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Q. When walking around our city we can't help running into street people asking for money. I want to help them, but I believe that Catholic Charities and the Salvation Army know who is deserving and what's best for them. I pray for the homeless and hungry here in the U.S. and around the world. I strongly want to help them, but are we doing these folks a disservice by not steering them to groups than can help them a lifetime, instead of our helping them a day? (Ohio)
A. It may help to know first that your dilemma is not new. St. Clement, second-century bishop of Alexandria, had to write: "Your precautions and your pretended distinctions between those who are to be aided and those who are to be avoided lead you to neglect the friends of God. ... By aiding those who have need, you will unfailingly encounter one of those who will save you before God."
We share our possessions and other gifts with others because, among other possible motives, we are obliged to do so by our Lord. The poor and the hungry are Christ, he told us, and what we do for them we do for him.
A basic principle of Christian spirituality is that any graces God gives us are to be used, acted upon, not saved up for a more ideal situation that better fits our perspective and criteria. The opportunity to assist others in need, to welcome them and open ourselves to them, is such a grace.
When grace-filled invitations present themselves, therefore, it's not wise to tell God this isn't exactly what we had in mind. Our responsibility is to do the best we can, and not wait for something better or more worthy of our attention. If there is a next time, and there may not be, the grace and calling to do what God wishes us to do will be there when the time comes.
If we're determined to be "safe" in what we give, probably not many chances will come our way. It's usually hard, often impossible, to know for sure where our help "will do the most good." Even charitable and missionary organizations cannot guarantee everything will be perfect, that only "deserving" people (whatever that means) will benefit from our gifts.
Jesus does not ask or allow us to sit in judgment of the lives of those who ask for our help. Maybe some of the desperate and destitute people who come to us need a bit of wine more than they need other things.
In any case, while we must use common sense, appropriate use of what we give is not ours to judge; it is a concern between the recipient and God. Our task is to respond generously to the graced opportunity when it stands in front of us.
On a personal note, we have often and honestly attributed much of whatever good has happened in the parishes I have served to the fact that we tried never to turn anyone away who asked for help, but to give what we could, even if sometimes only a kind and friendly word.
Such an attitude is possible and greatly rewarding for all of us. I'm glad you are exploring the best way to do this. Organizations dedicated to serving the world's poor and alleviating the causes of poverty deserve all the support we can give. We cannot, however, simply transfer to any individual or group our obligation to respond to the severe needs of those who, in God's providence, enter our lives.
Questions for this column should be sent to Father John Dietzen, P.O. Box 3315, Peoria, IL 61612. E-mail:
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