"No one is justified in keeping for his exclusive use what he does not need when others lack necessities." Schiblin,R., C.Ss.R. "Where Do We
Go From Here?" Liguorian. Jul-Aug/09, p 9.
The past year has been one of widespread financial and personal loss for many. Some have lost life savings, jobs, homes, marriages and even lives. In response,
there has been a 'tightening of belts' by managing remaining resources and minimizing expenses. Spending beyond the family is less frequent or not at all. Some ask, "Where
is God?" while others plead for Him to help. Inherently, they know that no individual leader is going to come up with a silver bullet to cure this intractable problem; but
they are also aware that miracles happen when you pray.
Our response depends on our human-ness. One couple, victims of the Madoff-Ponzi fraud, lost all savings having to return to work in their retirement years.
Oddly, gratitude was expressed in that CBC interview. Fortunately, this family had possession of their home prior to the economic collapse, and found that monies were still
available when all monthly expenses were paid. Rather than putting it aside for a retirement that they may never live to enjoy, they regularly shared their surplus with an
acquaintance that was worse off. For this couple, the recession stimulated a conversion to live without excess and to be more caring.
This model of human-ness is often seen in Uganda when families, already living with shortages, willingly take into their homes dependents of dying AIDS
relatives. With the recession, everyday existence is harder as deficiencies and shortages become more urgent but harder to acquire. ICMI's caring role is development education
for health workers offered at the Uganda Christian University. Current challenges are convenient accommodation for the more than 130 ICMI students, visiting professors and
ICMI Uganda's recently appointed Principal, Dr. Edward Mukooza. With rising building costs, increasing road congestion and growing student population, support from ICMI's
community is crucial. Won't you be prayerfully drawn by compassion and provide monetary support for your Uganda family and ICMI's current projects?
"We must look upon [other human beings] as persons who are called, together with us, to be members of the Body of Christ, with whom we shall one day sit at table with
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and with Christ himself, as their brothers and sisters, as the brothers and sisters of Christ and as the children of God." Cardinal
Ratzinger Commentary on Genesis 1-3 "In the Beginning..." http://www.bringyou.to/apologetics/p81.htm
Respectfully
Lorene Freeman