26.Social Action

26. Lineamenta on Social Action

THE ROLE OF SOCIAL ACTION IN A RENEWING CHURCH

“The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve.” (Mark 10:45). Jesus’ entire life is one of doing good, of service and of love. He preached and healed the people of their ailments (Matthew 4:23-25). He teaches His followers a new way of living based on Christian “diakonia” or service (Matthew 20:26-28). The Early Church emulated this social care and concern that they were recognized by other people through their Christian way of life and concrete ministry of love. As John Chrysostom (d. 407) said, “God is glorified not only by right doctrines but also by the best possible [Christian] way of life.” (Gen. Sermo 1,3 quoted in Norbert Brox, ‘Making Earth in Heaven’: Diakonia in the Early Church, Concilium, August 1988, p. 37). Christ Jesus is encountered through the least of our brothers and sisters who are in need of food and clothes, a stranger, sick and in prison who are in need of care (Matthew 25:35-46). Our Lord calls us to diakonia and to serve our fellowmen as He did.
Our call to diakonia or service has to be seen in the context of our situation. Our situation today is marked by consumerism and individualism amidst poverty and injustice. Instead of people being their brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, we have to deal increasingly with egocentrism, self-seeking and cynicism. We live in a time of egotistical contemporary culture wherein a greater number of people pursue an intense self-interest which blinds them to what communal life and the social order really demand from each person. The range and complexity of the present political, economic, cultural and social situation demand a comprehensive approach to Christian diakonia or service and to bear in mind that God created the earth to serve the needs of every human being and people (Cf. Populorum Progressio [PP], 10)
Diakonia has not to be seen only on its intent on alleviating the sufferings of the poor and the weak by providing caring assistance, but instead more weight and emphasis is given on being with them and sharing life with the affected ones. In the course of this unconditional immersion in the life of the poor and solidarity with the least of our brothers and sisters, our involvement in social action is to uphold human dignity and rights of the poor farmers, fishermen, farm and factory workers, employees, the indigenous peoples, overseas contract workers, the unemployed and landless people. In this light, the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines (PCP II) urged to strengthen social action apostolate by setting up working structures, by involving the people and establishing inter-sectoral and inter-faith linkages under the direction of the diocesan Bishop (PCP II Decrees, art. 25).
Our solidarity with the poor in their struggle to achieve qualitative life with justice, peace and freedom, provides an impetus to Church renewal and commitment to integral evangelization and comprehensive pastoral involvement. This is in line with the Decree of the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines on Social Action which states: “The social action apostolate of the Church must set up special programs to address such crucial issues as peace and economy, the exploitation of women and minors, migrant and overseas workers, children and youth, and intensify the organization of the grassroots people or empowerment and self-reliance through cooperatives and livelihood programs and projects” (PCP II Decrees, art. 23, no.1)
In our Diocese, our Social Action Apostolate is involved in Adult and Alternative Literacy Program, Appropriate Technology Program (Appro-Tech), Community-based Health Program (CBHP), Community Organizing (CO), Cooperatives (Coop), Indigenous People’s Apostolate (IP), Migrants Apostolate and International Solidarity Work, Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Program (JPIC), Mass Media Apostolate, Political Education (Pol-Ed), Prison Apostolate, Relief and Rehabilitation Program, Sectoral Linkages and Networking, Socio-Economic Development Program (Socio-Econ), and Sustainable Agriculture (Sus-Ag). The arena of Social Action Apostolate is vast and its involvement is varied but all for the fulfillment of Christian stewardship. As Vatican II exhorts us, “True apostles.. are not content with this activity alone, but look for the opportunity to announce Christ to their neighbor” (Apostolicam Actuositatem [AA], 13).

Questions for small group discussion:
What are the Social Action programs and activities that are present in our parish / quasi-parish / chaplaincy / mission station?
How are we involved in these programs and activities and how do we support them?
What can we do more in order to improve our social action programs and activities?