YEARS ago, a parishioner was complaining to me that our church was not doing enough work to alleviate the sufferings of the poor in our neighborhood. Being the new pastor of the parish, I listened attentively to this person and made assurance that we will be organizing outreach ministries to the poor and needy.
A few months later, I asked several members of the St. Vincent De Paul Society from a neighboring parish to assist us in organizing a similar society that would help to address the needs of the homeless and the struggling families of our community. They came with posters and pamphlets and spoke to parishioners during the pulpit announcement of each Mass about the ministry and the need for volunteers. They would be waiting outside the church after Mass to receive volunteers.
As I watched people leave the church after each Mass, I noticed that few people were coming to see the representatives from St. Vincent de Paul Society. The saddest sight of all was witnessing the indifference of the parishioner who complained that our church was not doing enough for the poor in our neighborhood. I would have hoped that this person would be the first one to sign up as volunteer, but this “complainant” did not even bother to speak to the representatives of St. Vincent De Paul Society. Later on, I would find out that this parishioner is “all talk and no action”.
It’s easy to criticize the lack of care for the poor and to bring up ideas to respond to their needs. But it is hard to walk the talk, to address poverty through concrete steps and actions. We’re all aware of this human propensity. Hence, those of us who talk too much should be careful about the ideas and concerns we bring up to fellow parishioners and leaders of our community. We’d better be the first people to volunteer, to roll up our sleeves to address concerns and to translate opinions into concrete acts of generosity and kindness.
The Second Reading from the Letter of St. James this Sunday is a strong criticism and admonition towards rich people. “Come now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries. Your wealth has rotted away, your clothes have become moth-eaten…Behold, the wages you withheld from the workers who harvested your fields are crying aloud…You have lived on earth in luxury and pleasure; you have fattened your hearts for the day of slaughter.”
As our nation is preparing for the presidential election, it would be easy for us to express similar concerns about the rich becoming richer and are being imposed less tax than the poor and the middle class of our society. Nonetheless, those of us who speak up and advocate for the poor and the middle class must do so with authenticity of faith and action.
Anne Osdieck wrote in Center for Liturgy website this striking reflection on this issue of faith and action:
Who is for us? Jesus’ answer: anyone who extends a helping hand, who shelters the homeless, who cares for the earth, who feeds the hungry, teachers the ignorant, stands for justice, gives a cup of water in my name is all for us, and belongs to me. Jesus, all we want is to belong to you.”
The holidays are coming soon. In a few months, we’ll be celebrating Thanksgiving Day and Christmas. As we approach the holidays, let’s take the opportunity of not just talking the talk but of walking the talk and walking the walk. Let’s implement ways on how we can help poor families and children in our neighborhood. Let’s remember the words of St. James two Sundays ago: “So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
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Reverend Rodel G. Balagtas attended St. John Seminary in Camarillo, California and earned his Doctor of Ministry in Preaching from Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, Missouri. For twenty years, he has been in the parish ministry of large multi-cultural communities. Since 2002, he has been the pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Los Angeles. Please email Fr. Rodel at [email protected].
