Prophets Of Change

Seek Justice

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Key Assertions That Help Summarize This Article:

Seek justice.

Principles of justice serve as guidelines that help to govern modes of exchange and interaction in society.

Fairness, equity, and moral rightness are the main aspects of justice.

Justice is action that pays due regard to the proper interests, property, and safety of one’s fellows.

The seeking of justice is the main job of eartHearts aspiring to be secular saints.

In the Bible it says: “let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever flowing stream.” –Amos, 5:24. Free people need to agree on some ground rules in order to live together in harmony. Principles of justice are such ground rules. They point to ideas of fair treatment. These principles serve as guidelines that help to govern modes of exchange and interaction in society. Principles of seeking justice of particular interest to eartHearts include the following ethical guidelines: participation is to be voluntary and based on informed choice; there is no discrimination; help and advice is available to all; disputes are resolved through mediation or other nonviolent methods established by each participating group; personal safety is protected; vulnerable participants are supported; the civil rights and dignity of persons is respected; community safety and social harmony are promoted; help for the disadvantaged is made available; and cultural diversity is respected along with civil rights and the rule of law.

Fairness, equity, and moral rightness are the main aspects of justice, which can be defined as action in accordance with the requirements of some law, be it God’s command, rules common to all humanity that emerge out of some consensus, or the edicts from society’s legal system. In a narrower sense, justice is action that pays due regard to the proper interests, property, and safety of one’s fellows. The seeking of justice is the main job of eartHearts aspiring to be secular saints.

Here’s what it means to be a prophet:

1. They have a need to express their thoughts and ideas verbally.

2. They need to make sure they restore a wrong-doer to right living and not just expose the wrong-doer.

3. They tend to make quick judgments and, there, need to guard inspect themselves to guard against temptation.

4. They react strongly to dishonesty, indiscretion, or wrong-doing.

5. They need to guard against angry tirades and proud reactions

6. Thy are self-critical and open about their failures.

7. They are loyal to the truth and end relationships with people who fail to be truthful or righteous.

8. They feel responsible to speak out.

9. They are eager to embrace their own suffering.

10. They tend to embarrass themselves in their bluntness.

11. They have a special ability to define what is right or wrong.

12. Their judgments become fixed on their minds and they feel compelled to persuade other to agree with them.

13. They predict the future.

14. They receive visions and dreams from the Absolute.

15. When they receive a vision they have superhuman strength.

16. They are always accurate.

17. They seek only to glorify the Absolute.

18. Anyone can become a prophet.

19. They put themselves between the oppressor and the oppressed.

20. Unlike most saints—canonical or secular, eartHeart saints do not become martyrs.

To Become A Justice-seeking Prophet…

Photo by Jacob Gomez, Pexels.com.

HumaNatureConnect Activity

Seeking Justice

To organize your thinking and acting regarding the seeking of justice, look over the statements below. In presenting the following seven statements, we are not endorsing any one religion or theology. Good statements from one religion can certainly serve as worthy guides or as food for thought to people who are members of a different religion or who endorse no religion. As instructed below, record your impressions, memories, concerns, and plans regarding each of the seven Themes from Catholic Social Teaching (2005):

1. Life and Dignity of the Human Person: The Catholic Church proclaims that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society. This belief is the foundation of all the principles of our social teaching. In our society, human life is under direct attack from abortion and euthanasia. Human life is threatened by cloning, embryonic stem cell research, and the use of the death penalty. The intentional targeting of civilians in war or terrorist attacks is always wrong. Catholic teaching calls on us to work to avoid war. Nations need to protect the right of life by finding effective ways to prevent conflicts and resolve them by peaceful means. We believe that every person is precious, that people are more important than things, and that the measure of every institution is whether it threatens or enhances the life and dignity of the human person.

2. Call to Family, Community, and Participation: The person is not only sacred but also social. How we organize our society—in economics and politics, in law and policy—directly affects human dignity and the capacity of individuals to grow in community. Marriage and family are the central social institutions that have to be supported and strengthened, not undermined. We believe people have a right and a duty to participate in society, seeking together the common good and well-being of all, especially the poor and vulnerable.

3. Rights and Responsibilities: The Catholic tradition teaches that human dignity can be protected and a healthy community can be achieved only if human rights are protected and responsibilities are met. Therefore, every person has a fundamental right to life and a right to those things required for human decency. Corresponding to these rights are duties and responsibilities—to one another, to our families, and to the larger society.

4. Option for the Poor and Vulnerable: 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.

5. Call to Family, Community, and Participation: The person is not only sacred but also social. How we organize our society—in economics and politics, in law and policy—directly affects human dignity and the capacity of individuals to grow in community. Marriage and family are the central social institutions that have to be supported and strengthened, not undermined. We believe people have a right and a duty to participate in society, seeking together the common good and well-being of all, especially the poor and vulnerable.

6. The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers: The economy has to serve the people, not the other way around. Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of continuing participation in God’s creation. If the dignity of work is to be protected, then the basic rights of the workers have to be respected—the right to productive work, to decent and fair wages, to the organization and joining of unions, to private property, and to economic initiative.

7. Solidarity: We are one human family whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences. We are our brother’s and sister’s keepers, wherever they may be. Loving our neighbor has global dimensions in a shrinking world. At the core of the virtue of solidarity is the pursuit of justice and peace. Pope Paul IV taught that “if you want peace, work for justice.” The Gospel calls us to be peacemakers. Our love for all our sisters and brothers demands that we promote peace in a world surrounded by violence and conflict.

Answer the following four questions for each of the above seven justice-seeking statements:

1. What is my general impression of the statement?

2. What memories are evoked by the statement?

3. What concerns inherent in the statement are currently being played out in my life?

4. What are my plans for seeking justice regarding the topic of the statement?

Photo by Marek Piwwnicki, Pexels.com.

Nocturnal Pilgrimage

For best results, write down your impressions of each night’s dreams in your journal using the Heartwood Path Dreaming Time Protocols found in the Appendix. Afterwards, consider sharing your Dream Tending with others.