“And you taught your people, by these deeds, that those who are just must be kind.”
Wisdom 12:19
From a very early age, our psyche drives us to fairness. How many of us remember saying “that’s not fair!” when we were younger? At some point, we realize that life is not necessarily fair, but that doesn’t mean we can’t fight for justice. As Catholics, we are called to be the voice for the voiceless. This call is one of the prime reasons our Church spends so much time and energy in the fight against abortion. I can’t think of any other group in the world that has less of a voice then the unborn. Other groups that are devoid of a voice are the poor and uneducated.
True Christian Service has two sides, charitable works and social justice. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops uses a visual titled “The Two Feet of Love in Action.” Charitable works help to meet basic needs by aiding individuals. I think this part is the most relatable, as the St. Isidore community is very generous with volunteering both time and resources to people in need. The second part is social justice. This is more challenging. Social justice calls us to remove root causes and improve structures. In my humble opinion, this is the part that is most often neglected. It is difficult to work toward systemic change. It is a slow process in which we have to be both patient and dedicated. Both parts of Christian Service are needed and a reciprocal relationship exists between the two. The more we focus on social justice, the less energy we need to put into charitable works. The less we focus on social justice, the more we will need charitable works. Both are critical, and it is key that no matter what, we are walking with those in need.
Matthew 25:40 states “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” We are called to care for our brothers and sisters in need without judgement. When we serve others, through volunteering or advocacy we are drawn into the mission of Christ. Once we see people as people, not this type of person or that type of person, but simply God’s people, we can easily move forward with kindness in our hearts and justice as our motivator. Let us pray for the strength to walk the walk of social justice, so that the world becomes a more loving and just place to live.
