Jesus tells us that we are to love our neighbor as ourselves, and that
to serve those in need is to serve Him. We are called to act
compassionately, both within the circle of those we know and in the
larger world. It is especially easy to feel preoccupied, indifferent,
numb or helpless in the face of overwhelming, global problems, such as
poverty and hunger. How can we answer God's call to be compassionate
and serve as agents of mercy and justice in response to such suffering?
Jesus lived
and extolled the virtues of a lifestyle centered on eternal values, rather than
on the pursuit of wealth, status, or possessions.We find ourselves living in a society that
encourages excessive consumption, shallow escapism, and self-centeredness.How can we "be in the world but not of
it" and cultivate a simpler, more fulfilling lifestyle grounded in
Christian virtues instead of in materialism?
We are
called to honor and care for all of God's creation, but live in a culture that
encourages wastefulness, squanders and despoils natural resources, and lays
waste to God's world.How can we become
better stewards of what God has entrusted to us?
