Introduction
The apostle James wrote in his letter that “faith without works is dead” (James 2:14-26). For this Enquiry, or any Enquiry, to be of value, action must follow reflection and the action has to be motivated by and grounded in faith.
The Act part of the Enquiry asks us to look at the world as God sees it and to act with the intention of working with God to complete its creation. We are challenged to look at our work and to say with God, “It is good.”
And when we view our work as faith in action, then we can look at ourselves as, to use Cardinal Joseph Cardijn’s words, “the true carriers of the Gospel” and “genuine missionaries.”
The Gospel
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘I say this to you who are listening: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who treat you badly. To the man who slaps you on one cheek, present the other cheek too; to the man who takes your cloak from you, do not refuse your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and do not ask for your property back from the man who robs you. Treat others as you would like them to treat you.
‘If you love those who love you, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what thanks can you expect? For even sinners do that much. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners lend to sinners to get back the same amount. Instead, love your enemies and do good, and lend without any hope of return. You will have a great reward, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.
‘Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge, and you will not be judged yourselves; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned yourselves; grant pardon, and you will be pardoned. Give, and there will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap; because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back.’ (Luke 6:27-38)
The Enquiry
See
What does Jesus teach his disciples in this Gospel scene? Summarise his teaching.
What will happen to those who commit themselves to following Jesus?
What has happened in Israel that would cause Jesus to speak to his disciples in this way?
Judge
What do you think about Jesus’ message? Does he use the word “judge” in the same way that is meant here in this part of the enquiry?
It is storytelling time: Who has lived their life according to the principles Jesus announces here? Ideally, how should people who follow Jesus be treated?
Is there any aspect of Jesus’ teaching that challenges you and that you have found to be difficult to carry out consistently?
Act
So, what do you want to change in yourself and in the world to cooperate with God in bringing about the Kingdom on earth?
What small action can you carry out that will contribute to the change you want to see?
Who can you involve in your action, when, where and how often?
Image Source: Becker1999 (Creator), March for Our Lives - Columbus Ohio, Flickr, CC BY 2.0
Worth reading: Cardijn, J. (1964). Laypeople into Action. Originally published in French in 1963, this is the only book written by Cardinal Joseph Cardijn. The book was translated into English by Anne Heggie and published in 1964 as Laymen into Action. Almost 60 years later, ATF Press released an imprint of this classic. You may order a copy here. Cardijn’s words quoted in the Introduction were taken from Chapter 2: “The Lay Apostolate: A Vital Necessity in the Church.”