Charity begins at home...

INDY at Sunrise
October, 2008

I am privileged to live in a place that has exquisite beauty. You live in a place wherever that may be with its own exquisite beauty. Why? Because God made it for our pleasure. Still there are those who live where we do who may not see this privilege because they only see the poverty and feel the hunger. They suffer from pain and no way to ease it. We are called to love. This is not a choice for those who claim Jesus as their Lord and Savior. We are not to spend our lives taking. We are to spend our lives giving. Why? Because he gave His ALL for us.

So please listen to the words of wisdom offered by Archabbot Lambert Reilly, O.S.B. in his book Latin Saying for Spiritual Growth.

Caritas prima sibi
("Charity is first to itself.")
John Wycliffe

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Where does love begin?

The Scriptures offers the answer, simple and profound: "God is love" (1John 4:8).

God is the source of love. God's love surrounds us from our beginnings, offering us an embrace we are free to accept or reject, filling us with a peace we are free to keep for ourselves and to share.

And what then? God loves us, so whom must we love?

It's not enough to love in general or to profess love for people we never meet. We're called to love people, as they are unique and specific brothers and sisters.

The only place to begin, then is with those around us, as the common translation of this saying instructs: "Charity begins at home."

As with every other virtue, love takes practice. We learn how to love by taking small steps of kindness and sacrifice right where we are, with those closest to us. At home we develop this habit of love, so when we walk out the door into the business of our daily live, we bring God's love wherever we are and to whomever we chance to meet that day.

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Why this call to love, yet again. It should be a constant call for us privileged enough to have the capacity to GIVE. Today I have heard that food pantries everywhere are having a difficult time feed the poor. It will only get worse before it gets better. We love our family enough to feed them in many ways. We feed with hugs, attention, and love that feeds the spirit and soul. But food for the body may be a commodity which we take for granted and because we have never really been hungry. I would, therefore, challenge anyone reading this to contribute to the local food pantry in your area. You need not take food to the pantry. Perhaps your church has a food drive or place to leave food donations. Even better!!! Send a check directly to the local food pantry so they can shop for their needs and supply what is most needed. Call the local St. Vincent de Paul. You know best!!

Right now my stomach is comfortably full. But out there are children and the elderly who are not as fortunate. Many homeless only have an occasional meal at a homeless shelter or soup kitchen. Please pray for them, yes, but also contribute to THEIR welfare in a concrete way. GIVE the love that begins at home to those in great need. Give as He gave...until it hurt!

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For you all I say,
"Thanks be to God."