Nowadays, performance and productivity are a "must". To think big is a priority. Politically-in Quebec, Canada, it's all about the Northern Plan, one of the largest sites of economic, social and environmental development of our time. Commercially-large retail establishments keep expanding. Financially-reaping massive profits is essential; recently, this greed has provoked non-violent protesters to Occupy Wall Street. Agriculturally-excessive production has no limit. We live in a society where success has to be attained. We invest to be efficient and to accumulate greater profits. We always want more!

Could we say that Jesus Himself would have had His place in such a society? Did He not multiply the five loaves and two fish to feed the hungry crowd? Did He not fill to the brim the six stone water jars with the best of wine? And what about the miraculous catch of fish which surprised the apostles who had worked hard all night without catching anything.

There is nothing wrong with performance and thinking big. It is important to risk and take action. New inventions, new techniques can enhance our performance but, there is a "but". Jesus did not act to dazzle but to feed the hungry; He did not act to become rich but to help the less fortunate.

We are well aware that world-wide, the gap between the rich and the poor is becoming wider. Narrowing the wealth gap proves to be most challenging; however, there are humanitarian organizations who work at it. Consider-CECI (Center for International Studies and Cooperation), Peace and Development, Oxfam, Terre Sans Frontières (World Without Borders) , these and others work diligently to improve the lives of many and we congratulate them. There are also individuals whose actions touch the hearts and lives of the multitude. Think of Tony Meloto in the Philippines and elsewhere in Asia or in Haiti where people take charge with ingenuity. Closer to home and to highlight the International Year of Cooperatives, let's take a look at all the work that is being done in collective kitchens, community gardens and in centers where volunteers reach out to the elderly.

God created us to live with dignity and not to live a life of misery. He counts on each one of us to make this world a better place to live in and we are called to take action in whatever way possible. The Lenten Season invites us to think big and to dare take action.

Editorial January - February - March 2012

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