Solidarity: sharing, even things that we are entitled to keep for our own use.

15. The everlasting reasons: the plan of God, and the calls of the Gospel. Every page in the Gospel speaks of "solidarity" - of God's never-failing solidarity with men and women, of Christ's embrace of suffering and death as part of our human condition, and of our Father's definitive intervention in history through the Resurrection of Jesus, our Brother and Savior. Everything will turn out well in God's Hands. Our humble efforts to be in solidarity with our neighbor can hardly compare with those of Jesus. Yet, this is what He told us: "I assure you, as long as you did it for one of the least of my brothers and sisters, you did it for me." (Mt. 25, 40)

For Christians, the text on the Last Judgment in Matthew, Chapter 25 is of the utmost importance, even more so for religious, who have publicly professed their desire to lead lives guided by the Beatitudes. (Constitutions, Article 14) The text concerning the Last Judgment leaves no doubt that what counts is solidarity in action. It is so true that acts done in solidarity lead us to the unexpected discovery of our main objective, the presence of God. "If we have eyes to see," we will understand that when we relate to others we are already relating to God. How different from the Gospel are the messages we hear from the "world." "Be sure to take care of your own needs first." "Charity begins at home." "Trust in the markets." And then there are the siren calls of the various "-isms" - economic rationalism, neoliberalism, capitalism, and socialism. On the other hand, in the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus gives us a resounding yes to the rhetorical question of Cain, "Am I my brother's keeper?"

What plan does your Provincial Council have for evaluating and animating schools with a dynamic of solidarity that goes beyond the running of occasional campaigns and collections for charitable causes?

How vivid the calls that we are hearing today! Differences are more in evidence; more in evidence, too, the possibilities! In this age of "globalization," we find enormous differences in resources among countries and peoples - even among those who live very close to each other.

If we don't make a careful analysis of the worldwide processes behind neoliberalism, exclusively driven by market forces, we run the risk of getting caught up and carried away with the benefits it seems to confer. We will not perceive that when our society is awash with selfishly affluent people, it is because other people are being made sorely wanting by the system. We will be oblivious to the huge number of people sacrificed to the god of economic efficiency. To millions of workers laboring long hours for next to nothing; to children enslaved in grown-up work; to generation after generation of men and women condemned to lives of poverty and stunted development; to millions dying of hunger in countries held hostage by foreign debt. In its latest report, the UN has noted that the gap between the richest and poorest nations is growing at an alarming rate.

These and other realities, plus the dangers lurking in a freewheeling neoliberal environment, are not lost on the minds and hearts of a great many men and women of good will. They are realities that give rise to powerful actions in solidarity - to NGO's, campaigns for the cancellation of foreign debt, Jubilee Year initiatives, etc.

We have a strong awareness of the possibilities that such organizations offer us, and of the calls that are coming from a new world order filled with innovative developments. These are all signs of the times that reinforce and put into context the calls that the Gospel is sending out to us.

16. Taking concrete steps: Our life and our mission demand them. Solidarity is on the march, urging us to turn our talk into action. It is part of a Gospel imperative. As such, for Christians, it turns out to be a fundamental preference. It is not an arbitrary, "take it or leave it" proposition. Morally speaking, we must embrace it and put it into practice because it is basic to the Gospel, and for us, a matter of returning to our roots.

Both domestically and internationally, countries are struggling to find a new economic order that will strike a balance between the lure of personal gain and the need for social responsibility. We should contribute to this search because we are members of a Church whose social teachings are unequivocal, as well as of an Institute that lives in an interdependent world.

Let's take a look at the resources we devote to assuring the well-being of our Brothers and communities. Do we share from the substance of our lives, or do we merely give from our surplus and the economic benefits that the law provides for us? Does moderation and simplicity in the use of material goods have a part to play in how we share? Does the way we share take into account our lifestyle as religious, or only considerations relating to efficient financial management?

And when we think about our apostolic projects, how do we handle our resources? Do we give priority to projects closely tied in with solidarity and which involve sharing our resources, or do we prefer to expand already existing works and fund projects that really "go overboard."

We run the risk of "building up our reserves" and promoting or holding on to works because they facilitate economic growth. At the practical level, we need clear, concrete guidelines to refer to in reconciling sound financial management with adventurous evangelical initiatives. I look at this from several angles. For example, from the point of view of criteria used by the General Council and our Provinces with regard to certain plans, building projects, and styles of housing. And I think there is a lack of evangelical discernment to guide the way we make economic decisions and administer our material resources.

In your Province, what are some genuine signs that show that we have chosen to involve ourselves in the creation of a culture of solidarity, and that we are firmly committed to educating young people in and for solidarity?

We cannot disassociate our collective witness from the choices that we make to demonstrate our solidarity. Our faith requires deeds and a clear and consistent response to the calls that God is sending us, calls accentuated by the canonization of Marcellin. Being clear and consistent involves much more than simply sharing our resources. It demands dedicated people, and of course, rolling up our sleeves to do the work at hand.

The steps that we plan to take in solidarity need to be visible to us and to everyone else. It is important, however, that they arise as an expression of our vow of poverty and in response to what God is asking of us as disciples of Jesus. Since 1993, what has happened in your Province in regard to each of the following points? (It would be interesting to list these occurrences and reflect on them in community.)