LET THE YEAR BEGIN WITH LOVE

 I find myself very drawn to the idea that evangelization without love and compassion is like being an empty barrel - they make a lot of noise but contain nothing.  

Early missionaries actually addressed this, an historical reality many people like to ignore.  The first thing these holy men and women addressed were the corporal needs of those they met, whether it was in the old world or the 'new' world (a world just as old as the one they had left, but new to them, I guess).

After they had established their own place to live, they looked to how they could minister to the needs of those they met.  Do they need food, shelter, protection.  I know nowadays we like to think that everyone they encountered had perfect cultures but, as with so many social constructs, women were often at the mercy of those who were physically stronger.  Early missionaries offered protection to them - people like St. Kateri Tekakwitha were given shelter from being forced into unwanted sexual alliances within their tribal structure.  Those indigenous to the world who chose the 'new religion' faced persecution and loss of family and friends (much like today!) and the earliest missionaries gave them a place to call home as they embraced a new life.

We've lost that sense, I think.

Not all of us.  There are still people who are dedicated to helping anyone and everyone who needs help with little regard to their faith tradition or religious bent.  Kudos to them and thank you. However, too many of us have grabbed a popular slogan that reads "TRUE LOVE IS TELLING PEOPLE THE TRUTH" and forgotten that sometimes? Those people not yet ready to accept Truth?  They need a safe place to sleep, food to eat and the promise of twenty-four hours of peace as they try to navigate the world around them.  

Being a good Catholic means not compromising Truth when it comes to my life and how I live it.  It also means being focused on God.  It means being willing to feed the multitudes, to look at the crowd with the eyes of compassion and being willing to first ask, "How can I help?".

As I start this trudge of happy destiny for the year 2022, my hope is that I do not lose sight of that purpose.  I hope to evangelize with compassion.  I hope to not compromise but to never ask, first, "How can I help?"

And I reallllly hope the Niners beat the Rams this Sunday!