Miss Walter's Words - Service: A Personal Sacrifice

"The proof of love is in the works. Where love exists, it works great things. But when it ceases to act, it ceases to exist." - Pope St. Gregory the Great


“If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small.”

This quote is perhaps my favorite one from C.S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity. It speaks such a profound truth, one that (unfortunately) many Christians do not like to admit to.

Some of us, myself included, often times try to convince ourselves of the illusion that we can be true followers of Christ and live a comfortable life at the same time. Sure, we can read the bible, debate theology, wear symbols or our religion, and proclaim our love for Jesus to our neighbors, but we must keep in mind that, “For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so faith apart from works is dead” (James 2:26). We are all called to devote our lives to Christ, but we also must act upon our faith. In this discussion specifically, I am speaking of active, face-to-face giving of time, talents, attention, counseling, and/or other services to the poor, sick, and others in need.

It is easy for so many of us to just donate money to a charity and call it a day. But God wants so much more from us! He wants us to treat the poor as our brothers and sisters by getting to know them and showing them that we care by their actions. This calls for personal sacrifices in our own lives to be made, in order to give to those who really need our help. We are called to know the poor by name, to make them feel loved and to prove to those that look down on them that they are dignified just as much as the rich are through Christ’s love for them. This action of reaching out is such a powerful sacrifice of self-giving. So many Christians feel that it is too time consuming or annoying to help the poor. Others don’t feel that it is really an obligation. However, Jesus set for us so many examples of how we should help those in need through the gospels. Many saints devoted their lives to helping the poor as well. It is very humbling to reach down to those in need, and also helps us become more Christ-like.

Think about how blessed you are. I am particularly thankful for my parents, my safe neighborhood, a bed to sleep in, and food on the table. Regardless of where you live, how much money you make, or what you've been through, you still have an excess of blessings, whether physical or spiritual or somewhere in between. In this excess you must find ways to help others that are in need — even if you must search far and wide for an opportunity. Jesus calls us to go the extra mile in finding ways to serve his people. If we really want to improve ourselves and become more like Christ, we must find ways to be actively charitable, even if these ways “pinch or hamper us.”