Father Joseph, one of the excellent priests at my parish, offers a kind of Bible study on Monday evenings. Instead of studying a Bible book, we look at the upcoming readings for the following Sunday, how they relate together, historical background, and so on. The group is small so everyone interacts more than in some larger classes.

One of the things I have noticed again and again is how “dense” the apostles were. One moment, they seem to have great clarity as to who exactly Jesus is. The next moment, they appear unsure. Our Lord often rebukes them for their lack of faith. A recent Gospel reading (Matthew 14:22-33) when Jesus walked on water is but one of many examples.

This almost schizophrenic nature of the Apostles continues right through our Lord’s Passion. One moment professing undying devotion to the Lord, the next (as if they were someone else) denying Him. Reading the Good News is like a roller coaster ride.

Finally at Pentecost, the Apostles truly and permanently understand all that they have seen and heard. The Holy Spirit fills them with grace so that they may fulfill Jesus’ command to “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.” The Apostles after Pentecost were significantly different than their pre-Pentecost, version 1.0 selves.

Please understand, I have the utmost respect for the Apostles – after all, they were chosen by God! I see rather, parallels to ourselves in them. We are also called to holiness and like the pre-Pentecost Apostles, we too struggle in our journey of conversion. Sometimes we make great strides. Other times we slide backward a little.

Through the spiritual struggles of the Apostles, God speaks to us in communicating the Gospel. We identify with their their conversion and their faith. After the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Apostles are prototypical Saints. They were the first “torch bearers” of our faith passed through the millennia all the way to today’s Catholic bishops. We too are called to be saints and to be more than “followers” – to be disciples.

The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:16-20

When Jesus said to Peter “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” He is talking to us too.

Two weeks ago I wrote about being charitable. Far too often people confuse this with “being nice” or even silence. What to say, when to say it and how to say it are interior arguments we have with ourselves. There can also be powerful external forces pushing on us too.

The external forces I am thinking of have the goal of imposing self-censorship upon others. The hoped for calculus is this: “if I say anything, I might be condemned for what I say and be liked less, so it is safer to say nothing.” There is a powerful list of tools in the arsenal of those who hope to control others speech and the truth they may proclaim:

Political incorrectness – speaking against popularly accepted secular “values” even when they are wrong. For example, supporting a male-only priesthood over false arguments such as equal rights or sexism.

Being non-charitable – taking exception to positions or actions which are morally wrong, contrary to the truth taught by Holy Mother Church and endanger the eternal soul of another. For example, telling a woman considering an abortion that it is wrong – regardless of her preferences, perceived choice, mistake or life situation.

Being judgmental – objectively judging right from wrong actions, especially when the facts are not in dispute. For example, judging the acts of the Governor of New York – a professed Catholic – who divorced and “remarried” (a woman who is also divorced) and who often scandalizes the Church through his strong support of abortion (as a well known Catholic figure).

Being intolerant – refusing to accept the free-will choices of others, even when they (at least superficially) “don’t affect you.” For example, refusing to embrace the attack against families led by those seeking acceptance and approval of immoral sexual relationships.

In many ways, these classifications are somewhat arbitrary but the effect is the same. Ironically, those who most vocally accuse another of fitting one of these labels are themselves often non-charitable, judgmental, and/or intolerant.

Speaking of irony, one of the most ironic responses I have seen is when people are accused of being “unchristian” for speaking up. This accusation may be followed by sanctimonious comments on what Jesus would have done. Baloney! Jesus was often politically incorrect, judgmental and intolerant out of His love for us!

The question for us is do we value being accepted by others more than our obligation to live as Christians and help others to do likewise? Are we trying to get to heaven AND take as many others along with us as we can? OR…   are we trying to be liked and be as popular as possible? If it is the later, we may be building our treasures on earth at at the expense of those in heaven.

Please understand that I am not suggesting (in most circumstances) that we be confrontational. That is rarely a good strategy. Much can be accomplished by speaking softly but firmly. Sometimes just saying “that is wrong,” spoken out of love, is enough. I often remember one time, as an adult, that I suggested something wrong to my father. He responded “that is wrong” and not a word more. We did not speak of it further, but I sure thought about it a lot later, re-evaluated and corrected my erroneous viewpoint.

I am not sure it is ever “wrong” to be politically incorrect. Like Christ, from whom it is inseparable, the Catholic Church itself is politically incorrect. Our excellent shepherds and other faithful Catholics are often accused by those opposed to the truth, inside and outside of the Church, of being non-charitable, judgmental and intolerant.

Do not fear these labels. Do not accept a negative spin upon someone’s words because another (boldly) labeled them this way. Consider only the truth and intention. Of course, sometimes people really are non-charitable (“Joe did that to hurt John”), judgmental (“Sue is going to hell”), and intolerant (“I don’t like how {group of people} do {something cultural}”). In those cases, the words are said not out of love and are of themselves often sinful.

Sometimes, a thoughtful conversation may result from speaking up. The person may have their eyes opened and be grateful. Far more likely, the person will be annoyed that they were challenged and maybe like you a little less at that moment. Have patience. The small seed that you plant today may eventually bear great fruit.

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears turned to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against evildoers.” Now who is going to harm you if you are enthusiastic for what is good? But even if you should suffer because of righteousness, blessed are you. Do not be afraid or terrified with fear of them, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who defame your good conduct in Christ may themselves be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that be the will of God, than for doing evil.

1 Peter 3:12-17

The dictionary has several definitions of charity. The first meaning that I think of when hearing the word is of the organizational kind. The next would be of the “good works” variety. In reality, these are just two manifestations of a pure intent.

Maybe I just was not paying close enough attention, but I do not remember the concept of being charitable articulated as often in my past Protestant community as it is among Catholics. It is a simple, beautiful and very Christian philosophy. At its heart, it is following the second of the two greatest commandments – to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:39). The really simple definition should be “charity is love.”

Cardinal José Saraiva Martins has written about the “face of Christ.” Our need to see it, how it is reflected in the Church and through the witness of the Saints. He explains:

In sum, the Church is called to reflect his Face, the face of Christ Teacher, Prophet, Priest and King, in order that we can say of her in relation to Christ what Christ said of himself in relation to the Father…

[…]

We need to be accurate in what we mean. The Church, to whom the sublime mission has been entrusted to make present and reveal the face of Christ to the human person, is not only constituted by her structures, but also by all the members of the People of God. With the Incarnation in a certain sense Christ united himself to every human being.

Last Sunday, Father Walter (a visiting priest) gave an excellent homily on Jesus as our shepherd. He focused on Christ’s love for each of us, individually. That love is a very personal thing, from our Lord to every single person. Not just a “love for all” but a love for you, by name.

Putting all this together, we are called to reflect God’s love in our treatment of others, whom He loves perfectly just as He loves us. Think about that. Every interaction we have with another person is an interaction with someone who God says is unique, special and whom He loves without limitation. Our actions relative to that person (every person), the one with the powerful friend, must be ordered to their benefit. THAT is charity.

Being charitable is asking yourself if the action you are about to take or the things you are about to say put the honest benefit of another first. To “put them in their place,” “score a point” at their expense, to assume the worse of their intentions, or just being mean (because you can, you feel like it and are having a bad day) – are all at least uncharitable.

Sometimes people think that being charitable is “always being nice” or “never hurting someone’s feelings.” They are very wrong. In some situations, following those guidelines is actually uncharitable. Jesus and the Apostles boldly rebuked and condemned evil. That probably hurt some feelings.

My brothers, if anyone among you should stray from the truth and someone bring him back, he should know that whoever brings back a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

James 5:20-21

The truth God revealed to us is important and not a matter of opinion, choice or personal preferences. When people do not understand that, or worse – distort it, our obligation is to help them. If we remain silent out of a false notion of charity, then we contribute to continuing their ignorance. If we love them, we care about their salvation and our actions should be certain and gentle.

To avoid rash judgment, everyone should be careful to interpret insofar as possible his neighbor’s thoughts, words, and deeds in a favorable way:

Every good Christian ought to be more ready to give a favorable interpretation to another’s statement than to condemn it. But if he cannot do so, let him ask how the other understands it. And if the latter understands it badly, let the former correct him with love. If that does not suffice, let the Christian try all suitable ways to bring the other to a correct interpretation so that he may be saved.

CCC 2478

When you have to reprove anyone who has committed a small or even a grave fault, do so with great gentleness. Be firm when the fault demands it, say few words, and never speak when in a passion, for then the reproof will harm the soul of both the one receiving it and the one giving it.

[…]

A Christian soul, and above all a religious soul, to be pleasing in the sight of our Lord, will treat her neighbor as she expects our Lord to treat her. Remember this well and when the opportunity comes, practice it faithfully.

Sr. M.G. (Nov 1880)

Finally, when our response to public sin or false teaching is silence, we contribute to the scandal it causes. In these cases, the harm is to many more than one person.

Scandal is an attitude or behavior which leads another to do evil. The person who gives scandal becomes his neighbor’s tempter. He damages virtue and integrity; he may even draw his brother into spiritual death. Scandal is a grave offense if by deed or omission another is deliberately led into a grave offense.

CCC 2284

Reprimand publicly those who do sin, so that the rest also will be afraid.

1 Timothy 5:20

Be charitable, not silent!