Be Just

What does it mean to “be just”?

 Brainstorm what being “just” means, and come up with some examples of how a person could behave/act in a just manner.

Justice

Definition:  The principle of fairness; conformity to the law Social Justice:  Refers to human relationships in society that are shaped by our belief that individuals are created in the likeness of God, due dignity and respect, rights and responsibilities.  Social justice seeks to advocate social change which will help human relationships reflect more accurately God’s relationship with us in Jesus.

Injustice: creating a barrier to relationships; unfairness

Key Concepts

1. Solidarity

We are one human family, no matter where we live, what we believe, what religion we are. Solidarity means we learn to love our neighbour…no matter where in the world that neighbour lives!

We see their challenges, successes, needs, as our own. We are one, just as the Trinity (the perfect example of solidarity!) is one. God has shared divine life with us, in the form of Jesus, and shows us that he wants to share in every aspect of our lives except sin. We are called to do the same with others!

2. Preferential Option for the Poor

Our society sees a deepening division between rich and poor, and we are instructed to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first. A simple moral test of how we are working for the common good and respecting human dignity is to see how our most vulnerable members are doing. Because we all have human dignity, we should look out for and serve one another. In all our decisions, we should strive to hurt the poor the least, while helping them the most.

3. Natural Law This refers to the proper order and balance of creation that God intended for the universe. It is called “natural” because we should all recognize it, as it is the right thing to do. Even our own societal laws and policies favour those with the least: social assistance, food hampers, student loans, low-income housing.

Nature and Justice

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bW7PlTa awfQ

Nature teaches us (just as Mufasa teaches Simba) that things are interconnected and all things exist in a delicate balance. If we are to survive as a world, we must change our lifestyles and become meek, in order to find a solution to our problems regarding the natural world.

Some situations to think about…

If the World Were a Village  This sheet poses some thought provoking questions for you to consider! Please do not write on the handouts.

The World Bank and Water  This presents background on water provisions in developing countries, and presents some questions for you to make some comparisons.