The magnitude of the call
Each day, across this great country, families and individuals are challenged spiritually, physically and emotionally to carry crosses that they can’t bear by themselves. In many situations they have exhausted their resources, their supports and themselves. They fear the night, they fear the day, they fear everything. It’s been said that this generation of young people is the most anxious generation that has ever lived. They find it difficult to imagine that anything can help them — even God.
Into this void enters Catholic Charities, seeking to provide comfort and hope through faith and compassion. Our team members work tirelessly to help as many families as possible, stretching limited resources in every direction to keep them afloat and hopefully move toward sustainability. It is, by all counts, a daunting day-to-day task. Our team members often face overwhelming challenges themselves in trying to minister to the poor, the vulnerable and the downtrodden.
During this beautiful Advent season, we anticipate the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, both as the incarnate infant and as the just judge at the end of time. We draw comfort from Matthew 25, where Jesus tells us that to serve those who hunger, those who are naked, those who are homeless, those who are imprisoned, those who are sick and those who are strangers is to serve him. St. Teresa of Calcutta explained the good news of the gospel in five simple words: “You did it to me.”
We also draw comfort from today’s Psalm where we read “For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out, and the afflicted when he has no one to help him. He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor; the lives of the poor he shall save.” The creator of heaven and earth has asked each of us to be his hands and feet in the world. When we recognize the magnitude of that call and who calls us, we can’t help but say “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous deeds. And blessed forever be his glorious name; may the whole earth be filled with his glory.”
Truly, our faith assures us that God is with us. I pray that together we prepare ourselves to welcome Emmanuel into our hearts and the hearts of those who seek hope through us.
Deacon Gary Tester is President of Catholic Charities of Central Florida and serves as the Secretary for Human Dignity and Solidarity in Bishop John Noonan’s cabinet.