Charity Along the Way

One of my favorite stories about Father Paul, the founder of the Atonement Friars, was recounted to me by Father Michael, who was his companion and vicar general of the community. The story, which I heard some forty years ag,o has stayed with me throughout my life and ministry.

Some years before the event of the story, the founder had made a vow not to physically touch money. So, the story begins with the two friars walking along one of the avenues in downtown Manhattan, when a man asked the founder for some money. Since Father Paul had vowed not to touch money and, in fact, had no money on his person, he asked his companion, Father Michael, to “give the man an alms.” Looking at the begging man, Father Michael judged that the man was a drinker and that he would probably use the money given to buy more alcohol. (One needs to keep in mind that the founder and Father Michael share a deeply held view of alcohol bordering on prohibition!)

The two friars continue their walk down the avenue. After several blocks, Father Paul asked Father Michael: “Did you give the man an alms?” Father Michael had to admit that he had not and explained his judgement of the man. The story goes that the Founder told the other friar to go back and give him the alms. He explained to Father Michael that giving the alms was a blessing to the friars, no matter what the man did with it.

Almsgiving
The story stayed with me, but I would learn the lesson of the founder over and over again. During my work in Baltimore several years ago I was on my way from my usual parking lot to the Archdiocesan Center. Of course, I had my clergy collar on and was on my way to the Liturgy Office, where I worked. (The retelling of the event always reminds me of the gospel of the priest, the Levite, and the Samaritan on the way to the temple.) A begging man approached me asking for money. My custom was always to have change in my pocket, but never open my wallet on the street. That day I had no change in my pocket and dodging the beggar was not a possibility.

Sure enough, the man asked for money that early morning and I told him that I had none (which was kind of true). He smiled and said to me: “God bless you, Father, you have a good day now.” I had mistaken that I was always the blessing to the beggars in the alley, but that day the beggar was the instrument of God’s blessing for me.

Jubilee Justice
Along with charity comes justice. The

giving of alms or charity has a complement in doing justice. Two examples from the Jewish scriptures instruct us about how charity is done. The first example is the practice at harvest of caring for the poor and hungry of the community. The harvesters were told that as they harvested the crops that they should deliberately leave some for the poor gleaners, who would come afterward. This was to respect the poor, who could gather the blessings of the earth even without asking. It also reminded the landowners that it was God who provided for everyone. The rich and the poor together lived by the compassionate goodness of God.

A second example was that at jubilee time every fifty years the fields were allowed to stay fallow. The earth had a Sabbath rest and after the jubilee the fields were redistributed among the community. The community learned that the earth was the Lord’s and the fullness of the crops was his overflowing blessing. It was a question, not so much of right, but of blessing.

Lenten Works of Charity
How can we tell our Lenten story? Since the days of Vatican II we have a different version of Lent. Some complain it’s become too easy. Others haven’t noticed they should be doing anything. Still others wonder how Lent could be a time of blessing for them and for the Church. In the very document which mitigated the Lenten fast and abstinence, which was called in English “Let us do penance,” reminds us that the highest form of penance is the works of charity.

Feeding the poor, giving drink to the thirsty, visiting the sick and the imprisoned, clothing the naked – all these and many more are the traditional works of charity. Can we discover in our neighbors and their needs the blessings of God with us? In their need we are blessed. In their need they and we are filled with the presence of the love of God.

Charity invites us to share in overflowing measure the good things of God, tangible and intangible gifts. Justice allows us to discover that God is the author of every good and perfect gift in our lives. Charity with justice joins us to the needy. God’s gifts are mutually shared and all are found worthy of the gifts through justice.

Lent invites us to show the love of God in our world. It is not so much what I do or how much I do. Almsgiving and other forms of charity allow us to discover God in others and they have the opportunity to be blessed in God’s work through us.

CDH