We're working on Social Justice in Sacramental Living right now. I have a feeling the entire unit could be presented in a much more effective manner than it is at the moment... the entire subject feels like one large guilt-trip. Yes, I know that there are lots of poor and hungry people in the world. I am a teenager in high school--what exactly is expected of me? Should I go on missions with all my free time and spare money? (As you can undoubtedly see, I did not give up sarcasm for Lent...)
Something that jumped out at me from a current assignment is this: a line from my textbook. "Jesus' example of a life of voluntary poverty, his ministry to God's forgotten ones, and his teaching that we must respond to the least in our midst if we want to be called his disciples--all these show his compassionate commitment to the poor." I'm going to give you, my dear readers, a couple lines to figure out why this bothers me so much. I'm sure you'll figure it out.
---
---
---
See it? "[Jesus'] ministry to God's forgotten ones." God doesn't forget people. That's why He sent Jesus. The people referred to in the sentence are the ones who ahve been forgotten by society. Not God.
One of these days, I'll write my own textbook. ...maybe.
5 comments:
The point is, I believe, that forgotten ones are special to God. There is a bible quote we learned at our school: Even if a mother forget the child of her body yet will I never forget you.
Being so sarcastic doesn't make me want to meet you at AQ :(
Naz Junior
And we have the tremendous duty of continuing what Christ did...
About your comment on my blog: Thomas More College has some great summer programs; i can't go to any of them, but I suggest them to everyone. There's info about them on the website.
Yeah, maybe in fall when I'm out in that direction again (not in dreary Michigan)we could get together. That would be sweet!
As you continue to search for a college, check out the Newman Society list of Catholic Colleges and pray to St. Joseph. It was through the 30 day novena to him that my essay won me so much money.
The wording simply irked me because it seemed so misleading...
As for my scathingly sarcastic comment... in hindsight, I definitely could have phrased that better. Much of the post was written out of emotion rather than thought. (One of these days, I'll remember to kick myself and reread before clicking "publish.") In an attempt to explain myself better: What I meant to say is that the way the class is presented, it seems as if they forget that we are students who still have studies to complete. Of course I support missions and everything which accompanies them--I just have neither free time nor spare change, and therefore tend to feel guilty even though I'm doing as much as I can from my little corner of the world.
Philosopher: Thanks for the advice, I'll try it out!
Ink,
I suspect that social justice is one of those issues where it's easy for an author to put his/her readers on a guilt trip without ever consciously intending to do so.
Yes, there are a lot of hurting people in this world but high school kids didn't create those situations and are seldom in a position to do much about them, other than prayer.
And, yes, I agree that the phrase, "God's forgotten ones," is a poor choice of words. While the meaning is clear, the author (or the editor!) could have done better.
Speaking of high school religion texts, did you ever happen to see my 2008 post on that subject?
Happy Easter!
~Dr. K
Post a Comment