[Salvation]

Charity and St. Charles

by Food For Thought on November 4, 2013 ·

In today’s gospel, the Lord encourages us to be charitable. He asks us to be mindful of those who are less fortunate than we are in terms of health and finances. While he does not prohibit us from spending our resources to celebrate special events with family and friends, he tells us it will infinitely be more rewarding to share our blessings with those in need.

The saint for today, St Charles Borromeo, exemplified this gospel value. Even though he was a scion of a noble family, he gave up a life of prestige and luxury to serve the Church. He is remembered particularly for using his inheritance to fund seminaries, and increased the systems to help the sick and the poor. During his term as Bishop of Milan, when the plague nearly devastated the city, he valiantly went about helping sick residents, and administered the last sacraments to those who were dying.

With the holidays fast approaching, instead of lavishing our loved ones with expensive presents, perhaps we can divert some of our shopping money to a charitable institution. Who is the Lord asking us to invite to our banquet this Christmas season?

 

[Salvation]

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All Issues > Volume 29, Issue 6

<< Monday, November 4, 2013 >>

St. Charles Borromeo

Romans 11:29-36
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Psalm 69:30-31, 33-34, 36-37

Luke 14:12-14
Similar Reflections

TERMS OF REPAYMENT

"You should be pleased that they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid in the resurrection of the just." —Luke 14:14

Jesus is not against our being repaid for the good we do. His concern is when we will be repaid and by whom. God the Father plans to personally repay us at our resurrection (Lk 14:14). Upon reading this, we might feel like God has paid for our service by using a layaway plan! Will our payment ever come? In His love, God does repay us to a certain extent during our time on earth. He begins His eternal repayment plan a bit early by "depositing the First Payment, the [Holy] Spirit, in our hearts" (2 Cor 1:22).

Once we receive the Holy Spirit, we serve Him with such devotion and power that the world opposes us. Next comes our second payment on earth. St. Teresa of Avila once remarked to God: "How true it is that whoever works for You is paid in troubles! And what a precious price to those who love You if we understand its value." To read the fine print on the terms of this second payment, read Sirach 2:1, 2 Timothy 3:12, and James 1:2-4.

As always, the Lord wants to purify our motives for serving Him. If we serve Him to be repaid in the currency of this world, we should "expect no recompense from" the Father (Mt 6:1).

"Who has given a gift to Him that he might be repaid?" (Rm 11:35, RSV-CE) God does not owe us anything. Yet no one can outgive God. True, He might repay us with a lifetime of troubles. "Do not, then, surrender your confidence [in God]; it will have great reward" (Heb 10:35). "Look out that you yourselves do not lose what you have worked for; you must receive your reward in full" (2 Jn 8).

Prayer: Father, may I serve You not for hopes of repayment, but simply because I love You with all my heart.

Promise: "The Lord hears the poor." —Ps 69:34

Praise: St. Charles advised others to meditate in order to "find the strength to bring Christ to birth in ourselves and in others."