Saturday, October 25, 2014
Lk 17, 7-10 + CSDC and CV
Luke 17, 7-10 +
CSDC and CV
CV 50a This responsibility is a global one,
for it is concerned not just with energy but with the whole of creation, which
must not be bequeathed to future generations depleted of its resources. Human
beings legitimately exercise a responsible stewardship over nature, in
order to protect it, to enjoy its fruits and to cultivate it in new ways, with
the assistance of advanced technologies, so that it can worthily accommodate
and feed the world's population. On this earth there is room for everyone: here
the entire human family must find the resources to live with dignity, through
the help of nature itself — God's gift to his children — and through hard work
and creativity.
CDS 248 The
relationship existing between the family and economic life is particularly
significant. On one hand, in
fact, the economy (“oiko-nomia”, household management) was born from
domestic work. The home has been for a long time — and in many regions still is
— a place of production and the centre of life. The dynamism of economic life,
on the other hand, develops with the initiative of people and is carried out in
the manner of concentric circles, in ever broader networks of production and
exchange of goods and services that involves families in continuously
increasing measure. The family, therefore, must rightfully be seen as an
essential agent of economic life, guided not by the market mentality but by the
logic of sharing and solidarity among generations.
[7] "Who among you would say to your servant who has
just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, 'Come here immediately
and take your place at table'? [8] Would he not rather say to him, 'Prepare
something for me to eat. Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and
drink. You may eat and drink when I am finished'? [9] Is he grateful to that
servant because he did what was commanded? [10] So should it be with you. When
you have done all you have been commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants;
we have done what we were obliged to do.'"
CDS 255 The Old Testament presents God as the omnipotent
Creator (cf. Gen 2:2; Job 38-41; Ps 104; Ps 147) who fashions man in his image
and invites him to work the soil (cf. Gen 2:5-6), and cultivate and care for
the garden of Eden in which he has placed him (cf. Gen 2:15). To the first
human couple God entrusts the task of subduing the earth and exercising
dominion over every living creature (cf. Gen 1:28). The dominion exercised by
man over other living creatures, however, is not to be despotic or reckless; on
the contrary he is to “cultivate and care for” (Gen 2:15) the goods created by
God. These goods were not created by man, but have been received by him as a
precious gift that the Creator has placed under his responsibility. Cultivating
the earth means not abandoning it to itself; exercising dominion over it means
taking care of it, as a wise king cares for his people and a shepherd his
sheep. In the Creator's plan, created realities, which are good in themselves,
exist for man's use. The wonder of the mystery of man's grandeur makes the
psalmist exclaim: “What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man
that you care for him? Yet you have made him little less than god, and crown
him with glory and honour. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;
you have put all things under his feet” (Ps 8:5-7).
[Initials
and Abbreviations.- CSDC:
Pontifical Council for Justice And Peace, Compendium of the Social
Doctrine of the Church; - SDC:
Social Doctrine of the Church; - CV: Benedict
XVI, Caritas in Veritate (Charity
in truth)]
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