We have all heard or read the saying, "Charity begins at home." Most of us think of home as the place where we and others dwell on a daily basis. Certainly we must consider in our spending what first supplies our needs (ie food, clothing, utilities etc.) and those of our family (at least those who live with us). Our "charity" is something that we give that supports the needs of others, some who we know and some that we'll never meet. A few weeks ago, a string of daily Mass readings from St. Paul's letter to the Corinthians, had Paul asking for the help of Christians in Corinth for the needs of Christians in the Church of Jerusalem. In it he teaches that "God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Cor. 9:7) and he holds up as an example of generosity, the Church in Macedonia.
Throughout the Church year, we are given the opportunity individually, but within a Church community (along with others in the United States and sometimes all over the world) to give to support the "NEEDS" of Catholic Churches in Central and Eastern Europe (February), the Holy Land (Good Friday), the Church in Latin American (June) and the Vatican through Peter's Pence (this year, July 10-11), I would have to say that these "special collections" do not elicit the most support when compared with other special collections taken up annually for other causes. I would like to think that St. Paul would be the first to urge us to be a "cheerful giver" toward these brothers and sisters in Christ who are not able to fully support themselves. People who benefit from our caring monetary gifts live far from us and will never know in any detail where the help they receive comes from. Just know that they are truly appreciative of all the support they are given, and hopefully we who give (something or generously) will know we are heeding the voice of God that has come us over the years, starting from the days of St. Paul and are joining in with countless Catholics over the centuries whose throughtful giving is saying to the recipients, "My home is your home" when it comes to meeting their basic physical and religious needs.
Throughout the Church year, we are given the opportunity individually, but within a Church community (along with others in the United States and sometimes all over the world) to give to support the "NEEDS" of Catholic Churches in Central and Eastern Europe (February), the Holy Land (Good Friday), the Church in Latin American (June) and the Vatican through Peter's Pence (this year, July 10-11), I would have to say that these "special collections" do not elicit the most support when compared with other special collections taken up annually for other causes. I would like to think that St. Paul would be the first to urge us to be a "cheerful giver" toward these brothers and sisters in Christ who are not able to fully support themselves. People who benefit from our caring monetary gifts live far from us and will never know in any detail where the help they receive comes from. Just know that they are truly appreciative of all the support they are given, and hopefully we who give (something or generously) will know we are heeding the voice of God that has come us over the years, starting from the days of St. Paul and are joining in with countless Catholics over the centuries whose throughtful giving is saying to the recipients, "My home is your home" when it comes to meeting their basic physical and religious needs.