Tuesday, October 23, 2018

Err on the Side of Compassion for Tuesday, 23 October 2018 from The Just Faith Ministries "Just News" Inspiring faithful, compassionate action

Err on the Side of Compassion for Tuesday, 23 October 2018 from The Just Faith Ministries "Just News" Inspiring faithful, compassionate action

Tuesday, October 23, 2018

from Susie Tierney, Executive Director

My family recently relocated to Louisville, KY and we are in the process of finding a new church home. At one particular church we visited, we happened to attend on a Sunday when the church was hosting a fifth Sunday brunch. While we were eating our pancakes, a handful of children had made their way to a table, where they appeared to be doing some sort of craft project. When we finished breakfast, someone from the church invited my children to the “craft” table to design a bag.

What had appeared to be a craft project, was actually an ongoing project of the church in which children decorated paper bags with hopeful messages and then added snacks and a bottle of water. The children then gave the paper bags to their parents to keep in their vehicles for homeless persons or other persons who might be in need.

When I approached the table with my children, there was still one young girl, no older than 4 or 5 years old, finishing her care sack. As I was applauding the church in my mind for engaging children so young in the act of supporting those in need, the little girl looked up at me and said, “We make these sacks with food and water and stuff, because you NEVER know what the people will do if you give them money!”

After I chuckled to myself about the gusto with which this little one mimicked an adult – likely a parent – I began to reflect on what the little girl had said and the predicament it seems to leave many of us in: We want to help, but we don’t want to be enablers of alcoholism or addiction, laziness, or any other behaviors we deem to be bad or inappropriate. For many, care packages or gift cards seem to be the moral middle ground between the desire to be charitable and the desire not to enable.

And yet, the Gospels tell us to take care of those in need; period. The Gospels tell us to take care of those in need – whatever that need might be – regardless of their past (Zacchaeus, Mary Magdalene, Centurion), regardless of their present (Good Samaritan, Feeding of the Multitudes, Matthew 25, anyone who was/is physically or mentally disabled), and regardless of where their decisions are leading them (Peter’s denial, Judas’ betrayal). It seems to me the most important thing to Jesus is not that we are charitable, but that we are loving; and there is a big difference between the two. If we are merely being charitable, it’s much easier to make our generosity conditional. However, if we lean into love, then being charitable nearly always means erring on the side of compassion; whether it’s food or forgiveness, clothing or comfort.

For five years, I was the manager of a large food pantry that served anywhere from 200-400 families a day in need of assistance. While we required some form of ID and proof of current address (if the person was not homeless) in order for someone to access the food pantry, we did not have income guidelines. Occasionally, one of the volunteers or one of our donors would say to me, “If you don’t have income guidelines, how do you know that people aren’t cheating the system; aren’t accessing the pantry when they don’t really need it?” While it was and is a very good question, over the years I found myself saying, “We’re not giving away steak and eggs. We’re giving away peanut butter and bread to feed hungry families. If there are a handful of people who really don’t need the food, that isn’t my concern. Our role is erring on the side of compassion and doing our level best to make sure that hungry people are fed.”

I’ll admit this response may be somewhat naive, as there were many days when erring on the side of compassion was very, very difficult and I desperately wanted to trust my own judgements and lean into my assumptions. Instead, my faith compelled me then – and continues to compel me today – to care for the poor and support those in need, period; to let go of my desire to write the ending to other people’s stories, and instead turn the pen back over to God.

JustFaith Phases

Did you know that you can now sign up for the JustFaith program in three phases? For the first time, we are offering all three parts of JustFaith as stand alone phases. They are designed to be taken in any order, and are presented in a convenient 8 week time frame. Take one, two, or all three! We also still have the original 24-week program available as well. Visit our program page to learn more about all our programs.

Program Highlight

JustFaith Phase 1: Living Compassionately - Caring for the Poor

Living Compassionately will lead participates on a journey to look at poverty at the global and local levels. It will explore how to live compassionately in light of this reality focusing on consumerism, and the Gospel’s call to care for the poor. To broaden perspectives there is an immersion experience where participants visit local organizations and connect with those living and working on the margins of society.

“Prayer for an end to poverty”

Creator God,
you loved the world into life.
Forgive us when our dreams of the future
are shaped by anything other than glimpses of a kingdom
of justice, peace and an end to poverty.
Incarnate God,
you taught us to speak out for what is right.
Make us content with nothing less than a world
that is transformed into the shape of love,
where poverty shall be no more.
Breath of God,
let there be abundant life.
Inspire us with the vision of poverty over,
and give us the faith, courage and will to make it happen.
Amen! (Web resource from Christian Aid/UK)

Sounds great! How do I join?

Visit the Membership Network page on our website to learn more about the launch of the NEW JustFaith Network. We look forward to welcoming you to the family!

Order Bread for the World Christmas Cards Today!

Send Bread for the World Christmas cards to your friends, family, clients, or co-workers and help end hunger! New this year, the 2018 card features “The Holy Family” (pictured), an original illustration created by Doug Puller, senior design and art manager at Bread for the World. Ten cards and envelopes cost $15 (shipping included) and proceeds from the sale support our work together to end hunger. Order online at bread.org/cards or from our online store.

How to be a cross-cultural missioner

To be a cross-cultural missioner – or any kind of missioner – is to be in relationship with others. When we are in relationship with those of our own nationality, religion, race, economic status, or age, we learn how to think and act accordingly over time. When we step out of our comfort zone, however, we can feel stress. We call that culture shock. “I experienced culture shock during my years in Guatemala,” said Maryknoll Brother John Blazo, a missioner for more than 50 years. “To go through it and understand it is really to understand the elements of relationships.” Spending time with people of other backgrounds on a one-on-one basis or in groups, either at church or on a sport team or even waiting for a bus, is how Brother Blazo says he began to sense that “others are just like me.” Learning the language goes a long way to communicate not only basic ideas but deep ones – about friendship and faith. “But part of communication is also non-verbal,” Brother Blazo points out. “I found out that body language and gestures can have totally different meanings in different cultures.” After spending time together and learning how to communicate, trust can grow and tensions can fade. “I realized I had achieved the final element in my relationships when my Guatemalan friends and I both felt confident enough to share our ideas and we both felt confident enough to disagree!” Relationships have the potential to bring all sorts of diverse people together – between individuals and across nations. They have the potential to build a more just and peaceful world.

For more information about resources and programs about mission education and other cultures from the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, go to https://www.maryknoll.us/

Photo: Brother John Blazo, MM, speaks with a parishioner in the courtyard of the church where he worked in Poptun (Peten) Guatemala.

JustFaith Ministries is a nonprofit organization that forms, informs, and transforms people of faith by offering programs and resources that sustain them in their compassionate commitment to build a more just and peaceful world.