TALK STORY
On the first Sunday of the New Year we celebrated the Feast of the Epiphany — the culmination of the Christmas story that focused on wise men seeking to connect with Emmanuel, “God with us.” They journeyed from afar following a star, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh — offerings that were extremely expensive then, just as time, talent and treasure are so valuable today.
Where did the Magi find Emmanuel? The star led them to God revealed in a vulnerable child. The Infancy narrative of Advent, like the Passion narrative of Lent — with Jesus dying as a criminal on a cross — reveals God in the two most vulnerable moments of human existence, birth and death. These two Scripture narratives illustrate our belief that God is not only revealed in human vulnerability, he also redeems and transforms it. This is at the heart of our connectedness to God and each other.
Pope Francis’ Christmas and New Year’s messages call us to “overcome our indifference” to the vulnerability of fragile refugees of war or climate change, as he pointed out in his encyclical “Laudato Si’.” Our Holy Father calls us all, in this Jubilee Year of Mercy, to manifest God’s reconciling connection to us through the global solidarity of sharing his mercy in action.
Bishop Larry Silva also focused on God’s gift of connectedness in his New Year’s stewardship audio message played at all the Masses over the Jan. 2-3 weekend. He urged us all to read and share the stories in the diocesan annual report published by the Hawaii Catholic Herald. Our shepherd said these stories show how Hawaii parishes are in a “sacred communion” as a diocese forming the Body of Christ with other dioceses throughout the world. He encouraged all to participate in the mission of a wider church sharing our gifts of time, talent and treasure.
As the Jubilee Year of Mercy moves from Advent to Lent, we will soon be reminded by the Red Mass speaker, Archbishop Bernardito Auza, permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, that we Catholics are connected on a global level to work for a “a healthier planet and a fairer world.” He will be speaking Jan. 19 to Hawaii’s public servant leaders as well as to each of us, challenging us to do our part in building a better world for all.
During Lent, which is fast approaching, we will have a special opportunity to encounter Christ in the vulnerable by reaching out in solidarity. The diocese will be participating on all levels in the Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl campaign to eliminate hunger locally and globally. CRS Rice Bowl puts faith into action by helping the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people create lasting change that makes a positive difference in their lives.
We will be “talking story” about how the Diocese of Honolulu is connecting at all levels through Rice Bowl 2016 on a journey sharing our time, talent and treasure during this Jubilee Year of Mercy.
Mahalo,
Your friends at the Office for Social Ministry
