For Righteousness and Justice

In the Bible, Jesus talks about being hungry and thirsty for righteousness, for justice. And if we hear that in the way it’s surely meant, we have to conclude that he means that we should feel there’s something missing in us, something taken away from us, when another person, near or far away, has to face need and suffering. We get to be ourselves only when we wake up to them and their needs.

We all respond as best we can to one emergency appeal after another. And we feel just a bit guilty as we acknowledge that we’re almost bored by yet another appeal - yet another set of pictures of suffering children in need.

It’s true that endless appeals lose their impact. Information - statistics, won’t really motivate us; The only thing that makes a difference is if we get to see those faces and figures as somehow about us – not just Them.

It’s when the hunger or the homelessness or the loneliness of someone else becomes something that I feel for myself as an affront – something that makes me less of a person.

Archbishop of Canterburry, Dr Rowan Williams


"Truth is strong and will prevail."

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