January 11

Christ's Teaching About Beneficence

He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus said. “Do this and you will live.” But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” — Luke 10:27-29 BSB

We cannot live in isolation. None of us can be entirely independent of others. I am not just an individual center; I am also part of someone else's circumference, and everyone I know is part of mine. We are members of one another. In other words, we all have neighbors, and a full, complete life—one that has windows open to the Infinite Creator—must also have doors open toward our fellow human beings.

When we think of neighbors, we often imagine those who live nearby, reducing the divine command to love our neighbors as merely caring for those on the same street. If these neighbors are well-off, it can seem as though there is little need for us to help. However, this definition is too narrow, as Jesus shows in the parable of the Good Samaritan. When the lawyer asked who his neighbor was, Jesus responded by saying, "Be a neighbor to someone else." And if we ask what kind of people we should be neighbors to, the answer is clear: "Make no distinctions of race or creed. Whenever you encounter someone in need, be that person's neighbor—minister to them as though you loved them like a brother."

A wealthy person might pay an agent to patrol the road from Jerusalem to Jericho and help the distressed, but this would not be as transformative for his character or as personal for those he helped as his direct involvement would be. We should combine both approaches, using personal experiences to guide our support for others and shape the work of those who help on our behalf. A wise policy might even involve influencing society by serving in positions where we can address the root causes of injustice.

Remember that money is not the only way to help your neighbors. What people need most is compassion, sympathy, and your personal hand of friendship. Some of the greatest benefactors of humanity, including our Lord, had no silver or gold. Jesus Himself became poor so that He could help us in ways that wealth never could. Let Him be our example, for He came not to be served but to serve.

Prayer

Show me today, O Lord, one of Your little ones to whom I can offer a cup of water in Your Name. Amen.