Description
Pope Francis has a number of profound saying in response to suffering, amongst others,
“Lord, help us to recognize you in the sick, poor and suffering”; “Like the Good Samaritan, may we not be ashamed of touching the wounds of those who suffer, but try to heal them with concrete acts of love”; “There is so much indifference in the face of suffering. May we overcome indifference with concrete acts of charity”.
The Catholic Church sees human suffering as a chance to follow the example of Christ and believe that it is a part of God’s plan. … Suffering is a trial, but it is through that trial that faith, hope and love continue. And through that suffering, an individual can find their own identity and their identity in Christ.
To what degree does Jesus’ life and death conform to, or explicate, Pope Francis’ sayings and the Church’s teachings? Moreover, how might Jesus’ life and death function as a template for our own approach to how we might confront evil and suffering?
In your discussion, also briefly (200-300 words) explore how elements of Catholic Social Teaching, which draw on Christian anthropology, might be valuable in your chosen profession.
NOTE: Your answer MUST reference at least 3 of the following 4 texts:
* Bader-Saye, S. (2007, Jul 10). Security check. The Christian Century, 124, 29-32. ]
* Manninen, Bertha Alvarez. “The Problem of Evil and Humans’ Relationship with God in Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life.” Journal of Religion and Film 17, 1 (April 2013): 1-23.
* Mouton, Elna. “Jesus as healer in the Gospel of Matthew: In conversation with Alan Culpepper. In die Skriflig 50, 1 (2016):1-6.
* Gockel, M. (2009), “Be Not Overcome By Evil, But Overcome Evil With Good”—An Orientational Approach To Suffering And Evil. Modern Theology, 25: 97-105.
* Williams, Roy. Ch7 In God, actually: Why God probably exists, why
Jesus was probably divine, and why the “rational” objections to religion are unconvincing.
Marks will be awarded for more comprehensive research, but this research should be restricted to fewer than 5 additional texts, apart from those already indicated above.
