Tuesday, February 17, 2015
John 13, 1-11 + CSDC and CV
John 13, 1-11 +
CSDC and CV
CV 8a In 1967, when he issued the Encyclical Populorum Progressio, my
venerable predecessor Pope Paul VI illuminated the great theme of the
development of peoples with the splendour of truth and the gentle light of
Christ's charity. He taught that life in Christ is the first and principal
factor of development [6] and he entrusted us with the
task of travelling the path of development with all our heart and all our
intelligence[7], that is to say with the ardour of
charity and the wisdom of truth.
Notes: [6] Cf. no. 16: loc. cit., 265. [7] Cf.
ibid., 82: loc. cit., 297.
CSDC 478. Entrepreneurs and directors of public agencies
involved in the research, production and selling of products derived from new
biotechnologies must take into account not only legitimate profit but also the
common good. This principle, which holds true for every type of economic
activity, becomes particularly important for activities that deal with the food
supply, medicine, health care and the environment. By their decisions,
entrepreneurs and public agency directors involved in this sector can guide
developments in the area of biotechnologies towards very promising ends as far
as concerns the fight against hunger, especially in poorer countries, the fight
against disease and the fight to safeguard the ecosystem, the common patrimony
of all.
[1] Before the
feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to
the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end. [2] The
devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over.
So, during supper, [3] fully aware that the Father had put everything into his
power and that he had come from God and was returning to God, [4] he rose from
supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his
waist. [5] Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples'
feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. [6] He came to Simon Peter,
who said to him, "Master, are you going to wash my feet?" [7] Jesus
answered and said to him, "What I am doing, you do not understand now, but
you will understand later." [8] Peter said to him, "You will never
wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "Unless I wash you, you will have
no inheritance with me." [9] Simon Peter said to him, "Master, then
not only my feet, but my hands and head as well." [10] Jesus said to him,
"Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is
clean all over; so you are clean, but not all." [11] For he knew who would
betray him; for this reason, he said, "Not all of you are clean."
CSDC 379. Jesus refuses the oppressive and despotic
power wielded by the rulers of the nations (cf. Mk 10:42) and rejects their
pretension in having themselves called benefactors (cf. Lk 22:25), but he does
not directly oppose the authorities of his time. In his pronouncement on the
paying of taxes to Caesar (cf. Mk 12:13-17; Mt 22:15-22; Lk 20:20-26), he
affirms that we must give to God what is God's, implicitly condemning every
attempt at making temporal power divine or absolute: God alone can demand
everything from man. At the same time, temporal power has the right to its due:
Jesus does not consider it unjust to pay taxes to Caesar. Jesus, the promised
Messiah, fought against and overcame the temptation of a political messianism,
characterized by the subjection of the nations (cf. Mt 4:8-11; Lk 4:5-8). He is
the Son of Man who came “to serve, and to give his life” (Mk 10:45; cf. Mt
20:24-28: Lk 22:24-27). As his disciples are discussing with one another who is
the greatest, Jesus teaches them that they must make themselves least and the
servants of all (cf. Mk 9:33- 35), showing to the sons of Zebedee, James and
John, who wish to sit at His right hand, the path of the cross (cf. Mk
10:35-40; Mt 20:20-23).
[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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