“As often as you have done it to the least of these my people, you have done it to me.” (Mt. 25:40)
TENET OF SOCIALJUSTICE: The moral test of a society is how it treats its most vulnerable and voiceless members: the poor and marginalized. All have a claim on our conscience and generosity. We are called to examine public policy decisions in terms of how they affect our brothers and sisters, so that we can do what is just and build a future based upon respect for the dignity of each person.
SALESIAN THEME: Living the little virtues. Sr. Jane de Chantal says, “We cannot always offer God great things, but at each instant we can offer little things with great love.” Our focus will be on changing our world and our environment in small steps by living our concern and by having faith in what might appear to be limited effectiveness. By taking on ourselves the lowliness and gentleness of Jesus through living the little virtues, we discover God’s will and can adjust our own objectives to those of Christ.
Those committed to Salesian Spirituality have a responsibility to develop a concerned awareness of the poor and marginalized. This awareness begins with ourselves.
We are called to acknowledge our anger at injustice and to let this anger add strength to our gentleness, firmness to our kindness, constancy to our patience.
The Salesian spirit actually shows a preference for those rejected by society just as Jesus himself was hidden from the wise and powerful and revealed to the little ones.
REFLECTIONS
I. In what ways can I present my convictions to those who hold influential positions in our government?
2. How can t witness to Salesian virtues? (By the way l drive, eat, relate….)
3. How can I bring the virtue of simplicity into my life?
4.With whom do I need to be more gentle?
5. What is it that the poor might teach us?
6.How does my patience grow even though results of my efforts may not be apparent?
7.How do I see the relationship between the little virtues and a preferential option for the poor?
8.What other ‘little virtues” can I identify?