Poe Gregory Response-Aravind Reddy

This statement by Pope Gregory is very true because by performing acts of mercy, we do pay a debt that we owe to social justice. I think that this statement is so profound because it reaches out to the hearts of people and tells them the true meaning of following in God’s way. The Catholic Church states that The Option for the Poor and Vulnerable is “A basic moral test is how our most vulnerable members are faring. In a society marred by deepening divisions between rich and poor, our tradition recalls the story of the Last Judgment (Mt 25:31-46) and instructs us to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first.“ That follows exactly what the quote by Pope Gregory states. We are instructed to put the needs of the poor and the vulnerable first just as Jesus was instructed by god to sacrifice himself to allow us to go to heaven. Gandhi, one of the forefront leaders of Social Justice, did also his acts of selflessness and peace not for his own needs, but for the entire country of India. Even Dorothy Dix was spent the entire fighting for justice and we should all follow in her path. Nelson Mandela was another that provided a beacon for the continuation of social justice. The Bible itself tells us as Catholic followers to end poverty and put the poor and the vulnerable first. The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church also proves this point because it says that the “poor remain entrusted to us and it is the responsibility upon which we shall be judged at the end of time.” This statement says that is our responsibility to take of the poor and vulnerable until Jesus Christ returns and rids us of poverty forever. Jesus himself says “You always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me.” We then must take the responsibility of taking care of the poor. Some people have the money to take of the poor, but their own selfishness prevents them from doing the right thing and in turn falling or their own wants and desires. We can do this by taking our time off wars and constant violence and starting spreading this wasted time to the poor and other ideas that will provide for a better community. That is what The Seven pillars of Justice is telling us to do and as catholic people, we should follow it. My opinion and others will help end this poverty that Pope Gregory so gladly shared his insight on.