Readings
Joshua 5:9a,10-12
Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7
2 Corinthians:5, 17-21
Luke 15:1-3,11-32
The doors are open
By Daniela Salcedo, Animator for Southwestern Ontario
Imagine if God’s heart had a door. What would it look like? Many of us would want to step through it and experience His grace. Some may seek forgiveness for their debts, while others may not know where to begin or even realize the door is open to them.
This week’s readings remind us that God’s door, a door of hope for everyone, is always open. There is no single path to experiencing His mercy. God meets us where we are, renewing, providing, forgiving and rejoicing every time we turn to Him. In this Jubilee year, we are called to reflect that same mercy in our world. Just as God opens His heart to us, we can open doors of justice and compassion, ensuring that no one is crushed by economic debt, as Pope Francis has urged we do.
If you are unsure where to start, Development and Peace ― Caritas Canada’s Turn Debt into Hope campaign is a great place to begin. Part of Caritas Internationalis’ worldwide observance of the Jubilee year, the campaign is an invitation to journey in solidarity for economic justice, focusing on the most vulnerable nations affected by our current financial system. Right now, many countries are trapped by unsustainable debt, which is closing doors to opportunities, deepening poverty and hurting both people and the planet.
For me, finding debt justice will be a journey, especially since we have normalized the debt of vulnerable nations. I think back to my macroeconomics classes, where debt was studied like a game of interest for wealthy countries and institutions. But what happens when nations are stuck in a debt cycle with no way out? Should they have to keep on living behind closed doors, selling off their resources to survive?
Where do we draw the line? As Psalm 34:6 says, “This poor soul cried, and was heard by the Lord, and was saved from every trouble.” Is God’s mercy just an ideal, or can it be realized in our financial systems? Are we building walls instead of opening doors for justice? Are our economic practices protecting dignity and the common good, or serving only a few?
I believe the journey to debt justice begins with Paul’s teaching in 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 that through Christ, we are reconciled to God and one another. In our financial systems, we must be Christ’s ambassadors, calling for reconciliation of the world to God. Imagine an economy that reflects God’s dream of justice and inclusion.
My thoughts turn to our partner, the Tunisian Economic Observatory (OTE). By educating Tunisians about and advocating for debt relief, fair policies and poverty reduction, OTE proves that economic justice is not just an ideal, but that there is a path to it. Their work on public policies related to fair wages, jobs and health care focuses on creating hope, prioritizing people and the planet over profit, and building an economy of solidarity.
Together, we could offer a path to justice, allowing struggling nations to rebuild with dignity and through a transparent global framework. Let us start by signing the global petition that calls for this.
