Charity and Trust

The ancient Chinese had a quaint concept of hell as a banquet at which every reprobate soul had each hand glued to the end of a six-foot-long chopstick; the only way to eat was to feed each other, amidst mutual hatred. Hell is totally void of affirmation, since there's no altruism or love there, but only selfishness and hatred.

Some people pursue happiness; others create it. Opportunities to create it are all around us, since everyone is disabled to some extent; everyone needs others to exploit the full human potential. By God’s providential design, we need others, not just to provide our physical and emotional needs, but also to mirror our goodness back to us by recognizing our worth and accepting and cherishing us for who we really are. Most of our unhappiness is man-made, not God-planned. Yet God’s help is needed to correct the hurt of love deprivation.

The God of love who proclaimed, “I have come to give you life, and life more abundantly” (Jn 10:10)designed, as one life-giving and life-sustaining source, his own love dynamic that can operate instrumentally through us humans to provide for each other spiritual, emotional, and physical health (“fullness of life”). The giving and the receiving of this divine love as channeled through human instruments can truly add years to our lives, and life to our years.

Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Not everybody can be famous but everybody can be great, because greatness is determined by service to others.” Faith recognizes that neglect of anyone in need is neglect of Jesus himself. Our faith is empty and meaningless unless it is manifested by the loving way we relate to Jesus’ vicarious presence in our fellow humans: ”as you did it to . . . these . . . you did it to me” (Mt 25:40).

If any act of sincere concern for another is to be truly Christian, it must be surcharged, as Paul reminds us, with faith, hope, and love; such concern is a love that believes in a person, hopes for the best from him or her, and lovingly bears all hurts that might come from that person (see 1 Cor 13:7). Faith, “working through charity” (Gal 5:6), sees Christ in each person, even “the least of [our] brethren”(Mt 25:40), and, with more difficulty, in those who offend us. This supernal altruism requires that we "be devoted to one another in brotherly love" and "honor one another above ourselves" (Rom 12:10, emphasis mine).

It is not easy to be truly devoted to another and to honor that person above oneself consistently. Just think about that directive, and ask yourself honestly whether you apply it to everyone who crosses your path each day. Criticism comes easier than compliments, and it takes many compliments to offset the damage of a small bit of criticism. In his book There’s a Lot More to Health Than Not Being Sick, Bruce Larson quips, "It takes ten 'Attaboys' to equal one 'You jerk'!"Our self-centeredness is constantly eclipsing the Christian love that we like to think we're practicing. It is for this reason that we must lean on God for help. Knowing of his love for each of us, we can trust him to help us in our efforts to spread his love.

This excerpt is from the book Pathways of Trust, by John H. Hampsch,C.M.F., originally published by Servant Publications. It and other of Fr. Hampsch's books and tapes can be purchased from Claretian Teaching Ministry, 20610 Manhattan Pl, #120, Torrance, CA 90501-1863. Phone 1-310-782-6408.