Charity

"If Christ had become incarnate now and were a thirty-year-old man today, he could be here in the cathedral and we wouldn't know him from the rest of you - a thirty-year-old man, a peasant from Nazareth, here in the cathedral like any peasant from our countryside. The Son of God made flesh would be here and we wouldn't know him - one completely like us." Archbishop Romero Dec. 17, 1978

I read a story in the newspaper that spoke of a lady at World Youth Day who was in a bad situation with no food. Many groups of various "Christians" refused to help her. Eventually she was told to go to the Salvadorans because they would. They did indeed.

A number of different situations happened where people were in need occurred during the World Youth Days in Cologne. Eventually they received the same answer, "Go to the Salvadorans".

Finally, a reporter spoke to the Salvadorans and asked them why they were so generous. They said, "how could we not help? Our place of origin is named for the Lord Jesus Christ! Because of this, we must take extra care to live the Gospel today!"

Jesus is clear about how we are to live the Gospel. In Matthew 25:31-46 He speaks of the call to generosity with all that we have been blessed with. "Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do unto me". What a responsibility we Christians have!

God bless those who refused to listen to the whispers of the Holy Spirit within their hearts when that lady (Jesus) called to them for food. Bless them with a conversion of heart, mind and spirit to deeply understand the virtue of charity.

And, God bless the Salvadorans for their great generosity and response to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit within!

Reading these stories I see the grace of God at work in the Salvadoran community. I thank you Salvadorans for bringing a smile to my face, and a lightness of heart for the rest of my day! Muchas Gracias! :*)

Pax Vobis,

J.E.