'Is not this the sort of fast that pleases me: to break unjust fetters, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break all yokes?
Is it not sharing your food with the hungry, and sheltering the homeless poor; if you see someone lacking clothes, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own kin?
Then your light will blaze out like the dawn and your wound be quickly healed over. Saving justice will go ahead of you and Yahweh's glory come behind you.'
ISAIAH 58:6-8
Oh this one's a tricky one, huh? We know God loves us, that He wants us to love him back, but now this? He wants us to help others? To feed the hungry and shelter the homeless and free those who are enslaved?
Gosh, this whole love thing doesn't look so simple anymore...
But wait a minute... there's a promise included in there: if you do these things, 'your light will blaze out like the dawn and your wound be quickly healed over'. Not only are we made for God but also to live as a community, to live with others. 'It is not good for man to be alone,' God says at the beginning of creation. We need each other. And God's saying that in helping, in giving yourself to others is where you will find the peace, the healing, the light you have been missing.
In the words of St. Francis of Assisi:
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
When you die to yourself for others, you do what Jesus did for us. You becoming a mini-christ in the world.
Charity isn't about feeling pity. It's about love. Ask Mother Theresa:
“Love is not patronizing and charity isn't about pity, it is about love. Charity and love are the same -- with charity you give love, so don't just give money but reach out your hand instead.”
Ya get it? Now, is it hard to love others? Yes. Does it hurt to give? Of course. But this goes back to yesterday's post--when you love God, you want to please him. The key about helping is that you have to ask the Lord to reveal himself to you THROUGH THOSE PEOPLE. So when you see them, you are looking at Christ. And who wouldn't look at Christ with love--He's an awesome guy and He loves you!
When you get to know Jesus, you rejoice in His love and you want others to do the same too!!
May you go out to the world to help those in need, to bring the good news of Christ, to shine like the Sun (Son)!!
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