“Whatever you do to the least of my brothers and sisters youdo for me” (Mt. 25:44). Jesus spoke these words to his followers to remind them and us about the real meaning of discipleship. If we look around, we will see (or quite possibly overlook) the homeless, the hungry, and the marginalized living near the most affluent peoplein the world. Pope Benedict XVI states in his encyclical Deus Caritas Est (no.29) “charity must animate the entire lives of the lay faithful and therefore also their political activity, lived as social charity.” As Catholics, we need to reflect on our call to alleviate the suffering of so many. Through this examination of conscience, we discover how our sisters and brothers who struggle most are actually the path to our transformation and salvation.
“Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship” challenges us to reflect on the Gospel ideal that the common good embraces all, and that those who are weak, vulnerable, and most in need deserve preferential concern.“A basic moral test for our society is how we treat the most vulnerable in our midst. Scripture reminds us that we will be judged by our response to the ‘least among us’ (USCCB 50 November 2007). Now, that relatively hidden piece of Catholicity is a bit un-nerving.
“Social action” and “social justice” are really inseparable. The immediate needs of the poor call for our assistance. We see families, senior citizens, and veterans living on the street or in shelters, as well as standing in line at soup kitchens. We are often moved with pity. We may write a check or donate food. We may even congratulate ourselves for helping. Our acts of charity make sense. However, we must honestly ask ourselves some unsettling questions. “Why are there so many homeless and hungry in our midst? Why are there so many jobs that do not pay a living wage?
We are a land of laws and our laws protect what we as a society value the most. We know that laws are not written by citizens who are poor, struggling, hurting and hidden. So, who holds our lawmakers accountable to both protect and respect those whom Jesus considered so central to his mission – the powerless and voiceless?
We, the church, are reminded that “those who are oppressed by poverty are the object of a preferential love on the part of the Church” (Catechism of the Catholic Church no. 2448). We, the Body of Christ, need to become more aware of our social responsibilities to assure that basic needs of food and shelter, as well as education, healthcare, and employment are available and accessible to all our brother and sisters. We often take these basics for granted. Pope Benedict XVI emphasizes that, “love for widows and orphans, prisoners, and the sick and needy of very kind, is as essential to the Church as the ministry of the sacraments and the preaching of the Gospel” (Deus Caritas Est, no.22). Take some time to reflect on that papal wisdom! As a people of faith and worship, we are called to embody a Gospel understanding of the Eucharist, the central mystery of our faith:“The Eucharist commits us to the poor” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1397).
After the resurrection, Jesus appeared to his followers in the most surprising ways. The Risen Lord re-appeared as a gardener (John 20:15), a stranger (Luke 24:13), a short-order cook (John 21), and a wounded person (John 20:27). Matthew 25 reminds us that the poor, the hungry, the outsider, the imprisoned, the poorly clothed and poorly sheltered enabled Jesus to live God’s mission faithfully. Many Gospel stories remind us that those who struggled most were such a gift to Jesus. The poor are God’s gift to us. Love for the many invisible faces of Lazarus, living in our midst, is the path to our faithful citizenship, discipleship, and salvation.
As Catholics, we believe that at her very core, the church lives in solidarity with the defenseless, the poor, the sick and the cast out. This undeniable heart of our faith is not limited to the protection of the unborn’s right to life, the most basic and fundamental right, but continues with protecting our brothers and sisters who suffer as a result of society’s indifference to disease, hunger, and war. To circumvent this is to circumvent all of our sacred writings and church teaching, the very blueprint that reflects the vision of God, our architect, for our world, for the formation of our conscience, and for the decisions that flow from that informed conscience. Jesus said “follow me” 87 times. Where and to whom did he lead his followers? Where and to whom is Jesus leading us?
Trudy Cranston is associate director, Diocesan Worship Office, and Larry DiPaul is director, Diocesan Office of Social Justice.
For more information pertaining to Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship or to obtain a copy of this document, go to the Diocese of Camden website, www.CamdenDiocese.org