The unrest in the Middle East contains a warning for the rest of the world. All people deserve to be treated fairly. The principles of social justice that Jesus taught remain relevant today. All countries, all societies should remember and implement them.
The needs of the individual must be considered, must be remembered, must be respected by all governments. Basic human needs for food, water, clothing, shelter must be available.
The gaps between rich and poor are growing wider and wider each year.
There is violence in our country. Violence against women, violence against children, violence against minorities. Within our society, each day the media presents new reasons for anxiety, for fear, for apathy. There is a murder here, a rape there, armed assault over there. Each stranger has the possibility of helping improve or helping destroy our lives. None of this is new. This has been going on since the beginning of time. Violence has always been a part of human existence.
The gaps between good and bad are growing wider and wider; the secular society wants to confuse us, wants us to see life in shades of gray, instead of black and white. If science can present a rational sounding argument for a behavior then it must be acceptable. Almost every sin is excused and explained away in our society. Popular culture is only concerned with the immediate, not the long term. Popular culture likes encouraging unrest, self-doubt, fear especially when there is a way to profit from someone's misfortune or fear of a possible misfortune.
How many people profit from the misfortune of others?
As Christians we must always strive to respect life, to encourage others to respect life. We must remember Jesus' teachings of mercy, compassion, charity. We must include them in our daily lives, in our interactions with everyone we meet.
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