Tooth mugs and justice

I recently spent some time at two very different locations: one a retreat centre (lovely setting but pretty basic), the other a beautiful four-star holiday resort with pretty much all the mod-cons one could wish for.

Neither of them provided a tooth-mug in the bathroom. No big deal, really. All you have to do is ask. That is the point: if you want something, or want it done right, or want it done according to how you think is right, then you have to take some action.

There are ways and means to take action. You can go to the management and make a request, fill in an evaluation form, complain, demonstrate or toyi-toyi, or just leave it and say: “Such is life.”

With local elections on May 18 there is a need to look at how things are, how they should be, and how this can be achieved. In a sense that is what our region’s March family theme—“If you want peace, work for justice”—is about.  March is Human Rights month, so it focuses us on the way things ought to be for justice resulting in a peaceful environment, such as that which I experienced in the Drakensberg, away from demonstrations and all the hustle and bustle of city life.

What I believe is relevant for family life is how peace is experienced and justice achieved. What motivates us human beings? The principles of Catholic Social Teaching are helpful, particularly that of the dignity of the human being and the common good. However, is knowing that motivation enough?

Every family inherently knows these principles, but how well do we put them into practice and on what basis? And if we have difficulty at the level of the most basic structure of society, what will motivate us to do so at other levels? Is it, in fact, a more selfish, individualistic sense of “I want”, even more so than “I need”?

It appears to me that the underlying Christian virtue of love is an essential ingredient in doing good and in acting for the common good; love of God, a desire to please God, love of neighbour (starting with those in our most intimate relationships).

Is love a feeling built around a sense of belonging? Is it a decision to love one and all, just because they are all God’s children?

When I mention that there is a Charter of Rights of the Family dating from the 1980s people are usually surprised. Family rights include the right to life, to shelter, to marry, to have children, to education, to freedom of religion, to freedom to make responsible decisions about the family’s way of life.

There is a unique innate sense of love, belonging and commitment that is natural to a family.  When we think of and take on board the image of “Church as Family”, we should be learning to treat others as family and generalise the qualities of commitment to others. It is a tall order, no doubt, but a necessary one for the good of society.

Pope Paul VI taught us that if you want peace, work for justice. And if you want justice, learn to love. Learn to take the appropriate action, whether it is requesting a tooth-mug or demonstrating for the right to life.