Burnt Offerings and Sacrifices During Times of Crisis

When a major disaster occurs in the United States, there is an immediate race among public figures and media outlets to arrive on the scene. Appeals are made for help, and fingers are pointed in all directions regarding the legitimacy (or lack thereof) of “other” politicians and pundits. Amidst all the noise in the secular realm, charitable organizations almost immediately put love into action with “boots on the ground”.
 
Love of God and love of neighbor are not novel concepts in modern culture. The two great commandments, applied properly, put self-love in third place while deferring to others, especially those in need. Posturing with photo ops and opining with empty rhetoric in the public square are indeed the equivalent of the burnt offerings mentioned in scripture:
 
“One of the scribes, when he came forward and heard them disputing and saw how well he had answered them, asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” Jesus replied, “The first is this: ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, ‘He is One and there is no other than he.’ And ‘to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself’ is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” And when Jesus saw that [he] answered with understanding, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And no one dared to ask him any more questions.” (Mark 12:28-34)
 
During times of crisis, let us pray to put love into action by following the advice of Jesus found in Chapter six the Gospel of Matthew:
 
“[But] take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites[b] do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. (Mt. 6:1-4)