Walking with St. Paul Seven Ways to be a Paul-Bearer, Part V

Aug 6, 2008

The fifth way to be a Paul-bearer during this year is to re-commit ourselves to the poor. In addition to preaching the Gospel, St. Paul made it his mission to also gather alms for the poor, especially those in Jerusalem.  Like Christ, he desired to feed people both spiritually and physically. By the way, the practice of sending alms to Jerusalem (Rom. 15:26), has endured until our day.  Every U.S. parish takes up a yearly collection for the Church in Jerusalem.  I have met with the Patriarch of Jerusalem on several occasions, and I have seen first hand the great need of the Catholics in Israel.  They are committed to keep a Christian presence there, even in the midst of very difficult circumstances.  So plan now to give a little something extra to the Jerusalem Church, in honor of the Pauline Jubilee.

 

When we give to the poor, we show our love of Christ.  We express that love, in part, by imitation.  His ministry was marked by his special affection for the little and the poor, and his Cross demonstrates his willingness to make the ultimate sacrifice for the spiritually poor.  Giving a little extra this year, in tough economic times, may be a sacrifice, but it is one that will pay dividends into eternity.

 

St. Paul dedicated two chapters in 2 Corinthians to the principles of giving.  Take a few moments to read chapters eight and nine of that letter. Ask the Lord to make you an especially “cheerful giver” this Jubilee Year.  Pray that the Lord will give you eyes to see the poor around you and ears to hear their cry.  Now, when I speak of helping the poor, of course we don’t mean only the physically poor.  In addition to the Corporal Works of Mercy, we can also re-commit ourselves to performing the Spiritual Works of Mercy this year.  Maybe this is the year you answer the call to help teach in your parish’s CCD program.

 

Finally, may I recommend you visit some key paragraphs in the Catechism that expound on the Christian’s relationship to the poor. As you read, let the words help you frame some concrete goals for blessing the poor this Jubilee Year.  There you will discover a motivation for our secular work, the poor’s relationship to the Eucharist, wisdom for how to spend the Lord’s Day, the poor and the Domestic Church, Christ’s presence in the poor, serving the poor as a participation in the office of Christ as King, and much more (see Catechism, Nos. 2443-2449; 1397; 1939-1942; 2186; 2208; 1373, 786).