Over the years our homes take a beating from the elements, and usually need a little tender loving care. The results of a little work improves the life and look of the home. Life has a way of taking its toll on people at times. When we find ourselves a little down, some tender loving care helps us too.
Minding other people’s business is our business too. Apostle James says, “… what good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it?…” James 2:14-18.
We should perform kind acts that help our neighbors in their everyday needs. We don’t perform these good works to please or satisfy God, we don’t do good works to earn salvation or grace. We should do good works because God is love and we want to live in God. By sharing our love with others we meet the living God.
How do we perform good works? Feed the hungry: support and volunteer for food shelves, Ruby’s Pantry and other groups that feed the hungry. Find shelter for the homeless: Help neighbors care for their home, join a social justice group working on affordable housing. Clothe the naked: Go through your closet and drawers and find good condition clothes to donate to the local second hand store. Visit the sick: Spend time with someone who is sick, prepare a meal for a homebound person who is sick, send a card. Give alms to the poor: Donate money to the food shelf, donate money to your church to be used for the poor, buy someone’s groceries. Bury the dead: Be faithful about attending wakes and funerals. Participate in a bereavement ministry, take someone to visit the grave of their loved one.
For many centuries Catholics and Protestants have disagreed on the role that doing good works plays in our salvation. Protestants say we are saved (Justified) by faith alone. Catholics believe we are saved by faith too, but faith must be accompanied by good works. In 1999 the Lutheran World Federation and the Catholic Church reached agreement on a Joint Declaration of the Doctrine of Justification.
The goal of performing kind acts is to bring about a transformation in society–a transformation that reflects how God intends for us to live with one another. Just maybe we can transform the world. We transform the world through our actions.
Social Justice is not just for activists, we are all called to social justice, since individualism is highly emphasized in society today; it takes courage to respond with action. Minimize the individual and focus on the common good. Often we don’t hear or read about the good social justice groups are doing. Social justice is active as a group in Grand Marais and Cook County. Look for them and join them.
Jesus gives us a good starting point to living with each other. In all four gospels, Jesus tells us that the poor will always be with us. When we don’t know which way the Holy Spirit is leading us, start with acts of mercy to the poor. Everything else will fall into place for those who love him.
Abraham Lincoln said “I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live up to what light I have.” In other words live up to our obligation to society.
Father, help me to hear the cries of those who are deprived of what they need in life. Help us transform the world. Amen.
Each month a member of the Cook County Ministerium will offer Spiritual Reflections. This month our contributor is Deacon Peter Mueller of St. John’s Catholic Church in Grand Marais.
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