A Pledge to Serve, Act with Justice, and Work for Peace
Take time this week to determine how you can act more justly, serve more generously, and build peace. Reflect on the following reading from the Book of Micah and then personalize the Pledge to Act that reflects your commitment. Identify at least one way you can do each action on the pledge. The Pledge to Act Worksheet can be found in the Catholic Social Teaching Guide or a Word document (editable format) to create your own pledge.
This is what God asks of you, and only this:
That you act justly,
love tenderly,
and walk humbly with your God.
(Micah 6:8)
Use the worksheet to write out your commitment to the following:
- Pray regularly for greater justice and peace.
- Learn more about Catholic social teaching and its call to protect human life, stand with the poor, and care for creation.
- Reach across boundaries of religion, race, ethnicity, gender, and disabling conditions.
- Live justly in family life, school, work, the marketplace, and the political arena.
- Serve those who are poor and vulnerable, sharing more time and talent.
- Give more generously to those in need at home and abroad.
- Advocate public policies that protect human live, promoting human dignity, preserve God’s creation, and build peace.
- Encourage others to work for great charity, justice, and peace.
The Bible and Catholic Social Teaching
Reflect on how the seven principle of Catholic social teaching are found in the Bible. The handout The Bible and Catholic Social Teaching provides selected readings from the Old and New Testaments for each of the seven principles of Catholic Social Teaching. Take one theme each week for the next seven weeks. Read the Bible passages for that theme and consider how the readings deepen your understanding of the biblical foundations of Catholic social teachings. The Bible and Catholic Social Teaching handout can also be found in the Catholic Social Teaching Guide.