CHARITY NEVER ENDS
A story goes that heaven and hell are not really that different. They have almost the same features: abundance of food, drinks, excellent music, perfect accommodations, etc. But in hell all souls possess elongated and stiff arms. The souls suffer from extreme hunger because they can’t bend their hands to feed themselves. But in heaven, they are able to savor the good food because they feed each other instead of themselves.
The Gospel today gives us specific instructions on what we must do and not do to our neighbor. This is very appropriate during the season of Lent because these are times when we are encouraged to look at ourselves and how we relate with others and God. Jesus enumerated the common pitfalls we commit and the good things we can do. The contrary would be the work of the devil.
Lent basically asks us to intensify on three things; prayer, sacrifice and charity. To some, prayer is the hardest to do. Others would find difficulty in sacrifice. Still others are very much wanting on charity.
Charity does not always mean giving material things. If that is so, the poor would rarely and barely meet this requirement. But charity includes everything that comes from love. It includes being merciful and forgiving. Other than material things, it can also be time, effort, or thought. What is important is that the act offers care for the other.
Pondo ng Pinoy exemplifies this. It aims the transformation of a person in order to acquire the virtue of charity. By constantly doing small, good acts, it hopes to create the habit and eventually imbibe it as part of the person’s nature. The Second Plenary Council of the Philippines (PCP II) further states, “No one is so poor as to have nothing to give, and no one is so rich as to have nothing to receive.” Charity is for everyone to exercise and to benefit from. We can see the wisdom and plan of God — to make a world full of people practicing charity. Fr. Benny Tuazon
REFLECTION QUESTION: Are you fulfilling the Lenten call for deeper prayer, sacrifice and charity?
Jesus, by Your life You showed us how to pray, how to render sacrifice for love, and how to give generously. I pray for the grace to imitate Your example.
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