The Gift.

Open our eyes that we may see,
the deepest needs of men.

Move our hands that they my feed,
the hungry.

Touch our hearts that it may bring warmth,
to the despairing.

Teach us generosity,
that welcomes strangers.

Let us to share our possessions,
to cloth the naked

Give us the care,
that strengthens the sick.

Make us share in the quest,
to set the prisoners free.

In sharing our anxieties, our love
our poverty and our prosperity,
we partake of Gods divine presence.

Reflection Questions

What does it mean to be “co-creators with God,” to be good stewards of God’s creation? By sharing in God’s goodness, sharing in God’s dominion, and having been invited to dwell in community, we find that humanity is connection we have with one another, the earth, and God.

Christian social teaching is a complex and nuanced tradition with many important elements like “human subsidiarity” and the “common good” These principles are built on the foundation of Christian social teaching: the dignity of human life.

These traditions/principles should outline the advantages and limitations the economy and the responsibilities and limits of government, and the essential role of the church.

This central Christian principle requires that we measure the church, every policy, every institution, and every action by whether it protects human life and enhances human dignity, especially for the poor and vulnerable.

The Scriptures say, “Without a vision the people perish” (Prv 29:18). In a world that hungers for a sense of meaning and moral direction, this teaching offers ethical criteria for action. In a society of rapid change and often confused moral values, this teaching offers us an opportunity to really br christian