International Human Solidarity Day - Dec. 20 (2015)

Recommended for December 20

"The development of all peoples demands, above all, on a recognition that the human race is a single family working together in true communion, not simply a group of subjects who happen to live side-by-side."
- Pope Benedict XVI,
Caritas inVeritate, 53

Solidarity is one of the fundamental and universal values that should underlie relations between people in this century and beyond. International Human Solidarity Day, Dec. 20, was founded by the United Nations to eradicate poverty and promote human and social development in developing countries, in particular among the poorest segments of their populations.

Hear the inspiring words of Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu:

We are made for goodness. We are made for love. We are made for friendliness. We are made for togetherness. We are made for all of the beautiful things that you and I know. We are made to tell the world that there are no outsiders. All are welcome: black, white, red, yellow, rich, poor, educated, not educated, male, female, gay, straight, all, all, all. We all belong to this family, this human family, God's family.

Let us pray together for the sake of those who are left behind in economic development: migrants, the unemployed, indigenous peoples, those with disabilities and so many others.

"The Tears of Solidarity"
God of compassion, Pope Francis challenges us to learn how to cry, to brave that pain, and so enter into true solidarity with your people.

With those who face hunger, who face war, who face exploitation, who face displacement,

I stand in solidarity.

With those who face unjust discrimination, who face indifference, who face a lack of opportunity, who face a lack of health care,

I stand in solidarity.

But in truth, I stand a little reluctantly. And I stand a little far off; detached and apart from the great human drama, lingering in the orchestra, even as you call me to the center stage. Lord, help me to look again at what has been done to your people, to their lives and to their dignity, so that slowly, and then more strongly, I will allow myself to cry. For it is only in those tears that we truly become one. My trepidations fall away and I step forward and stand anew. Teach me to cry. Amen.