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How The Gospel of Luke Portrays A Model Of Social Justice Essay

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Luke’s Gospel is a portrayal of Jesus as a model of social justice. Hence, the reader is empowered and influenced by the Gospel to be actively involved in social justice issues. The Catholic Church has sought to reach out to those in need, and Luke’s Gospel demonstrates this through injustices that Jesus challenged. In addition, mental illness, which is a current social justice issue reflects and appeals to problems that Jesus faced and reacted to in his time.

Luke’s Gospel greatly emphasizes the social justice aspect of Christian living. Throughout the third book in the New Testament, the story and history of Jesus Christ is written, and Luke preserves the many sayings of Jesus warning that those with material possessions have a …show more content…

The Catechism shows that;
‘Society ensures social justice by providing the conditions that allow associations and individuals to obtain their due.’ (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1928).
In other words, social justice is linked to the common good and exercise of authority.
The life and teachings of Jesus Christ call us to work for justice, peace and human rights. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus describes this mission in the following way:
‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
Because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To let the oppressed go free,
To proclaim the year of the Lord's favour.’ (Luke 4: 18 - 19)
As a result, the work for social justice is an integral mission of the Church. Catholics are inspired and sustained through work for a just society.

Social Justice also comes with an understanding of respect for the human person.
‘Respect for the human person proceeds by way of respect for the principle that everyone should look upon his neighbour as 'another self,' above all bearing in mind his life and the means necessary for living it with dignity.’ (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1931).
Catholics conduct acts of social justice out of the Church’s teachings that people are;
‘Created in the image of the one God and equally endowed with rational souls, all men have the same nature and the same origin. Redeemed by the sacrifice of Christ,

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