The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1954-07-02

II Is interesting to note that words and their
meanings through continued use, become rounded
and worn away, losing their original sharpness and
usefulness. They much like knives neglect TO
keep sharpened and after a time are longer use
full for their original purpose but are made to do
service IN some lesser capacity OF cutting only the
softest material not TO cut al all bat to be
used as improvised screw drivers or TO pry open
jars In the case OF knives there is great harm
done by their gradual wearing away. They can be
resharpened or even replaced. The case with words
though, Is different We often unaware that
they becoming dull and continue 10 use them
In our thoughts and speech long after they have
lost their original forcefulness.
Words the medium OF exchange
for our ideas II we are not careful and precise in
their run the risk OF our ideas becoming
rounded and worn the words that convey them;
and this Is something to avoid at all costs.
One such word is charity" Much use is made
of the word charity" We read daily of charity
drives" donations 10 charity" and charity
gsnizations' When confronted with this word in
speech IN print we think right away of parting
with some OF our money or OF giving something
away. Granted that such benevolent actions are a
part of charty-they are nonetheess, not the main
part or even the most important part. In fact,
early Christian on hearing reading the word
cdrttds tfr0m which word is takenl, would
certainly not revert TO the action OF giving but
rather to the action of lovng-and then TO the
action of giving. In other words the original
meaning OF charity love and the giving was the
result OF this love. Giving 10 alleviate the suffer
ing of others is the result of loving We have mis-
taken the effect for the cause Thus the statement
of ST. Paul that If he sold all he had and gave all
he possessed 10 the poor and had not charity he
would be as nothing" is now greatly unintegible
There many who think that this is just what
charity II: The giving of money or goods to the
poor ST Paul says that far from this being the case
we readily have one without the other
Christ never commended mere giving What
He did commend and even commanded was love-the
love of God and OF neighbor He put the two
plane. We cannot love God without loving our
neghbor. And NOR IL is the image Of God IN
neighbor, the fact that he is child of God that
causes our love of him. If we lose sight OF this fact
and do not see Christ in our neighbor. then any
help may extend TO him is merely philanthropy
and not charity The former has lis reward in this
world because II is done for worldly motive The
latter has everlasting heavenly reward beyond
all measure because IL is done TO Christ.
II is the Person of Christ shining in the person
OF neighbor that blinds to his station his
origin place in society. All, even the lowest and
most despcable, are children of God and for US,
contain in their person the Person of Christ This
Is the We must have all-embraeing love
Of neighbor excluding no one, even our enemies,
proving this love with charitable giving This is
the lesson Christ would have us all learn from His
story of the Good Samaritan II is historical fact
that the Samaritans and Jews enemies de,
spising one another II charity, he love Of
God and God in a neighbor that caused the Samar-
itan 10 relieve and aid the stricken Jew.
II is TO our advantage TO spiritualize motives
A heavenly reward is IN the balance. Let us pause
to recall the real meaning of the word charity,
and then heed Christs command TO- go and do
likewise"