Catholic Commission for Social Justice
Jesus is the corner stone of the Church and he has assured us that the Church is built on a solid foundation. In today’s society there are many issues that are testing the foundation of the Church and its believers. Many structures are collapsing. Globally we are seeing attacks on family life, on community structures and on our political systems. The Church has had to battle these challenges over time.
There are times in life that we feel hurt, broken… but God promises to restore our soul, and God does this through Jesus Christ. Psalm 23 reminds us of the advantages to be gained if we entrust our lives to Jesus Christ: we enter the kingdom of God where we will not want for nourishment for our souls. He will grant us peace from anxiety and stress, as he leads us beside quiet waters.
By Mike James
mikejames@aecrc.org
Our Caribbean Church also calls us to concrete action on Race issues
“There is also much that can be done by the Church in this matter. We must constantly preach and teach that any form of racial prejudice is a direct sin against Christ’s command to love our neighbour as ourselves. We must stress and promote the positive values inherent in each culture so that people will come to respect them and those who hold them. It will be useful to encourage serious study into racial origins and the causes of conflict so that people can look at this whole question in a mature and non-emotional manner.
By Mike James
In Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana, countries with significant proportions of populations which trace roots back to Africa and India, the issue of racial equality and rights has recently become a hot topic of debate (again).
“Resurrexi et adhuc tecum sum – I arose, and am still with you; you have set your hand upon me.”
On behalf of members of CCSJ, I wish you all a happy and holy Easter. Christ has risen, Alleluia! Let us say like St Augustine: “We are an Easter people, and Alleluia is our song.”
Today we celebrate the most important event in the history of humankind – the resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ. The resurrection is central to our faith as Catholics. By rising from the dead, Jesus freed us from original sin. That is what we call “radical love”. As today’s Psalm 118 says, the Lord’s “steadfast love endures forever.”