it is of great importance to the Kingdom of God. The blessings of human dignity, brotherly communion and freedom will be found again in the world to come when Christ hands over to the Father an eternal and everlasting Kingdom, purified of all sin and transformed, a Kingdom of truth and life, of holiness and grace, of justice and peace.”
Surely, this will be “the best of times” in the Kingdom of God.

Faith in the face of fear

Posted on August 20, 2020 by Joseph Kopacz

By Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.
JACKSON – In the midst of the pandemic and other harsh realities, we recognize that all of us are in the same storm, but not in the same boat. There are significant differences in everyone’s life that require unique responses of all. At the center of last Sunday’s Scripture is the good news that no matter what boat we are in, or cave, as we heard of Elijah on Mount Horeb (1Kings 19), the living God desires to pass by and enter into the boats and caves of our lives.

Can we see him, feel his presence, and hear him? Do we want to encounter him?
After the multiplication of the loaves and fishes it was compelling to realize that Jesus himself dismissed the crowds after sending his apostles ahead of him on the Sea of Galilee. Here we have the Word of life, the Bread of life, serving as a minister of hospitality. Dismissing 5,000 people not counting women and children, nearly ranks as another miracle. This is the God who calls us by name and holds us in the palms of his hands. (Isaiah 41:13) But it is the storm on the sea of Galilee that assures us that Jesus Christ is present to us in the sudden squalls that strike without warning. (Matthew 14:22-33) As Jesus walks across the water to his storm-tossed apostles the unfolding drama reveals the contrast between the fear that paralyzes and the fear that saves. Without the Lord even the hard-boiled fishermen were going down in panic. With a hand clasp (Matthew 14:31) to save Peter from drowning, the Lord and he settled into the boat, and immediately the peace that only God can give ruled the wind and waves.

This was not the first time that Jesus accompanied Peter through his fears. On the shores of this same lake, Jesus invited himself into his fishing boat to better preach the word to the assembled throng. (Luke 5:1-11) He then directed him back into the deep to cast his nets for a catch that brought Peter to his knees. “Leave me Lord, for I am a sinful man.”(Luke 5:8) Actually the preaching of Jesus of Nazareth had softened his heart to be receptive to the gift of holy fear and the ensuing life-giving words. “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” Like Peter in both encounters with the Lord, we too must take a step toward Jesus and follow his lead through the fog and gloom of uncertainty and anxiety that confronts us.
In the letter to the Romans, last Sunday’s second reading, the Lord is near to St. Paul in his grief over the painful realization that most of his fellow Israelites are rejecting his beloved Savior as the long-awaited Messiah. It was a heavy cross for St. Paul because he loves the Lord and his people and is deeply torn. “I have an infinite sadness and an incessant grief that torments my heart.” (Romans 9:1-5)

The pandemic hit like a sudden squall and now it has settled in like a thick gloom that will not lift. Like St. Paul, currently, a growing number of people are feeling a similar pain with the loss of life, means, in some cases the work of a lifetime, along with the rhythms of daily life. This is a daunting reality that can push us to the margins of our internal and external resources. Yet, it is also an invitation to deepen our faith in the Lord’s nearness in the face of fear. Can we hear his loving words that dispelled the distress of his apostles?

“Calm yourselves. Do not fear. It is I.” When we are feeling most vulnerable and fragile, our faith by the grace of God motivates us not to allow ourselves not to sink into fear. The amazing grace that allays our fears, also gives us the peace of Christ which allows us to walk by faith, and not by sight (2Corinthians 5:7), that shines on us who live in darkness and in the shadow of death. With our options narrowed and our movements restricted, cannot God penetrate this cloud of unknowing to help us nurture our faith and enter more deeply into intentional concern for others, and so give witness to the living Lord.

With the difficult decisions facing many educators, parents and students for the fall semester, allowing the Lord to clasp our hand is a far better state of being than sinking into our own emotional sludge. This is the difference between fear and holy fear, the capacity to hear the Lord’s words that He is near, and to act upon this faith-filled knowledge.

Pearls of wisdom

Posted on July 31, 2020 by Joseph Kopacz

By Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, D.D.
JACKSON – The Scripture readings for last Sunday featured the prayer of the young Solomon taking over the reins from his father David as Israel’s king. The task ahead of him was daunting and in his encounter with God in a dream he was inspired to pray humbly and honestly. “I pray that you grant me wisdom of heart so that I may know how to govern your people and distinguish between right and wrong. Without wisdom who would be able to govern rightly?“

In the Hebrew scriptures, the Old Testament, there is a corpus of literature that is categorized as Wisdom Literature. These fascinating books of the bible were written over hundreds of years in the post exilic era. The Book of Wisdom features a prayer attributed to Solomon that reveals his heart and mind and his dependency upon God, at least in the earlier years of his reign. “God of our fathers, wisdom resides with you and knows all your works, from creation to this moment. She knows what is pleasing to you and in accord with your commandments. Send forth this wisdom from on high where all is holy that she may be at my side in my labors so that I may know what is pleasing to you. May she guide me with prudence in all that I do that I may guide your people justly. For who knows God’s counsel, or who can conceive what the Lord intends? For the deliberations of mortals are timid, and uncertain our plans. For the corruptible body burdens the soul and the earthly vessel weighs down the mind with its many concerns. Who can know your counsel unless you give wisdom and send your holy spirit from on high?” (Chapter 9)

The wisdom of Solomon, anchored in prayer, is a path for all who are making decisions that affect the lives of others during these agonizing pandemic days. This includes just about everybody, our elected officials, all who are serving in health care, business owners on every front, educators and students, church leaders, and parents and caregivers who decide on behalf of their children. In the gospel passage last weekend we heard the words of the Lord at the conclusion of the section on the parables in Matthew’s Gospel. “Then every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like the head of the household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old.” (13:52-53)

We must go deeply into the storehouse of our faith and experience to call upon time tested wisdom to negotiate all that is new, spiritually, mentally and materially. The world has not seen such a pandemic in over 100 years, and these are unchartered waters where the next bend in the rapids might present unexpected risks. We walk by faith, indeed.

Wisdom, the cornerstone of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, is not just about choosing wisely. The wisdom literature is vast, as is evident in the books of Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Sirach, Wisdom, the Psalms and the Song of Songs. The themes from these inspired works have their origin in life’s joys and sorrows, triumphs and tragedies, and in the reality of death. The book of Job wrestles with the agonizing question of suffering, especially when it afflicts an innocent person. Always a part of life, today we are witnessing widespread suffering and anxiety. For all disciples, the wisdom in the Book of Job finds its fulfillment in the suffering and death of Jesus Christ on the Cross, and his resurrection from the dead. May all who are suffering exceedingly find renewed strength and hope in the God of our Lord Jesus Christ for this life and the next.

In last Sunday’s Gospel Jesus speaks about the pearl of great price and the treasure buried in a field. As St. Matthew constructed his Gospel he knew that he had found this pearl and treasure when the Lord looked at him with loving mercy and called him to abandon his way of life in order to proclaim a treasure hidden to him up until that moment. He who previously had oppressed his people with the ledger, now was providing light and hope with the living Word of God. In the midst of this world-wide crisis may the loving gaze of the Lord Jesus empower us to respond with wisdom and conviction to what life is serving us.

St. Paul gifted us with a pearl of great value and wisdom in the second reading from last Sunday. “All things work for good for those who love God.” (Romans 8:28) By God’s grace may we deepen our faith, hope and love during this time of crisis, an opportunity to value the things that truly matter.

Bishop calendar

Thursday, Aug. 6, 6 p.m. – Pro-Life Mississippi Banquet, Jackson
Saturday, Aug. 29-30 – Mission Appeal, Diocese of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Only public events are listed on this schedule and all events are subject to change. Please check with the local parish for further details.

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Author Archives: Joseph Kopacz