charity – Catholic Writers Guild

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)

We’ve just begun the season of Advent. It’s a time of preparation but also a time of healing, sharing, and reaching out to others. There is so much we can do, in ways both large and small, to have an impact on the lives of others. Take your children to drop off gifts at a homeless shelter or a prison. Support your local organizations that help those in need (look for a St. Vincent de Paul Society near you and ask how you can help). Bake cookies for the shut-in across the street, and spend time with her when you deliver them. Call an old friend or family member you haven’t seen or spoken to in a while. Let go of old grudges, and forgive. Open your heart to the relatives you’d rather not spend time with or those far away. Ask them how they are, and let them know you care.

It’s not enough to sing songs of goodwill and peace on earth if we aren’t living lives of goodwill and peace. In fact, it’s kind of like the two missing verses from today’s Gospel.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’ Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’” (Matthew 7:21-23)

We may live good lives and spread cheer wherever we go, but if aren’t doing the will of the Father, what good will that be to us in the end?

Setting the Example

I remember one Christmas, many, many years ago. I might have been seven or eight, but I’m honestly not sure. There was a report on the news about a poor family in DC who not only had no presents but no clothes, no food, and no heat. I think there was a new baby in the house, and the family would be lucky to make it through Christmas. If my parents looked at each other with sadness as we watched the story, I didn’t notice. When they discussed it together later, I don’t know. How they found out where this family lived, I have no idea.

A few days after we saw the report, my father came home and loaded us all into his car. We drove into the city, going to a neighborhood we wouldn’t have entered during the day, not to mention at night. When the mother opened the door, we all stood on her front step with wrapped presents, bags of clothes, and food. I’ll never forget her tears or the way she hugged us all. I’ll never forget the looks on the faces of the little children as they reached for their presents.

Maybe some of these details are a little mixed up. Maybe I invented half of them with the imagination of a child who witnessed something akin to a miracle, but this is how I remember it. I couldn’t tell you what I got for Christmas that year. To be honest, we didn’t have extra money growing up, so it wouldn’t surprise me if some, maybe all, of those wrapped presents were meant for us. What I do remember is that there never was and never will be another Christmas quite like that one.

My parents may not have had much, but they knew we had more than others. They understood Jesus when He said we need to do the will of the Father. They also understood what the Father’s will is—love, to love one another as He loves us.

Willing the Good of the Other

The Church defines love as willing the good of the other. It’s as simple as that. Love is wanting others to be happy, to be fed, clothed, and cared for. Love wants what is best for those around us, even if that comes at some expense to ourselves. Often, the greatest love comes at the greatest expense. “There is no greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13).

How often do we think about willing the good of the other? In today’s world, it seems as though so many people are just out for the good of themselves. Recently, in preparation for an upcoming pilgrimage to Poland, I’ve been studying the life of St. Maximilan Kolbe. Now, there was someone who willed the good of the other in the greatest sense. While serving time in Auschwitz for the crime of being a priest and spreading the truth, Maximilian Kolbe witnessed another man, Franciszek Gajowniczek, being taken away for execution. Gajowniczek pleaded for his life, saying he had a wife and children. Willing the good of Gajowniczek, Kolbe offered himself in the man’s place. Willing the good of the other, Kolbe gave his own life to save Gajowniczek for his good and the good of his family.

By Their Fruits

Unlike Father Kolbe, the acts of my parents most likely will never be known to anyone outside this blog, but their actions on that one Christmas will forever live in my heart. Just before Jesus warns us that not everyone will enter Heaven, He says,

“Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. So by their fruits you will know them.” (Matthew 7:17-20)

So by their fruits you will know them. By their actions, they can be defined, those who will enter the gates of Heaven. They will be the ones willing the good of the others around them.

Go, and Bear Fruit

Maybe you can’t solve all the world’s problems this holiday season. Maybe you can’t supply Christmas for a needy family. Certainly, the probability of you laying down your life for someone else is low. However, I bet you can do something to brighten someone’s day, to make some person’s or family’s holiday a little more joyous, to bring good to others and their lives.

Look beyond what you see in each person or what you think you know about them, and find a reason to love them, to will good things for them. Then show your love through your actions, not matter how small. When Christmas arrives, you will be more than prepared. You will be bearing fruit during the winter, and the Lord will know you because of it.

Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love. (Saint Therése of the Child, Jesus, Story of a Soul)

Last year, I took my first job in the corporate world. I’m loving it, but there’s a lot I have to learn…and some things I never want to learn.

Last week, while most of us were in a meeting, three of our employees got laid off. (We were told in the meeting right after it happened.) These were hard-working and much admired men in the office, but the work they did, through no fault of their own, wasn’t paying for itself. It was out-of-the blue, and a pure budget decision.

We’re a close-knit group, so everyone was upset, and not because they were worried about their own jobs. The rest of the day was spent in group walks, a long lunch, and much discussion and commiseration. I suggested we get a card and take up a collection. The suggestion surprised folks. Apparently, when someone leaves a company, they’re just gone, and life moves on. I was told that that’s usual for any company, not just ours. To acknowledge their contribution and their loss, esp as a group, is “counter-culture.”

Nonetheless, people loved the idea. Those who had been laid off before said how much they’d have appreciated knowing folks still cared. So I got cards and some envelopes and spent part of the day walking around the office. The cards filled to overflowing. Everyone pitched in some money. Our Human Resources guy sent the cards and gift cards for us (since he can’t divulge the addresses.) It may have been counter the corporate culture, but when asked, everyone was willing to help, even people who didn’t know the guys in question. It just took a nudge.

At our hearts, most of us are considerate and generous. But we’re also timid, sometimes lazy, and unwilling to take a risk that goes against the standard culture. As an outsider coming into the culture, I acted out of ignorance. If I’d spent 20 years in the corporate world, I don’t know if I’d been so quick to act.

We wait for someone else to spur us to action. I wonder if that’s why so many people believe so strongly in government welfare – with the government taking charge, we can rest easy, feeling we’re helping the poor without our having to take steps ourselves. When Mormons tithe, the money comes straight out of their paychecks. I must admit, I think that’s brilliant. I wish the Catholic Church had a direct-deposit tithing program. We’re already the biggest charitable organization in the world. Can you imagine how much more we could do if people could just assign a portion of their paycheck automatically instead of waiting until Sunday to think about it? Like the Jews demanding a king, we demand that someone else take charge and lead us in things we know we should do.

Regardless of whether you agree with welfare or mandatory tithing, the fact remains that there is so much more we can do – so much more that people are willing to do – if only we had a nudge. Be the one who does the nudging. Forget what “the culture” says and do what your heart says, and invite others to join you. You might be surprised at how people will rally behind you to help.

Tag Archive for: charity

Bear Fruit this Winter

Setting the Example

Willing the Good of the Other

By Their Fruits

Go, and Bear Fruit

When Charity is Counter Culture, We Need to Lead the Way

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