Pope Francis and the Witness of Charity In this Year of Faith
By Sister Therese Touma, from a paper submitted for her studies at Boston College
"In this Year of Faith, the People of God have also been
urged to witness to their faith through increasing their practice of charity.[1]
In seeing to our neighbor’s needs, we are serving and loving Christ himself, this is powerful. “As you did it to one of the least of these brethren, you did it to me.”(Mt 24:40) Consequently, all Christians by the nature
of their baptism are invited and challenged by the Gospel to carry the light
and healing of Christ to all those who are in need especially to those who are
broken, suffering and poor. It is through this call to love Christ that we are
to reach out in humility and care for our neighbor by helping them in their physical
needs, and journey of faith. I have witnessed and seen in my own ministry, the
great impact of living a disposition of self-giving love, hospitality and
forgiveness, especially when it comes to cultivating openness and dialogue in
relationships. On the other hand, I also believe that if we truly desire to
grow in holiness and intimacy with Jesus then our desire to reach out in love
will grow and intensify, even amidst all confusion, poverty and persecution. We
learn from Jesus, who was meek and humble of heart that the focus is always on
loving and bringing humanity to salvation. I too perceive that the focus of the
New Evangelization is on loving our neighbor (where they are at) and upholding
their sacred dignity as son or daughter of God.
In the task of the New Evangelization, the witness of
charity, joy and holiness assists people to visibly see that the living and
transmission of the Catholic faith can be affective in bringing many others to
the everlasting fountain of God’s healing love and grace. Without being
conformed to him in love, without the presence of the Spirit, it is impossible
to confess him as Lord (cf. 1 Cor 12:3) and recognize (and serve) him in the
other. Charity can take many forms, on an individual and parish level, such as
cultivating; a sense of hospitality, welcome, compassionate love, friendships,
and service to those in need in the community especially in reaching out to
those who have drifted away from the faith. Each baptized person, through the
gifts of the Holy Spirit has an essential role to play in sharing and making
known the saving love of Christ.
Pope Francis, in his charismatic being and witness of
charity has put his own unique twist on the New Evangelization as he models by
his compassionate (and fatherly) deeds the need to “go out” and serve the poor,
oppressed and the marginalized. In his “going
out” he is mirroring the missionary identity of the church, and showing us what
the church is not about, maintenance. Pope Francis’ solicit care and promotion
for social justice is a powerful and silent proclamation of his faith and love
of Christ. According to Dulles, personal
witness is the most effective form of evangelization[2]
as “people today put more trust in witnesses than teachers, in experience than
in teaching, and in life and action than in theories. The witness of a Christian
life is the first and irreplaceable form of mission.”[3]
It is refreshing to see the New Evangelization in action through the humble
works and missionary efforts of Pope Francis. He is effectively saying this is
how it is done; follow me in going out of yourselves so that we can effectively
build up the Body of Christ together."