What Would Dorothy Do?
In 1991, Pope John Paul
issued Centissimos Annos, an encyclical on the changing world on the
one hundredth anniversary (1891) of Pope Leo XIII’s critique of
industrialization in Europe and North America, the encyclical, Rerum
Novarum. Pope John Paul’s encyclical in 1991 targeted the
fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of communism in Europe. In 1991, one western leader spoke of a new
world order, but had no clue that might not really be the case after September
11, 2001.
The Polish Pope made a
significant comment to capitalist nations when he said that capitalism had no right to crow over what
had happened with the fall of communism. He said that both communism and
capitalism looked at workers as monads, to be used by either system for profit
and economic enrichment for the few.
Pope John Paul's words take
on a haunting meaning to this weekend after Black Friday. Think of the warning
about monads when you watch the (apparently,
not so massive as in the past) stampedes at stores on Thursday night and/or
Friday morning. When you think of it, consumers are pawns in a system that
controls them. Worse, think of the workers (often monadic, with no unionization
and no benefits) having to work on Thursday night and Friday morning. (How
unfair!!).
During the season of
Advent, we Catholics are reminded of the paradox of the Gospel, viz., both Emmanuel (God is with us) and Maranatha (Come, Lord
Jesus). The Lord Jesus is in our
hearts and midst (He says so!) and yet, we anticipate His coming to us in even
deeper ways now and in the future.
That is, of course, if you
are not shopping ‘til you're dropping. With a straight face, fair and balanced
bloviators speak of the War on Christmas. Perhaps, it would be more correct to
speak of the War on Advent. We are supposed
to be entering a time of watchful waiting so the Lord comes to us more fully at
Christmas and always. Now, the holydays are Black Friday and Cyber Monday!
Recently, there were
segments on television about angry consumers who didn't like some Christmas
setup. In some places, Santa was bye-bye. Another winter scene was in place. One irate woman in the area complained about
how they were waging war on Christmas. In her expression of resentment and
outrage, she didn't seem to have heard some of Jesus' teachings about anger and
revenge in the Sermon on the Mount.
Someone suggested that once
a week during the next four weeks, just come into church and sit down and slow
down and shut down. The Hindu practice of Darshan involved just sitting in a
holy place and you look at the Lord and let the Lord look at you. No words,
necessary! Be in the church and you gaze on the Lord and let the Lord gaze at
you in silence and solitude. No talk necessary, but if you want, use words! Be
counter cultural.
Try to get to Penance
before Christmas as another way to heed St John the Baptist's call to prepare the Way of the Lord. Many Catholics use the season of Advent as an opportunity for
Christmas confession. Be an apostolic disciple and try to encourage a relative
or friend to join you. This weekend, we
begin the Year of Mercy. Word travels among the laity about which confessors to
approach and which to avoid. Pope Francis says that this is an acceptable way
of celebrating the sacrament.
Today we observe the
thirty-fifth anniversary of the death of Dorothy Day here in NYC. Pope Francis, during his visit to us in
September cited the great New Yorker, Dorothy Day in his address to Congress. Today
we observe the thirty-fifth anniversary of the death of Dorothy Day here in
NYC. One can be sure that whatever was usually on Dorothy's agenda for TXG
night or Black Friday morning, it did not involve stampeding in shopping malls.
Pope John Paul was
certainly on target with his comment on people as ciphers in both communist and
capitalist systems. Think about his words in the next four weeks. Think also of
the words of St John the Baptist. “Prepare the way of the Lord.” We cannot do that so well, when we are tearing into shopping
malls.
Jesus is always knocking at
the door of your heart. What would Dorothy do? Would she tell him to come back
in the New Year because she was going shopping? Will you open the door for Him
or go out shopping? 112915AD jfq
