By Atty. Howie Calleja
Now that the commercialism of Valentine’s Day finally subsided, hopefully we can focus on its true essence of LOVE embodied in Charity. When the world stood still due to COVID-19, our common existence and survival demanded that we fight back through our common humanity characterized by Love and Charity. When our cars, jobs, travel and access to shopping and entertainment were all taken away by this pandemic, what were we left with? The answer is the LOVE we have for EACH OTHER.
As Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J., inscribes in his “Modern Catholic Dictionary”, CHARITY is the “infused supernatural virtue by which a person loves God above all things for his [that is, God’s] own sake, and loves others for God’s sake.” Like all virtues, charity is an act of the will, and the practice of charity intensifies our love for God and for our each other; but because charity is a gift from God, we cannot initially obtain this virtue by our own actions. Charity relies on faith, because without faith in God we apparently cannot love God, nor can we love our fellowman for God’s sake.
By demonstrating the importance of others by one’s act of Charity we likewise increase an individual’s sense of self-worth, which will help motivate them to improve one’s life. In a world where everyone is becoming a prey of materialism, everybody is longing for love. It is an emotion that the world relentlessly needs nowadays. Charity is a good way to demonstrate that love still exists. It gives people hope that humanity is still present.
Moreover, in Love, we are motivated to go outside our “comfort zones” and to courageously reach-out to those in need. “True charity requires courage: let us overcome the fear of getting our hands dirty so as to help those in need” (Pope Francis). Remember … when our Community Pantry Volunteers selflessly organized these pantries such acts were done in courage defying its possible effects to their personal health.
There is an old saying that goes: “If you want Joy for an hour, take a nap. If you want Joy for a day, go fishing. If you want Joy for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want Joy for a lifetime, help somebody.” For decades, the greatest thinkers have suggested the same thing: Joy is found in helping others. “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Luke 6:38).
This Valentine’s Day, let us be reminded that LOVE and CHARITY has enabled us to surmount this pandemic because greater than any infectious virus is the indomitable “human spirit” which seeks to help one another to overcome any obstacle. As St. Augustine explains, “What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like”. Let’s continue to Spread the Charity Virus, and let this be our true New Normal.
