SUFFERING & JUSTICE

Ch.1

HOW DO WE RESPOND TO SUFFERING?

_____________ – WE SEE OR HEAR OF OTHERS SUFFERING, BUT CHOOSE NOT TO ACT.

“There are so many problems…even if I make a small contribution, what difference will it really make?

I have no power to change the situation. I am afraid that if I speak up, _x_ would

be angry with me or my safety could be at risk.

To hope is to…______________________________________________________________.

____________- WE USE OUR INDEPENDENCE TO PURSUE OUR OWN DESTINY IN A WAY THAT BREAKS OUR TIES WITH GOD AND THE COMMUNITY

That problem doesn’t affect me; why should I care?

Homeless people should work to help themselves instead of expecting others to help them.

Her predicament is due to her own decisions—she’s getting what she deserves.

The pollution our paper mills put into the water is a necessary trade-off…cleaning it would cost so much, we’d lose our jobs.

Individualism says that…Each person______________________________, and when others fail to do so, ______________________________________. How can this be problematic?

________________________- THE REALIZATION THAT BY HELPING OTHERS, WE ARE HELPING OURSELVES IN THE END

The government should spend money educating people about avoiding health problems, because it costs less to prevent them than to treat them. It may take more resources now, but the benefits will be greater in the long run.

We need to stop toxins from polluting our water. We have to act now, or we’ll face the consequences later.

I help my elderly neighbor with her yard because someday that could be me. ________

________________________________________

____________- WE COME UNDERSTAND OTHERS’ EXPERIENCE OF SUFFERING AND (WITH HOPE) IT MOVES US ___________________________________________

She does her nurse duties but takes extra time to listen to patients’ needs and worries.

He stands up for the kid everyone teases, even though his friends snicker.

You take time to email your representatives about legislation to protect migrant farmers from harmful pesticides.

WHY IS THERESUFFERING?

What is your explanation………

?

IF GOD IS AGAPE, IT DOESN’T MAKE SENSE TO THINK THAT SUFFERING IS SENT BY GOD

Creation: “God saw it was good.”This phrase is repeated in the Creation account

seven times. ________________________________

Humans are capable of imitating God’s creative giving, ______________________.Childbirth, parenthood

When humans fail to love as God does, the result is disorder, destruction, and suffering.

We were made free, made good, and made to be in relationship.

MADE FREE: FREE WILL

Without free will, people would not be able to truly love, because love is always a freely given gift. _________

_________________________________ This also means, however, that

humans are ____________________.

‘MADE GOOD’: HUMAN DIGNITY

Human dignity comes from always being ______________.

Nothing can take away the love of God,* so _______________________

______________________________________________________________

*We discussed this when we read about God as agape: pure, self-giving love.

MADE TO BE IN RELATIONSHIP : TO LOVE AND BE LOVED BY…

_______________________“It is not good that the man should be

alone.” Genesis 2:18 ___________________

“Cultivate and care for it.” Genesis 2:15 _______________

“Love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.” Deuteronomy 6:5

WHEN HUMANS FAIL TO LOVE AS GOD DOES, THE RESULT IS DISORDER DESTRUCTION, AND SUFFERING. Sin:

A word, deed, or attitude contrary to God’s law of love

What does sin separate us from?______________________________________________________________________

How does grace, the transforming love of God, figure as part of the solution?

THE CALL TO JUSTICE

THE HISTORY OF JUSTICE IN THE JUDEO-CHRISTIAN TRADITION _______________

Love God fully See p.22 _________________

Regulations for caring for the poor and strangers

____________________“Is this not the fast I choose….” p.23What would the prophets say about our

school, family, or community?

JUSTICE What is it?

The establishment of loving relationships among ______________________________________________

How did Jesus promote justice? Calling for people to reach out to those most in

need: “___________________________________.” Mk 12:33

Helping people _________________________________

What justice issues were prominent in Jesus’ time?

The social world of first-century Palestine

Why did think the political leaders fear Jesus’ vision of a world based on love?

BREAKING THROUGH DIVISIONS

__________________________________ Jesus taught & healed women; they were the first

witnesses of the resurrection. __________________________________

He rejected the idea that ‘sickness comes from sin,’ and had compassion on the Sabbath.

__________________________________He ate with them, making him ‘ritually unclean,’ and

pointed out the sin of scorning others __________________________________

He challenged them to give up wealth, not only to help the poor but to allow them to better love others.

__________________________________He challenged followers to respond to violence with

love, which is stronger.

The social world of first-century Palestine

"Most Holy" to "Least Holy"

High PriestsReligious Authori-tiesMen following the LawWomenForeignersSinnersMurderers, Prosti-tutes

How is the world as you see it today similar to or different from the world of the ancient Jews? Draw a diagram showing how groups of people relate to one another. It does not have to be a pyramid.