Let us bear the light of Christ and help build a civilization of love
By Bishop Mark Beckman
All is gift! As I noted last month, everything we have in this created world is a gift from the Lord to us.
Our first response to that awareness is always gratitude, but gratitude must inevitably lead to a generous and outgoing love on our part. If all that we have is gift, then we must freely give of all that we have and are in a response of love to our God and to our brothers and sisters in our world.
Pope Leo XIV recently reminded us in his first encyclical letter that we are all called to help “build a civilization of love,” a phrase first used back in 1970 by Pope Paul VI and often repeated by Pope John Paul II, who said, “…Be disciples and witnesses of the Gospel, so that the Gospel may be the good seed of God’s kingdom, the civilization of love! Be builders of peace and unity!”
Recently, I was asked what “building a civilization of love” really is. First, to speak of what it is not. A culture of death that embraces war and intolerance, apathy toward those in need, and a place where human suffering is ignored speak to the opposite of the Gospel call to love.
Building a civilization of love is creating a culture in our communities, nation, and world where every human person is valued and cherished, human dignity is respected, and each one is enabled to contribute to the good of the world. Such a civilization is founded on the dignity of the human person, respect for life, care for this creation God has given us, and founded on the principles of peace, respect, truthful communication, compassion, and empathy for those who are suffering.
It creates structures locally and globally that promote the genuine good of people, a society built on tolerance, peace, and respectful dialogue and mutual understanding. This involves hard work on our part! Each of us in the end of our lives on earth will be judged by how we have responded to the least of our brothers and sisters as Jesus makes clear in Matthew 25.
“Think global, act local” captures in a nutshell the challenge of building a civilization of love. Each one of us has a sphere of influence. With our financial resources, time and energy, unique talents and gifts, we can be about spreading the light of the Gospel in all of our encounters with persons on a daily basis.
We can personally treat others with respect and dignity. We can help the neighbor in need right in front of us with the resources God has given us. We can work hard to enable others to participate in all the good works of the kingdom.
Radiating outward, we can become involved in organizations and activities, engaging our time, talents, and resources in efforts to make our local communities more reflective of these Gospel values.
We can also become more engaged citizens, working with diligence and reaching out to our elected representatives and supporting efforts in our state, our nation, and internationally that promote genuine peace and the building of a culture of life and respect.
No one of us can do everything, but together, guided by the spirit of God, great things begin to happen! As Pope Leo just reminded us in his Wednesday audience, “We cannot remain as unengaged spectators. … With Christ and sustained by the power of His Spirit, believers are called to take on the burdens of their brothers and sisters, especially those crushed by injustice, discrimination, and violence.”
Sisters and brothers, let us bear the light of Christ here in East Tennessee and do our part in building the civilization of love!
Top photo: Ladies of Charity volunteers prepare to give out food to residents in need during a mobile food pantry with Second Harvest Food Bank on Aug. 29.