#6 (10th gr) Injustice & Oppression

Injustice & Oppression

Do you know who this guy is?

Here are some clues:

• He's an Israelite
• His mom wanted to save him from the Egyptians
• As a baby he floated in a basket down the river
• He was raised in the Egyptian palace
• He was a murderer
• He ran away
• God chose him to deliver God's people; the Israelites
• He led the Hebrew people out of slavery
• God provided him with laws for the Hebrew people to follow (Ten Commandments)

ANSWER:  Moses

Generations and generations later God provided us a new deliverer to lead us out of the slavery of sin.  Jesus is our Messiah and has provided us the Law of the Gospel or the New Law.  (this doesn't mean we ignore the Ten Commandments; but we'll get to that)

This is what we'll be thinking about this month: the Law of the Gospel.  This New Law is based on the Old Law.  The Law of the Gospel fulfills (refines) the Old Law.  The new Law of the Gospel leads the Old Law (10 Commandments) to perfection.

Jesus gave us a TON of great things during His Sermon on the Mount.  Please watch this video, it's 22 mins. so make sure you have the time to watch and pay attention.  The video goes back and forth from Jesus' preaching to the disciple Matthew who is telling scribes what Jesus said during the sermon.

Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)

Hopefully many parts of this video sounded familiar to you. This is the New Law, the Law of the Gospel.

Question 1: Name two things that stood out to you about Jesus' Sermon on the Mount.

Question 2:  What is Jesus calling YOU to do with this information?

Wouldn't it be great if every single person followed the Law of the Gospel, the New Law?  What would the world be like? What would we have more of?  What would we have less of?

Unfortunately we do not live in a world that is filled with people always following the New Law, the Law of the Gospel given to us by Jesus himself.  As a result we are faced with injustice and oppression.  As Catholics we are called to fight against injustice and oppression while following the Law of the Gospel.

First, what is injustice?  It's a lack of fairness.

in·jus·tice

inˈjəstəs/

noun

1. lack of fairness or justice.

   "the injustice of the death penalty"

What is oppression?  It's prolonged cruel treatment, abuse, or tyranny.

op·pres·sion

əˈpreSHən/

noun

1. prolonged cruel or unjust treatment or control.
2. "a region shattered by oppression and killing"

   synonyms:

   persecution, abuse, maltreatment, ill-treatment

   • the state of being subject to unjust treatment or control.

     synonyms:

     persecution, abuse, maltreatment, ill-treatment, tyranny

Have you ever seen, heard, or witnessed injustice or oppression?  Most likely everyone is aware of something that would qualify as injustice and/or oppression.

There are different types of injustice (social injustice, racial injustice, cultural injustice, moral injustice, etc.) but we're not going to get into the different types.  We will, however, look at different examples of injustice.  (we won't be able to cover all of them)

Examples of injustice (there are many more):

• poverty
• racism, ageism, sexism
• abuse (physical, mental, verbal, sexual)
• sex trafficking
• war
• abortion
• death penalty

Here's a clip about real world injustice, happening right here, right now.  This clips information reveals many injustices that take place due to abortion.

Examples of oppression (again, there are many more):

• the Holocaust
• slavery
• terrorism (al-Qaeda, ISIS, etc.)
• abuse

In this clip a family reads about the new rule which states all Jews must wear the Star of David visibly on their right arm. We then see an elderly gentlemen's oppressive treatment received via two SS men.

As a Catholic, what are you called by God to do about these things?  Some events took place in history, like the Jewish Holocaust, but that doesn't mean something like that can't or won't happen again.  Oppression is alive and well today. Many, many people face injustices today.

Earlier in the year we looked at the Beatitudes which Jesus gave to us during His Sermon on the Mount.  Quickly, let's review those, go to YouCat question 283.  There is hope in these words for those that are suffering, but what can they inspire YOU to do to combat injustice and oppression?

Question 3:  How can the Beatitudes (Gospel Law) inspire YOU to work against oppression and injustice?

Perhaps YOU are being called to provide comfort to those that mourn, perhaps YOU are the face of God people who are pure in heart see, perhaps YOU are the satisfaction people longing for righteousness experience.  YOU are the hands, feet, and heart of God.  YOU are called to minister to those in need, whatever that need may be.

Many Christians are being forced to leave their homes, their country, their churches, because current terrorists desire to rid the world of anything/anyone that does not follow Islam.

Pope Francis had this to say to Christian refugees at Christmas 2014 who were forced from their homes:

 

It may seem like this "stuff" happens so far away and doesn't really pertain to you.  If you remember though that we are all ONE BODY in Christ, this injustice and oppression still affects you.  You may not be forced from your home or forbidden to worship at your church, but these events are happening to our brothers and sisters.

Jesus said in His Sermon that we are to be salt and light to the world.  What would french fries taste like without salt? Bland, right?  Jesus wants us to season others' lives by our actions.  Salt makes french fries taste better.  By being salt to the world we're making it a better place.  Light scatters the darkness.  When we follow and live the New Law we're scattering darkness and shedding light, just like Jesus did. It's our mission here on earth.

Question 4:  What can you do here for those suffering injustice and oppression in far off places?  (be practical, name something you actually can/will do)

Jesus cautioned us against losing our flavor.  If salt loses it's flavor, it's no good.  There's nothing we can do to add the saltiness back into the salt.  We toss it away.  So.... don't lose your flavor.  Be the SALT + LIGHT!

Go to the YouCat questions 327-329 on pages 182-183. Read about the Common Good.

Question 5:  What is the Common Good?

Read YouCat question 331 on pg. 184.

Question 6:  Where does injustice among men come from?

Read this quote by C.S. Lewis:

Nothing is really ours until we share it.

Question 7: What did C.S. Lewis mean by this?

In the 1980s there were horrendous famines in Africa, a group of top name music artists collaborated for this song. The profits were used in aid efforts for those suffering.  You'll get a kick out of the 'fashions' seen in this video and maybe you'll recognize a few of the singers?  Maybe?  Anyway, this song is a good example of sharing what you have to help others and combat injustice/oppression.

For fun, here's a list of all the singers in the video, if you don't recognize them, your parents will.

• Dan Aykroyd
• Harry Belafonte
• Lindsey Buckingham
• Kim Carnes
• Ray Charles
• Bob Dylan
• Sheila E.
• Bob Geldof
• Hall and Oates
• James Ingram
• Jackie Jackson
• LaToya Jackson
• Marlon Jackson
• Michael Jackson
• Randy Jackson
• Tito Jackson
• Al Jarreau
• Waylon Jennings
• Billy Joel
• Cyndi Lauper
• Huey Lewis and the News
• Kenny Logins
• Bette Midler
• Willie Nelson
• Jeffery Osborne
• Steve Perry
• The Pointer Sisters
• Lionel Richie
• Smokey Robinson
• Kenny Rogers
• Diana Ross
• Paul Simon
• Bruce Springsteen
• Tina Turner
• Dionne Warwick
• Stevie Wonder