We are living in our archdiocese the “Year of Charity”. At this time, within what the Pastoral Plan has programmed, we are called to organize ourselves better at our "social charity" jobs.
Pope Francis launched a global campaign on Human Rights Day last year: "One human family, bread and justice for all people", organized by the World Caritas. The Pope himself recalled in his speech: "So, dear brothers and dear sisters, I invite you to open a space in your hearts for this urgency, respecting the God-given right to everyone to have access to adequate food. We share what we have in Christian charity with those who are forced to face many obstacles to meet such a primary need; and at the same time, we promote genuine cooperation with the poor, so that by the fruits of their and of our work, we can live a dignified life. I invite all institutions of the world, the whole Church and each of us as one human family, to give voice to all the people who starve quietly, so that this voice becomes a scream that can shake the world "!
As a social legacy of the World Youth Day held last year, was created a "network" for referrals of addicts. We also wanted to celebrate the first anniversary of the WYD with a large food drive for Haiti. The news reaching us are that there is a famine, that nutrition would be the "great sickness", particularly of children. Hence our concrete gesture in collecting food for distribution in Haiti.
We know that social work is a consequence of evangelization, of love to our neighbor. We will know if we are really evangelizing when we feel the answer to the needs of mission, catechesis and social work by our people. Accordingly, in this Year of Charity, we could see the great strides that are being made
Meditating on the Gospels, impresses us the message of Christ founded totally in love to others, in charity. Jesus shows us the Father as the giver of all, who loves us enough to give the death of his Son for the salvation of men. In various responses to the Pharisees and the doctors of the Law, Jesus reaffirmed the first commandment of love of God, but, soon after, full of love for the neighbor, who are similar to Him. Illustrated in the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10, 25-37).
The letters of John the Apostle insist on the same catechetical aspect, and with apostolic clarity state that the one who claims to love God and does not love his brother is a liar. He continues by stating that it is very easy to proclaim that we love God, whom we do not see, but despise the brothers, who are on our side. Where is charity, where is love? (1Jn 4,20).
St. Paul, in his Letter to the Corinthians (I Corinthians 13), proclaims and exalts charity. We are led to interpret this hymn as love for the Heavenly Father. But the apostle speaks of the excellence of love between the brothers. Though I speak with the tongues of angels, and have all the science, without charity would be a sounding brass whose sound is lost in the broken hills. Soon afterwards he teaches us on what charity consists: in patience, humility, in doing good, by longsuffering, by sharing pain and joy with the brothers, in the so difficult forgiveness. He concludes with the perpetuity of love and charity. Everything stops when it comes to perfection, except charity, by which we will be measured.
On Judgment Day, when the Son of Man in His glory, comes to judge us, writes the Evangelist Matthew, He will ask us about our heart, if it was opened or closed over the little ones living in our homes, in our neighborhood, in our community. An old song reminds us, "How can I be happy if to the poor, my brother, I closed my heart, my love I refused." Already in this mortal life, we can feel the delights of this fraternal life, as we say in the Psalm: "how good and how ordinary life is joyful among brothers." It is not easy to exercise that charity; the hindrance of sin inherited from Adam leads us to another kind of life. Connoisseur of human nature, Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount gives us practical rules of his experience.
And as if His Word was not enough, He gave us His example: Love one another as I have loved you, and gave himself for our sake on the Cross.
From this brief reflection, we wanted to make a brief meditation on the meaning and importance of charity in the community and in personal life.
When the Gospel permeates our lives, even the attitudes of sharing have other weight and connotation. The collection of food to the Food Campaign for Haiti exceeded all expectations! Praised be God! The cariocas demonstrated their openness to the other, the concern for their brothers. We have seen this happen when receiving the young people at the WYD. Now, also in the food donation. We are finalizing the preparation and packaging of what was collected to send to the destination, to be distributed by the Franciscan missionary Catholic community is in Haiti.
But, I would also like to thank the efforts of all in the collection of these foods to help our Haitian brothers. We wanted to share the little that we have with our brothers in Haiti who are in a situation of material and human misery. Our Fundraising Campaign happened from July 26 until September 14, with donations of food and cash donation in the bank account of the Archdiocesan Caritas. We achieved and exceed our goal! This demonstrates that the opening to other exists in the hearts of our people! In the same way this was possible, it will also be in the continuous search to welcome and to help the neighbor in the brother who is on our side.
Therefore, my thanks to the auxiliary bishops, episcopal vicars, the Franciscan friars in the Providence of God, the priests, the entities, the consecrated, the deacons and all the beloved people of God who struggled so that we could conduct this campaign . This gesture showed how important is this "getting out of ourselves" to look the needy other and sharing. A generous response moved all and made us thank the Lord for the signs we see happening in our city.
To everyone my wishes for "peace and prosperity", and that God's blessing be upon each one of you. I call you to never be weary of repeating the gesture of a great carioca who is heading to the altars, our dear Bishop Luciano Mendes de Almeida, who taught us the concrete gesture that everyone lived: "how can I help", or , what can I do to help you? Repeat that question often in our daily lives. That in all things God may be glorified!.
