Posts

Showing posts with the label Christian Charity

Yoked to Jesus

Image
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” †  Mathew 11: 28-30  What is the labour and burden that Jesus is asking me to deal with? Perhaps I have to let go of the compulsive burden (or is it a sort of entitlement?) that my spouse and children should choose a spiritual path that I know to be right. Jesus accompanied Judas Iscariot to the very end but never deprived him of his freedom to choose his own destiny. Jesus on the other hand, uninterrupted by Judas's choice to reject him, continues to accomplish his mission. He does become a victim of Judas's betrayal but he seldom takes on the victim's identity. In divine wisdom, Jesus chooses to die in our place (and that of Judas) in a redeeming act of love. Rather than being compelled to fix those whom God has entrusted to my headship by m

Christian Charity

Mother Teresa often reminded her sisters "we are not social workers, but brides of Christ". What they saw in the impoverished and downtrodden is not a mouth to feed or a wound to heal but rather the dignity of the person and his original need to embrace life in fullness, through Jesus Christ. Much more than a meal and  momentary well being, what matters to each person is that he is raised to live life in fullness to eternity with God the father. True love for the neighbor is to be concerned about the salvation of his soul. It is expressed attending first to a his immediate needs, leading to the original need. We are incapable of realizing this original need of every man for an "abundant life in God" unless we embraces this truth in Jesus Christ. Any good done to others, that is not done abiding in Jesus, fails to achieve the real potential of our divine the call to share. Jesus said "love each other just as I have loved you" [John 13:4]. Jesus loved