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Cardinal John Dew challenged the 400 strong congregation attending the launch of the new Poverty and Justice Bible to take up the cross of others who are struggling and to act on God’s Word.
Even before the launch Bible Society had sold 220 Bibles which funds the 220 copies that will be given to people and families that may not be able to afford one.
Speaking at Saints Peter and Paul’s in Lower Hutt, at the start of Social Justice Week, he said, “Today Jesus lays down a challenge to take up our cross and open our eyes to the poverty and injustice around us, to pray and reflect and take action.
“Any place in the world where human beings are suffering is a challenge to us – taking up the cross of Jesus challenges us to be like Simon of Cyrene, the man who walked alongside Jesus and helped him carry his cross.
“We carry the cross of our own struggles, our own difficulties, our own challenges. But there is also a wider challenge, and call, to help carry the cross of others.
“So, that gospel message of picking up the cross that we hear tonight is a perfect way to launch to this Poverty and Justice Bible – a collaborative effort of the New Zealand Bible Society, of Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand, and our own Catholic Institute.”
“When you look through this Bible you will find that any part of it that talks about poverty and injustice is highlighted, so that it leaps out at us and challenges us again, because we’re Jesus’ people to do something about it.”
“Bible Society New Zealand’s mission is to help create “easy access to Sacred Scripture”. This campaign goes a long way to achieving this through the buy one / gift one aspect, which allows a free copy to be gifted to a family or someone in need for every copy sold.”
Cardinal Dew commented that for some people this “may be the first time that they are able to hear, read and reflect on the Word of God.”
The Poverty and Justice campaign is now continuing in Catholic parishes throughout New Zealand.
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Supplied: Bible Society
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