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Who will save the babies? • Once upon a time there was a small village on the edge of a river. The people there were good and the life in the village was good. One day a villager noticed a baby floating down the river. The villager quickly jumped into the river and swam out to save the baby from drowning. • The next day this same villager was walking along the river bank and noticed two babies in the river. He called for help, and both babies were rescued from the swift waters. And the following day four babies were seen caught in the turbulent current. And then eight, then more, and still more. • The villagers organized themselves quickly, setting up watch towers and training teams of swimmers who could resist the swift waters and rescue babies. Rescue squads were soon working 24 hours a day. And each day the number of babies floating down the river increased. • The villagers organized themselves efficiently. The rescue squads were now snatching many children each day. Groups were trained to give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Others prepared formula and provided clothing for the chilled babies. Many people were involved in making clothing and knitting blankets. Still others provided foster homes and placement. • While not all the babies… could be saved, the villagers felt they were doing well to save as many as they could each day. Indeed, their priest blessed them in their good work. And life in the village continued on that basis. • One day, however, someone raised the question, "But where are all these babies coming from? Who is throwing them into the river? Why? Let's organize a team to go upstream and see who's doing it." The seeming logic of the elders countered: "And if we go upstream who will operate the rescue operations? We need every concerned person here. • "But don't you see," cried the one lone voice, "if we find out who is throwing them in, we can stop the problem and no babies will drown. By going upstream we can eliminate the cause of the problem." • "It is too risky, "[decided the elders]. • And so the numbers of babies in the river increase daily. Those saved increase, but those who drown increase even more.
1. Works of Charity- exemplified by Mother Teresa2. Social Justice - exemplified by Bishop Desmond Tutu, our bishops in their pastorals, Martin Luther King, Jr., Archbishop Oscar Romero Works of Charity • Are concerned with the present symptoms of injustice. • Focus on individual needs • Look for immediate solutions • Provide direct service with temporary results • Involves haves sharing with have-nots • Requires no change in social structure • Calms things down Works of Social Justice • Are concerned with the underlying causes of injustice. • Focus on changing social structure • Look for long-term solutions • Provide indirect help that is aimed at permanent change • Involves haves and have-nots working together • Requires working toward changes in the social structures • Stirs things up
In Other Words… Works of Charity Good Samaritan Story • Temporary and prompt relief to the victim • Private individual acts • Responds to immediate needs • Provides direct service: food, shelter, clothing • Requires repeated actions • Directed at the symptoms of injustice • Examples: homeless shelters, hunger kitchens, clothing drives, emergency relief Works of Social Justice Exodus Story • Challenges the very institution that oppresses the people • Public group actions • Addresses long-term needs • Works to change institutions • Resolves structural injustice • Directed at the root causes of injustice • Examples: working to change laws, community organizing, changing the policies and practices of corporations
Charity and Justice are like two feet on one body. We need both. Without one we limp along. • If a hungry person came to your door asking for food, you would not tell them “We are working on legislation to end hunger in the United States and we think we will have the problem licked in ten years.” They are hungry now and the immediate need must be addressed. At the same time, if we do not work on getting at the structural issues that cause hunger (poverty, underfunded welfare programs, food policy, budget priorities, etc.) then we will also limp along just providing temporary aid.
Justice does stir things up. Jesus did not get into trouble by doing acts of charity (feeding the hungry) but by challenging the religious establishment (performing his miracles on the Sabbath or attacking the temple economics, i.e. driving the money changers from the temple). So the answer to “What would Jesus do?” goes beyond being “nice” to challenging unjust structures which oppress people.
Justice is always going to be harder not only because it is long-term, but also because a true awareness of justice leads to ongoing conversion and many times an awareness of the relationship between our wealth and other’s poverty. It is hard to own that and also to move to change that. Many times charity does not call for a change in our lifestyle. Often a commitment to justice eventually does call for that change. • It is important in the work of justice to get connected with a community of justice. Community is the best context for helping to create that change.
