The Catechism of the Catholic Church (English edition) is a 904 page volume that sits on many a rectory office shelf with very few pages wrinkled from frequent use. The tome’s understandable formality and thoroughness can be daunting. And yet the text can be a surprisingly frank and pointedly direct. The daily religious notices on “Mercy” that Bishop Lewandowski offered to the Providence diocese this past fall more than once touched upon a central truth of Christianity found among the corporal works of mercy and within the more complex Catholic catechism. Paragraph 1397 of the official catechism reads: “The Eucharist commits us to the poor. To receive in truth the Body and Blood of Christ given up for us, we must recognize Christ in the poorest, his brethren.” Then the text adds from the fathers of the Church, “You have tasted the Blood of the Lord, yet you do not recognize your brother,. ... You dishonor this table when you do not judge worthy of sharing your food someone judged worthy to take part in this meal. ... God freed you from all your sins and invited you here, but you have not become more merciful.”
It should come as no surprise that social justice in its most elementary form — feeding the hungry — should be listed within the basic requirements of being a good Catholic. And of course putting bread on the table is only one element in a broader program of practical concern for the neighbor with roots in both the Old and New Testaments. The liturgy for this coming Third Sunday of Advent is overwhelming in its insistence that our religious life must be truly incarnational, truly corporal, truly practical, if it is to be authentically Christian. The prophet Isaiah offers a vivid glimpse of how the Good News of salvation will concretely affect those who are hurting: “Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the mute will sing (Is.35:1-6).”
The psalmist is no less encouraging in his hopes for the poor: “The LORD God keeps faith forever, secures justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets captives free. The LORD gives sight to the blind; the LORD raises up those who were bowed down. The LORD loves the just; the LORD protects strangers. The fatherless and the widow he sustains, but the way of the wicked he thwarts (Ps.146:6-10).” Even the brief Alleluia acclamation continues the theme of concern for the needy: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor (Is.61:1).”
And most significantly Jesus Christ himself offers his own practical concern for the dignity of the human person as the best proof of his Divine mission. The imprisoned Baptist inquired through his disciples: “’Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?’ Jesus said to them in reply, ‘Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me (Mt.11:2-3).’” Yes, it is easy to be surprised by Jesus who insists from his followers not only prayerful, interior fidelity but also practical contributions to the common good. Just as Jesus assessed the worth of his own ministry by how it affected the poor and the needy and the hurting of his day, so every believing generation must measure its Christian authenticity by how it responds to society’s most helpless members.
Christmas is indeed a thoughtful time. Greeting cards are mailed out to many friends with whom the sender has not spoken in years. But it’s nice to be remembered. A tip is left at the mail box for the postal carrier who has served the family rain or shine. Do children still bring gifts to their teachers? Plain handkerchiefs and Yardley Soap were all we could bring to the religious sisters teaching us. And perhaps spouses do go out of their way in selecting just the right present. And maybe that single friend whose siblings have all passed on might enjoy an invitation to Christmas dinner. This generosity is praiseworthy but it must be just a hint of the yearlong charity that should radiate from the Christian heart. The homeless shelter, the meal site, the nursing home, the senior center, and diocesan and parochial ministries are always in need of vigorous help through which glad tidings are brought to the poor.
