Rights and responsibilities
From today’s Scripture: “Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires.”—Gal 5:24
Our consumerist culture encourages our passions and desires for material stuff we really don’t need. The Church teaches that every person has a right to those things required for human decency. Yet grinding poverty exists in our rich country; we see it throughout Glenmary territory.
The US Bishops’ “Questions to Examine Conscience in Light of Catholic Social Teaching” asks: “Do I live in material comfort and excess while remaining insensitive to the needs of others whose rights are unfulfilled?” That blunt question stirs my conscience.
Let us pray: Lord, let me consider ways that I can to promote social justice. Give me resolve to do my part to ensure that all live in human decency.
Today’s author is Polly Duncan Collum, one-time parish-lay-missioner and now director of the Glenmary’s Commission for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation.
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