Permission To Serve

 There are two particular instances in Scripture that have always moved me, because I think they reflect the essence of charity:

The first is the Visitation. When Mary the Mother of Jesus visits Elizabeth, her cousin, both are pregnant. The journey from Nazareth to Hebron is over 80 miles as the crow flies, and Elizabeth was in her sixth month with John the Baptist in her womb. Mary almost immediately begins the journey (accompanied by Joseph) after the annunciation. This is a very moving scene when Mary arrives, since both women could likely use the mutual support in their curious pregnancies. 

What motivated Mary to make haste to Judea? I like to think of Mary as completely selfless in this regard; that she does so for Elizabeth's benefit. Pregnant herself, and faced with a sizable journey, she doesn't hesitate to put herself aside and offer herself in charity to her cousin.

The other instance in Scripture I find moving is found in St. Paul's first letter to the Corinthians. He writes, "Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend" (1 Cor 8:13). Paul has such regard for his brothers, those weak in the faith or scrupulous who would otherwise be scandalized in eating food sacrificed to idols. "Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block for to the weak" (1 Cor 8:9). 

Sometimes we think those we assist in charity must be ideologically aligned with our beliefs. We know that we should be like the Good Samaritan, eschewing convention in theory; but in practice, we often stay insulated in our safe zones, among 'our own kind.' 

The reality is that those in most need of Christian charity and understanding are those who fall outside of our religious purview. "Progressive" Christians and secular liberals do not have a monopoly on serving the poor, those with same sex attraction, those who are aligned with the LGBT movement, transvestites, drug users, those of other religions, indigents and yes, even our enemies of the Cross of Christ. Our charity must transcend our ideologies, it must be radical, and it must hurt. 

Can we admit to ourselves sometimes, as Catholics, that we can subconsciously adopt the attitude of the Levite who crosses over the road so as not to become unclean? 

I think sometimes there is a reticence to enter into this messy fray of need because we do not give ourselves permission to step outside of our ideologies. That listening in charity to someone who has different political views, or asking how we can serve someone who has a gay partner, or stooping down to sit with a person on the street largely ignored and abandoned, somehow makes us an accessory to their erroneous beliefs or sinful behavior. And yet, Christ affirms that "it is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick" (Lk 5:31)

So, if you need permission to put yourself aside in a spirit of charity in order to serve someone else--even an enemy--on their own terms...with no judgment, no accosting, no expectation...I'm happy to give it to you here. Go ahead and put yourself aside, for the least of these.