2023 The Art of Living

Deacon Pat Davitt writes:

Living the Virtue of Justice by Deacon Pat Davitt

In my life, living the virtue of justice is sometimes a difficult and haunting thing. Here are some of the reasons and some ways I try to live it out.

Dr. Edward Sri, the author of this book, quoted the final judgement Jesus describes in Matthew 25, “When I was hungry, you gave me food. When I was naked, you clothed me, When I was sick, you came to visit me.”

I have a cupboard with lots of food, a freezer with an abundance, and a fridge all filled to last me for a long time. I am uncomfortable because there are many who lack proper food for the health of the human body. We sanitize that event by calling it “food insecurity.” The fact is that many of our brothers and sisters, who were created by God, are hungry all the time.

Is that justice? How do I share? And does our system for dealing with poverty need to change?

I look through my closet, and there are items I haven’t worn in over a year. I have an abundance of clothing, there are many of my fellow human beings, who were created by God, who do not have sufficient clothing. I do share some of my clothing but certainly could share a lot more. Is the answer me sharing more or does the system we live in say those folks should just take care of themselves. “Pick yourself up, get a job, and get off welfare,” some people say.

Is that justice? Is that treating others with dignity?

I have pretty much had health insurance all my life. My company employer provided it and after retirement Medicare takes care of my needs. While I am covered, there are many living in poverty who have no insurance. The Affordable Care Act helped many but there was, and still is, a lot of opposition against that legislation, even by church leaders in the United States.

Is it justice that some who are sick have the advantage of health care and some don’t?

I continue to lobby my political leaders to provide help to those in poverty. One of my grandsons is a dentist. On a regular basis, he is part of a group of dentists who provide services to the poor. I asked him what he does most often at those events. He pulls teeth! Many don’t have the advantages of regular dental care. Lack of dental health leads to other health problems too.

 There are many other areas of my life where I have an unjust advantage like educational opportunities, access to wealth, sanitary living conditions, access to reliable transportation, and a clean environment, to name a few. Many of those advantages have been given to me from my birth.

Is that justice?

How do I try and live with those struggles, adversities, and challenges? One thing my wife and I started some years ago was to try and teach my children and grandchildren to share. One way we do that is to take a portion of what we would give them at Christmas and give that to those in need. It has varied from having them share in a flock of chickens, some goats, pigs or other things that are provided by organizations like Food for the Poor or Heifer Project. There are many numbers of charities that are local or worldwide that are in dire need of our generosity. As Pope Francis said in an interview on January 25, 2023, “It is also a sin to lack charity with one another.”

I certainly don’t deserve any gold stars, but last year I did contribute to 21 different charities. I’ll admit I did not give from my substance but from my excess. I suppose I could have bought a fancy new car to impress my friends or taken an extended vacation to some exotic world location. And, to be honest, I do have a comfortable automobile and my wife and I have traveled to all the continents, except for Antarctica.

One other simple thing I have been trying to do recently is to greet people I meet, particularly people from different backgrounds, people who pick up the trash or other “background” jobs, people who keep our public places clean, people who are oftentimes ignored. I feel if I treat others with respect and justice, perhaps a bit of justice will spill over for all of God’s people. Because we are all created by God. And, God loves me and all people, no matter how justly they are treated.

 Reading plan:  

• Monday, February 13 – Friday, February 17 - Justice