Observe what is right, do what is just—Isaiah 56:1
The prophet Isaiah is quite clear in this passage. God calls his people to be signs of His presence in the ways they treat others. Why would this be important? Why doesn’t God just ask for prayers? It is because we are called to be participants in the work of salvation. God is asking us to create a more just world.
If you study the document on the laity, that was produced by the Vatican II Council on November 18, 1965, you will find this message quite clearly pronounced:
With a constantly increasing population, continual progress in science and technology, and closer interpersonal relationships, the areas for the lay apostolate have been immensely widened particularly in fields that have been for the most part open to the laity alone. These factors have also occasioned new problems which demand their expert attention and study (1).
Christ’s redemptive work, while essentially concerned with the salvation of men, includes also the renewal of the whole temporal order. Hence the mission of the Church is not only to bring the message and grace of Christ to men but also to penetrate and perfect the temporal order with the spirit of the Gospel (5).
The laity must take up the renewal of the temporal order as their own special obligation. Led by the light of the Gospel and the mind of the Church and motivated by Christian charity, they must act directly and in a definite way in the temporal sphere. As citizens they must cooperate with other citizens with their own particular skill and on their own responsibility. Everywhere and in all things they must seek the justice of God’s kingdom. The temporal order must be renewed in such a way that, without detriment to its own proper laws, it may be brought into conformity with the higher principles of the Christian life and adapted to the shifting circumstances of time, place, and peoples. Preeminent among the works of this type of apostolate is that of Christian social action which the sacred synod desires to see extended to the whole temporal sphere, including culture (7).
The facts are: (1) Our faith life must include the work of Christian social action and (2) The fullness of Christian spirituality is found in me, Thee, and others.
Are you engaged in a full Christian life?
Barbara Molinari Quinby, MPS, Director
Office of Life, Dignity, and Justice Ministries
Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral Raleigh, NC