Help through charity.

It is said that the hungry do not believe the hungry. And it’s true because it’s only when you’re hungry that you know what hunger is. And when one is thirsty, only then can one appreciate a glass or perhaps even clean water.

We heard something similar a while ago, “…poor, hungry Lazarus longed to be satisfied with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table.” (Lk, 16:20-21).
In the case of the rich man, the evil and sin were not that he owned property and was rich, but the sin of the rich man was that he failed to share and used his property only for himself and did not see the misery of others, in this case, Lazarus. Thus, the rich man neglected the good. Lazarus was poor and did not even have the necessities. He had nothing to eat or drink. Jesus used this story, this parable of the rich man and Lazarus, many years ago. But history seems to be repeating itself.

Even today, many people are excessively wealthy, who can only see the tip of their nose, and others are air to them. And there are indeed those who have nothing for a variety of causes. Either they have lost their jobs, and poverty has pushed them to the margins of society, or in the passion of some weakness, they have lost everything, even the roof over their heads – they have nothing.

We may say to ourselves that this is not our case. In our neighborhood, people are at least moderately well off. And the beggars who stand outside the church have themselves to blame. Maybe they do, perhaps they don’t. But help is needed. For example, concretely by supporting the charity that the Church has set up just for these poorest of the poor.

To see the misery around you and not act to help is to gamble with eternal life. I think the best way, in the experience of many, is to benefit through a charity or some charitable organization. Because immediate financial help to a particular person has not proven to be the right thing to do in many cases – one person has helped, and the other has taken advantage of it. Therefore, let us also try to help in this area to the best of our ability. It has helped many people in need and moved them from the margins of society. Doing good always pays off in this area as well. And one more thing – let us appreciate all we have and thank God that we do not feel hunger and thirst.

God, thank you that we have our daily bread. We ask you for all those who do not have it. And reward with life eternal those who care for them.