Ed. Note: The following homily was presented by Cardinal Roger Mahony at the Mass in Honor of Cesar Chavez, celebrated March 31 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.

We gather today to commemorate the birthday of Cesar Chavez. All of us who had the privilege of knowing him would agree that his vision for all farm workers evolved from his deep spiritual life, and that his leadership derived from his insistence that the best way to gain justice for the poor was to empower them to proclaim their basic rights as human beings and as employees. How can we best continue that legacy?

As a context for that discussion, I am certain that all of us recognize that we face perhaps more serious challenges and obstacles than ever before in enabling working people and immigrants to fully participate in the life of this country and in defending themselves. Powerful interests oppose the struggle to secure driver's licenses for immigrants. Many corporations will not stop their antagonism to workers' rights to organize.

And we should not discount the widespread unwillingness to grant an opportunity for hardworking immigrants to earn legalization, or to legislate access to decent healthcare for all. Now, more than ever, the legacy of Cesar Chavez inspires us to find creative ways to respond to God's call to serve our sisters and brothers whose dignity is under assault on so many fronts. For me, that is the religious significance of this holiday.

Today's Scripture readings deal with the same kind of struggle that Cesar Chavez had to face in his time, and the very same struggle we face today. The Scripture writers, like Cesar Chavez, recognized that the truest path to human freedom lies in developing the power of common people. Like Cesar, they focused on making the poor conscious of their self worth, teaching them non-violent resistance to injustice and the need to sacrifice, and above all, the need to organize.

The Gospel passage reflects the genius of Jesus, who did not back down when confronted by those who preferred accommodation rather than resistance to the Roman oppression. The dialogue in today's reading about what it means to be free and what it is to be the true children of Abraham has its historical basis in the opposition Jesus faced to his teaching on non-violent resistance to evil, even to the point of accepting death. But we note his insistence on faith in God as a loving Father, a faith that enables the poor to accept themselves as infinitely valuable and worthy. It is a faith that enables them to see themselves as capable of transforming the world.

One of the most succinct sayings of Cesar Chavez was "It's not about grapes and boycotts, but about people." The boycotts was a means for ordinary people to participate in a cause larger than themselves, to have their voices heard, and to take meaningful action steps. That seemingly insignificant non-violent activity led to a significant victory over the power of the reluctant courts, police, and growers.

One of our tasks it to inspire ordinary people to not abandon the political process but rather to participate in a cause larger than themselves, through voting. One of our challenges is convincing people that the best way to resist the on-going assault on their dignity is to vote. One of our happiest victories will be when the working families and the poor of our country realize that voting allows them an empowerment that is unrivaled in scope. I hope we are successful in this effort.

To the family of Cesar Chavez, to leaders and members of the United Farm Workers, to other leaders and members of unions and community organizations here present, I express my thanks for your noble work. May God bless your efforts to secure justice for working people through unionization and through political mobilization. And may God bless your creative efforts to fulfill the legacy of Cesar Chavez --- empowering the poor, encouraging non-violent resistance to injustice, advocating patient and sacrificial commitment to the cause of the dignity of common people, and working together for the enhancement of institutions that serve the common good of all peoples.

May this annual celebration continue to deepen our individual and collective resolve, and may we move forward in the coming weeks to promote human dignity, justice, and equal rights for all of our citizens --- but especially the poorest, the powerless and the voiceless. Then we will have truly captured the vision of Cesar Chavez!