Why we need to support Catholic charities ?

Image by Lawrence OP via Flickr

Regardless of one’s religious beliefs, the act of donating money or giving time and energy to a charitable cause is often hailed as something laudable.

What about us as Catholics? Do our social teachings have something special to say about giving money, time or talent to charitable causes?

First, though, it might be helpful to see what charitable giving is not. Charitable giving is not about gaining publicity or personal credit. Nor is charitable giving a means to compensate for wrongdoing, a way to help us to “score points for heaven”! Most importantly, charitable giving is not a way to escape from our responsibility for the well-being of others the whole year long.

In Scripture, we see the early disciples being “one in heart and soul”: “None of their members was ever in want, as all those who owned land or houses would sell them, and bring the money from the sale of them, to present it to the apostles; it was then distributed to any who might be in need” (Acts 4:34). What a beautiful description of a community!

Every Lent, Catholics in Singapore have an avenue to share our resources with those in need through the Charities Week collection. Proceeds go to organisations serving the needy in the name of the Church.

This is a good way of showing our solidarity with the less fortunate. But is there any special significance to channelling our resources, time and talent through Catholic charitable organisations?

Yes, there is. In his encyclical Deus Caritas Est (“God is Love”), Pope Benedict XVI reminds us that as a community of disciples proclaiming the Gospel of Love in a broken world, the Church also needs to have organised charitable works that Christians undertake as one body in the name of Christ. “For the Church, charity is not a kind of welfare activity which could equally well be left to others, but is a part of her nature, an indispensable expression of her very being.” (Deus Caritas Est, 25a).

So even though each of us can give individually to other religious or secular charitable organisations (and this is an important sign of our solidarity with them), there is a special significance in supporting Catholic charities. Catholic charities represent the organised charitable works of the Church.

In Singapore, our Catholic social organisations serve a wide range of needs, from helping the poor, the sick and the aged, to championing the causes of refugees and migrants. The Church’s social action work also includes those in which not many other organisations are involved.

As part of her tradition, the Church has always had a preferential option for the poor, serving those most neglected by society and this is something we can be proud of. The Charities Week programme is an important channel for us to act as One Body by supporting the Church’s social organisations.

In giving with our whole heart, we pray that we might also be open to how else God is moving us to respond.

Source : Catholic News.

Which is the greatest commandment of God?

Image via WikipediaThis is the 30th Sunday in Ordinary time and this week’s reading is as follows:
[Exodus 22: 20-26] [1 Thessalonians 1:5 -10] [Matthew 22:34-40]

This week’s reading is perhaps what we have been dealing with recently in this blog. Jesus replied to the Pharisees when they asked him “Master, which is the greatest commandment of the Law?” (Mt 22:36).

As we know by now, Jesus replied that the greatest commandment is to love God and the second to love our neighbour.

“On these two commandments hang the whole Law, and the Prophets too.” (Mt 22:40). Why did Jesus said they these 2 are the most important?

Because there is no real love for God without the neighbour! As in Mt25:

40 And the King will answer, "In truth I tell you, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me."

45 Then he will answer, "In truth I tell you, in so far as you neglected to do this to one of the least of these, you neglected to do it to me."

So what better way to show (and proved) one’s love for God by loving one’s neighbour?

This is perhaps the biggest challenge that Jesus has thrown to us. To be His true disciple, we need to listen and act on His words.

Loving God is easy as He is perfect. Most of the time, we associate that with professing and singing praises and worship. While that is good but many do it as a form of lip service only. There is no real love from the heart. Did I love my neighbour like like myself? It will be much harder to love one's neighbour wholeheartedly. But it is possible if we are truly converted in our hearts.

Let’s pray that we will start loving each other like ourselves so that this world will become a better place for all of us.

"Whoever fails to love does not know God, because God is love." (1Jn 4:8)