Social Justice Welcome Back

Justice – God’s justice not human justice, where we make sure that those around us get what they need. It is based in love, understanding that God will provide what we need if we make sure that those around us get what they need.

Human Dignity – the reason for working for Justice; every life is sacred whether we judge it to be or not. Society has lost it’s compassion and love for human life. Distractions keep us from getting to know others. Not getting to know others keeps us from caring. Not caring keeps us from seeing the true value in all of God’s children.

The Ten Commandments – the basis for understanding how we interact with God and with one another as God’s chosen. 1.I, the Lord, am your God. You shall not have other gods besides me. 2.You shall not take the name of the Lord God in vain 3.Remember to keep holy the Lord's Day 4.Honor your father and your mother 5.You shall not kill 6.You shall not commit adultery 7.You shall not steal 8.You shall not bear false witness 9.You shall not covet your neighbor's wife 10.You shall not covet your neighbor's goods

The Beatitudes – Jesus’ restatement of the Law, the blessings which are ours as children of God. Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God. Blesses are the peacemakers: for they shall be called children of God. Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Seamless Garment – the idea that all moral actions fit together and are driven by the same exact rational. We cannot separate out our actions based on our feelings. God created us to be in unity and the same it true of our thinking – we must be unified. If we believe the other things we have just talked about, then everything we do is guided by the same principles and thinking.

14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

The Response Attitude – how we view people? “Each one thought that they knew better, but they were different by design. Instead of standing tall together, they let their differences divide.”

“If we love him, we will keep commands. He said so himself. If we love him, then he will do good works through us. He will feed the poor, shelter the homeless, feed the hungry; he will do the social justice that needs to be done. He will visit the prisoners through us, he will visit the sick. For where the Christian goes, so goes Christ. He will do it all for his sake which embraces Truth even when its difficult to accept. He will complete what he started, and we will simply become his instruments to be transformed into Love, which in the end, is all that matters. ” -- Father Bresowar