OVERVIEW

Focus Text: I John 4:7-21

“Those who say, ‘love God,’ and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen.  The commandment we have from [God] is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.”

Scripture Commentary by Father Joe Vetter, Catholic Campus Minister, Duke University

“When we examine our conscience to consider how we have sinned, we must look at not only what we have done, but also what we have failed to do.  Do my actions show a love for all?  Am I working for the common good?  Am I simply concerned with my personal needs and the needs of my immediate family and my own kind—or do I demonstrate a love and concern for all God’s people?  How do I participate in society?”

Pastoral Reflection by Father Joe Vetter

“The common good requires society to provide the social systems, institutions, and environments to work in a manner that benefits all people.  Since all benefit from the common good, it would seem easy to enlist the support of everyone.  But there are obstacles. Agreeing on the “common good” can be difficult in a pluralistic society such as ours.  People have different ideas about basic rights, about social systems, institutions and environments that are required to ensure human dignity and opportunity.  How can we find common ground?"