CHARITY IS NEEDED ~ JUSTICE IS REQUIRED

"Thus says the Lord, let not a wise man brag of his wisdom,
and let not the strong man brag of his strength,let not a rich
man brag of his riches; but let him who brags brag of this,
that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who
exercises loving kindness, justice and righteousness on earth,
for I delight in these things, I, the Lord have spoken."
(Jeremiah 9:23-24)
Our life is following Jesus and becoming one with God. Is living
as a Catholic just another lifestyle choice, give it a try it can't
hurt?  Is it like being part of the Jaycees, all you have to do is
pay your dues and maybe go to a meeting or two?  To be
Catholic is more than knowing answers, or having the right
answers.  To be Catholic is to live in a relationship with oneself 
and others, aware that everything is transformed by the mercy 
and grace of God.  To be Catholic means to be in transformation
over a lifetime, to have the mind and heart of Christ.  We are
destined to be one with God, which does not mean we wait till we
die.  Today, we live in a conscious way that reflects God in our
relationships with others and all creation. 
When we read in the Sacred Scriptures:   
"If you oppress poor people, you insult the God who made them;
but kindness shown to the poor is an act of worship"
(Proverbs 14:31)
It also says in the Sacred Writings from the 1st letter to St. John:
"If we are rich and see others in need, yet close our hearts against
them, how can we claim that we love God?" ( 1 John 3:17)
There are over 2000 verses in the Bible about the poor and how
God's people should care for them.  The poor are where God lives.
If we-our faith communities-want to live in a right relationship with
God we will practice and live biblical justice.  There is ethical and
legal justice, acts of charity, these practices keep us from living in
a jungle where only the strong survive.  But we practioners of the
way of Christ open not only our wallets and purses but our arms
and hearts to every image of God that suffers.  Biblical justice is
about our relationships and responsibilities to love God above all
else, to love every image of God, especially the less fortunate and
to handle all of God's creation with respect and  reverence.  All is
a gift from God.  Let us listen with the ear of our hearts to the
words of the prophet Micah:
"The Lord has told us what is good.  What he requires of us is this:
To do what is just, to show kindness, and to walk humbly
with our God."
I wish you peace, good health in mind, body and spirit.

Fr. Tom