By David G. Bonagura, Jr.
Christianity is a religion of paradoxes. One of them is the strange relationship between the natural world, which we see, and the supernatural world, which we do not see. The latter is where God dwells and is our ultimate home. At the same time, it is always present: sustains and penetrates the natural order while enveloping us in multiple ways.
God is present in us through sacramental grace and before us in the Eucharist. He is also present in others, in the people we encounter, an astonishing fact that Jesus clearly taught: acts of charity transcend both worlds. “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:41).
Serving others is as essential in Christian practice as Sunday worship, prayer, and keeping the commandments, and opportunities to serve abound. It is no wonder that Catholic schools and religious education programs require their students to perform works of charity, in the hope that they learn to cultivate the habit of service.
In Book X of The City of God, St. Augustine reminds us of another form of service:
“If a man loves himself, his only desire is to attain blessedness, which consists in being close to God. Therefore, if a man knows how to love himself rightly, the commandment to love his neighbor requires him to do everything possible to lead his neighbor to love God. This is the worship of God; this is the true religion; this is the right devotion; this is the service that is due to God alone.”
If the greatest act of charity is to give God to another person, why don’t we promote this form of giving more? Perhaps because it is easier to give money or material things. Perhaps because our idea of service is affected by a false dichotomy between worship and charity. Perhaps because, deep down, we do not believe that God is the supreme good of our life.
This does not mean setting aside material charity, which is necessary for every Catholic. But charity, like everything, must be understood in context. Catholic material charity is never given alone: it is united to the Gospel.
For example, the Franciscans do not give food to the poor and then send them away. They sit with them, listen to them, and become their friends, with the intention of inviting them to know God. Material charity is the channel that leads to God, who is Charity itself, that is, Love itself.
That is why—by the way—the government attacks against the Little Sisters of the Poor and other Catholic charitable institutions, under the argument that they perform “social work” and not “religious work,” are attacks on the very essence of Catholicism. These government orders are, therefore, illegitimate intrusions into the free exercise of religion.
Closer to our everyday life, how can we give others the supreme gift of charity—God himself—, without needing to teach the faith directly?
First, and perhaps most importantly, we can bring someone to Mass who otherwise would not go or could not go. It may be a lapsed Catholic or an elderly person who needs help getting to the church. The first requires courage to invite them; the second demands a real sacrifice of time and effort to help them in and out of the car and the church. “Freely you have received; freely give” (Matthew 10:8).
Second, we can bring to Mass those who can no longer come. That is, offer a Mass for the soul of a loved one or a deceased friend. Even better would be to personally attend that Mass and offer our prayers for the deceased, while the one sacrifice of Christ is renewed on the altar. I would especially recommend this practice to Confirmation candidates: that they arrange two Masses for their deceased, pay the stipend out of their own pocket, and then attend both. In this way, they anticipate the grace of Confirmation, which gives the strength to witness to the faith and share it with others.
Third, and very close to the previous two, we can invite—or encourage—someone to go to confession. The reconciliation of man with God was the mission of Jesus. Each absolution restores the penitent to union with God for which he was created. Confession and Communion, together, bring us as close to God as possible in this life. What better gifts could we offer?
Fourth, we can invite someone to pray with us. Prayer is entering into communion with God, so that every prayer fulfills the very purpose of our existence. No long or solemn prayers are required. A simple challenge: the next time you eat with others, at home or in public, invite your companions to pray before eating, and lead the prayer yourself.
“No one has greater love than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). Jesus gave his life so that we might have God. Our sacrifices of charity must follow his example.
We lay down our lives for others not only because “it’s the right thing to do” or because of the golden rule. We give, materially and spiritually, for God and to lead others to Him. Authentic Christian service keeps God at the center, as our motive and our end.
About the author
David G. Bonagura, Jr. is the author of 100 Tough Questions for Catholics: Common Obstacles to Faith Today and translator of Jerome’s Tears: Letters to Friends in Mourning. Adjunct professor at St. Joseph’s Seminary and Catholic International University, he is the religion editor of The University Bookman, a magazine founded in 1960 by Russell Kirk. His personal website is available here.