A Common Obligation

A Common Obligation
    “Not until the creation and maintenance of decent conditions of life for all men are recognized and accepted as a common obligation of all men and all countries—not until then shall we, with a certain degree of justification, be able to speak of mankind as civilized.”
                                                                            Albert Einstein
    As I write this thousands of Children here in Canada and the United States are living below the poverty line.
    Twenty-five years ago all the parties in the Canadian parliament in an act of unanimity promised to end child poverty within twenty years. Now twenty-five years later and the number of children living in poverty is still the same. This, in one of the richest nations in the world.
    Sadly new statistics just released show that the number of families using food banks is increasing right across the country.
    We have enough food and resources to end poverty. No man, woman or child should ever have to worry about having a roof over their head, enough food to eat and clothing.
    Sadly for all the idealistic words that comes from the government there is no real action.
   
    As Christians we should be doing what we can to help the poor.
    Jesus said,
    “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 
I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 
When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 
When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”
             Matthew 25:34-40.
        Tony Campolo the American evangelist said,
      “These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change.”
          Tony Campolo
    We as Christians need to be speaking out for the poor. To partitioning our government leaders asking them to do more to help those less fortunate in our society.
    We as individuals need to be doing what we can to help those in need.
    Francis of Assisi wrote,
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

                                                                  The Prayer of St Francis of Assisi
    Think about it.