Quinquagesima 2010

In the Epistle reading for today St. Paul teaches us about the true nature of that theological virtue of charity. Of course modern people tend to think of benevolence or philanthropy when hearing this word. Charity tends to be associated with material giving that is above and beyond what the government does. But the word charity comes to us from the Latin caritas, which, in the Christian context, has come to mean affection, love and esteem. And even prior to the Christianization of the word, the word in Latin meant something a bit different. It referred to that which was dear, costly, expensive or precious.

To the men and women of Jesus’ time, the word would have referred to something that was hard to come by, and yet when attained, to be treasured and valued above many other things. Caritas was a virtue of supreme importance to early Christians, for its perfect expression was found in the life and mission of Jesus Christ. Caritas would come to mean that love and mercy of God that was embodied in the activity of the Incarnation. Caritas would be revealed to men through Jesus as the costly love, the precious mercy, the dear sacrifice that God would make for man, in order to reveal the Father’s desire for all men’s salvation.

For St. Paul, caritas or charity is a virtue that is perfectly expressed in the life of Jesus and is then promised to men as that habit which ought to move and define each Christian’s spiritual journey. Without charity, our conversation is meaningless noise and pointless chatter. Without charity, all gifts of knowledge, prophesy, and understanding fall on deaf ears, because they are not communicated to others with love and in love. Without charity, good deeds, alms’ giving, donations, etc. are expressions of the self-promotion: i.e. are “nothing.”

The charity of the Father, expressed through the Son, and ours through the Spirit suffers much and is kind to others. It is not green with envy and jealousy. It is not driven by an undeveloped, immature adolescent need to puff itself up or try to convince others that it is knowledgeable or important when it is not. It does not gossip or think evil of others. It does not rejoice in others’ sufferings or failings. It bears others burdens and rejoices in the truth.

Charity is essential for salvation. It is God’s to give. He offers to impart it to us through Jesus and by the Spirit. If we will not receive it, we will not enter into his everlasting satisfying presence. Faith and hope will fade away; they are temporary virtues that will be replaced by knowledge and friendship with God. But charity is the virtue that moves all worlds from the center of reality, which is God’s heart. Charity is a necessary means to our end. If we do not put it on, we shall live in a world bereft of its presence. And that is called Hell.

© W.J. Martin†