Hotline Asia -- Social Concern Notes

Parish Social Concern Groups - Church's Social Teachings
~ Crafty Tailor; Strategy: Asking a Question ~
Lesson 2

Question & Answer || Church Teaching || Pursuit of Justice || Reflection
 

Introduction

Why is the King Naked?

Once upon a time there was a king who was very vain about his appearance. He wasted a lot of his poor country's money by buying the most expensive and fashionable clothes. The king would ask his ministers what they thought of the clothes that he wore. Wishing to make the King feel happy, the ministers always replied: "Your Majesty, the clothes you are wearing today are very beautiful." One day a crafty tailor came to the King and said: "Your Majesty, if you give me five bars of gold, I will make you the most beautiful suit in the whole world." The King agreed. The next day, the tailor came and said: "Your Majesty, this suit of clothes is so light that only your subjects will be able to see it." The King took off all his clothes and the tailor pretended to fit him into his "new clothes." When the King came to court, he said: "Look everyone at the most beautiful clothes in the world." His ministers quickly agreed: "Certainly your Majesty is wearing the most beautiful clothes we have ever seen." The King was so proud of his new clothes that he rode his horse all around the city so that all his subjects could praise his choice of clothes. Each of the citizens thought to himself: "Although my poor eyes are dull, certainly our King is wearing the most beautiful clothes in the whole world." And so the citizens joined in praising the King's fine taste. Then a little boy asked a question: "Mother, why is the King naked?" Immediately everyone, including the King, realized what fools they had been. From that time on, the King did not waste money on expensive clothes. Instead he used his money to help the poor.

Lesson:   This story teaches that no matter how ignorant I am be of a social issue, I can always ask a question. Without questions, there will never be a solutions?
 
Question & Answer
Question:   What can we ordinary people do about the world's injustice?
Answer:   When we see someone suffering, we can ask questions.
 

Social Teachings of the Church

"The common good comprises 'the sum total of social conditions which allow people, either as groups or as individuals, to reach their fulfillment more fully and more easily.'(GS 26 #1)....everyone should be concerned to create and support institutions that improve the conditions of human life." (The Catholic Catechism #1924 & #1926)
 

Pursuit of Justice

  1. Name a situation that you observed recently that did not seem in harmony with God's plan.

  2. Write down three questions you would like to ask about this situation?
    A. __________________
    B. __________________
    C. __________________

  3. To whom would you address these questions? __________
 
Reflection

Prepare for next meeting by applying these questions to the above three questions.
 

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