by Leela Ramdeen, Chair of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice
As we come to the close of this year’s Respect For Life Week (RFLW) on Sunday, October 3, I urge you all to join people from various faith communities as we walk and pray around part of Queen’s Park Savannah – from Casuals Corner (near the American Embassy) to St Ann’s Roundabout from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. this Sunday. Some of you may prefer to gather in the Savannah at St Ann’s Roundabout and wait for us there. We will also be praying there at the end of the procession. The Youth Commission’s steel band will play for us also.
This has been a wonderful week. What an opportunity to increase/deepen our faith. In today’s Gospel (Luke 17: 5-10), the disciples ask Jesus to increase their faith. The parable of the mustard seed is instructive as we reflect on our activities during the past week. After our session with Sir Ellis Clark who shared with us from his treasure trove of knowledge about our journey to becoming a Republic, I received an inspiring e-mail from Msgr Jason Gordon who had been present at the seminar. Inter alia, he said: “I thought the tone and quality were really great and the fact that it was videotaped means it can be repeated again…”
As people of faith, it is not how much we do as we seek to live our faith, but the quality of what we do that is important. Today’s Gospel is about humility and about trust in God. As I get older I find that I have a tendency to worry about things like: “Will parishes, schools, and Catholic organisations observe RFLW? Have we prepared adequately? Will it rain on the day of our procession?” etc.
As I was thinking aloud, my father asked me: “Where is your faith?” Interestingly, it is my Hindu father who reminded me of Blessed Mother Teresa’s words that “in our lives we can do no great things, only small things with great love.” Let us increase our faith by putting our faith into practice; by doing what little we can do in our homes, our workplaces, our communities.
I agree with Fr George Smiga that we can increase our faith in three ways: “worship, service and community… the liturgy, is both the ‘source and summit’ of the Christian life.” Today’s Gospel is also about service. We know that what we do for the least of our brothers and sisters, we do for Jesus – charity and social action.
However, as Fr Smiga says: “worship and service on their own are not enough. We need to grow our faith within the context of community. We are not isolated individuals on our way to God, but a Church, a body of believers” who are called to build the civilisation of love. Remember, though that as a body of believers, we journey with believers of other Christian denominations, other faith communities and with persons who have no religious beliefs. All are children of God and we are called to love and serve each one since each one of us is made in God’s image and likeness.
After RFLW let us continue to identify the various threats to all life – including environmental degradation – and to grasp opportunities to build a culture of life. The road ahead is a long one, but as a Eucharistic people; as a people of the Beatitudes, we have hope in God’s goodness and mercy.
CCSJ’s message as the week comes to an end is clear: Let us put people before things and embrace each other as brothers and sisters in Christ as we journey on; let us strive for excellence in all that we do, strengthen our family life, optimise our potential, ensure that there is a connection between the faith we say we believe in and how we live our lives, put God at the centre of our lives and, as Gandhi said: “Be the change you want to see in the world”.
Never underestimate the “power of ONE” to make a difference and to transform communities. Let us play our part in shaping the direction of our blessed nation. Sincere thanks from CCSJ to all those who worked with us during the planning and/or implementation stages of RFLW.
