Servants of Charity

November 17th will be the 3rd World Day of the Poor, for which the holy father has given his reflection on the theme: “The hope of the poor shall not perish forever” (Ps 9:19).  He very strongly points out that the option for those who are least, those whom society discards (EG 195) is the priority that Christ’s followers are called to pursue. And if we are truly genuine evangelizers, every Christian must sow the tangible seeds of hope.
In today’s world more than ever, new forms of poverty are emerging. Many people are not able to lead a decent and dignified life due to unjust structures. Greater connectivity is seen but on the contrary there is very poor solidarity among human beings. We are very curious to know what is happening around us, but less touched by those events. As long as anything does not trouble us, nor cost us we feel we are in a safe zone. Persons are only news for most of us. The holy father is reminding us that very little is needed to restore hope in those people who are at the fringes of the society.
When we go back to our origins, especially to those times of the first foundations of the Institute, the founder always tried any opportunity to alleviate human misery. He was running here and there; trying to connect with people; travelling a lot, to the extent of crossing the Atlantic Ocean, mainly pushed by this hunger for the poor and their upliftment.
From his writings and his gestures, he has imparted to us, his followers, the basic guidelines which must reign in our houses in confronting the poor. It is not that I have something from which I dole out something or I do some service that is convenient to me. Instead we get a completely different picture from his life and actions. Most of his writings often bear the magic word ‘Mercy’ and its synonyms: compassion, goodness, love, providence which reveal his inner disposition to the poor. For example, “It is the same Lord of all and in His presence all people on this earth are equal,” which must be the foundation principle in our houses in our dealings with people and which is the antidote to the unjust society which discriminates against the poor.
“Welcome all those who come to your house because they are sent by providence, it is not enough to receive the needy but rather you must also look for them, it is not enough to pray and do good at home and in church but you need to go out and look for the lost sheep.”
We have to introspect ourselves today. Do we go to this extent? Let us go back where we came from, as Jesus Christ, let us begin and seek the least.

Fr. Ronald J, SdC

Provincial Superior