One of the most common Biblical themes used by community organizers, including the atheist ones, is found in today’s Gospel. Indeed, it is often used as a sign of what we should do, and the Bible source is used to back up that movement. However, we have to be careful here, for there are some  honorable community organizers who do great things for society and there are others who are intensely manipulative and you have to discern the difference. The way you can tell if  you are using the dealing with the right kind or not is if you realize a good distinction between good and evil and understanding what is truly helping people holistically.

Many people will tell you the Bible says right there that we should be taking care of the poor. Yes, that is true, but we have to understand it in context. We have to take care of the poor as agents of the Kingdom of God, not as agents of any political party or movement. Political parties will use guilt trips upon you that the opposing candidate is not doing enough to help the poor. No where does it say anything to do with this in this verse.

If you look carefully you can see that both groups felt that they were serving God. However, as we can see in the ancient texts of the Old Testament, part of serving God is not only worshiping Him, but putting our faith into action by treating all as His children. Therefore, our role is not just to help the poor, but to do to so as agents of the Kingdom of God. That is a whole different focus that no political party can embrace.

You and I have a duty to help those less fortunate, but again we do this as agents of God. We may lobby for a change in laws, but not as members of a political party, but as agents of the Kingdom of God. Therefore, voting for a particular candidate is not a way to help the poor. Taking direct action, contributing to good agencies such as my favorite St. Francis House is a good way to help the poor.

We have a teaching in our faith called the Corporal and Spiritual works of mercy, these are practices we have a duty to embrace that do help those less fortunate. However, they are more encompassing than just what we see here. We also see teaching the faith, admonishing sinners are among them. What is the true mission is act as ambassadors for the Kingdom of God, therefore, we are not just called to do good works, but to do those good works that honor God.

That means we have to discern what those good works might be. Sometimes they may also be not to help the poor. I have had to reject helping others for I saw that I was enabling them, therefore, not helping was a better act than helping. For enabling is not helping the poor. Indeed, saying no is part of admonishing the sinner another spiritual work of mercy.

It is so easy to be manipulated into believing everything from marching for a cause, to distributing condoms and paying more taxes are great ways to help others, none of which are true. We get manipulated into doing these things when we miss the other side of this message. We act as prayerful human beings. In his latest Apostolic Exhortation, Pope Francis of course talks about helping the poor, but his most important words are a call to be people of prayer each day, spending time before the Blessed Sacrament. This enables us to understand how to do God’s work, how to glorify God. When we do not root ourselves first in that act, with time spent reading the Bible and being in prayer, then we are easily manipulated to believe every silly notion that comes our way as the right thing to do.

Sunday Homily: There Is No Greater Treason, than to do the Right Thing for the Wrong Reason by Frbob Carr on Mixcloud

The greatest part of this Gospel passage is that we are called to treat others as Jesus did. Jesus’ main focus is the salvation of souls. We help others by leading them to salvation of which assisting in their physical needs is a part and it is an essential part  of our own work of salvation. However, this charity is part of the overall picture being lights to the world, being salt to the Earth and being agents of the Kingdom.

This is why our prime focus is in helping others experience the love of and mercy of God, which the Pope also explains. That aspect of charity is our first step. Helping others financially is not as important as helping others emotionally which is no as important as helping others towards salvation. Helping others beyond our means is not what we are called to do either.

Beware of being manipulated to do what a political party teaches is the right thing to do, but instead prayerfully respond to the needs of others by seeking what it is they truly need and help them there and that is a daily choice.