Worship: The first act of justice.

Since “Justice consists in the firm and constant will to give God and neighbor their due” (CCC 1836), the worship of God is the first act of justice. The psalms call us to “Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name”. In the new English translation of the Latin Rite liturgy, after the priest says, “Let us give thanks to the Lord our God,” the response is “It is right and just.” He is worthy. To do our Lord justice we offer up our prayers of thanks and praise. In fact, we lift our very hearts up to the Lord. He deserves our all.

And when we are dismissed from the celebration to “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord”, we are being called to live a life-style of worship that includes giving our neighbor their due.

All social justice must flow from this well-spring of worship if it is to be like the house built on rock rather than the sand of strictly horizontal “random acts of kindness”. There’s no randomity in a love of neighbor that springs from our love relationship with God. It is ordered by His providence.