By Beth Zarate, President & CEO of Catholic Charities West Virginia
As an Army Brat, I was raised in the military and lived all over the country, moving every three years. I can remember showing up to a new military base and the first thing my Mom would ask was, “Where is the Catholic church?” Every military base meant a new church and the undeniable comfort and familiarity of the Catholic liturgy. Everything in my life would be in upheaval, but I could count on Sunday morning, going to Mass, and feeling I was at home, at the dining table of my Lord. “Blessed is the one who will dine in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 14:15) Then there was Sunday brunch with all my favorite foods: homemade hot rolls with ham and eggs, followed by the weekly splurge at the ice cream truck! My mom invited many to our Sunday table; the army soldier with no family in the area, the missionary priest visiting our military base, and the lonely mom with 5 children whose husband was deployed. (My mom understood it is the guest list, not the menu, that matters.)
I was taught the Eucharist was the real presence of Jesus Christ, the memorial of Christ’s passion and resurrection, the breaking of the bread from the last supper, holy sacrifice, and Holy Communion – it was a gospel event. For me, a reminder to love all and put my love into action. Mother Teresa said it beautifully: “Love is a one-way street — it always moves away from self in the direction of the others.”
“I was hungry, you gave me to eat, I was naked, you clothed me, I was homeless, you took me in.” Hunger is not only for a meal, hunger is for love, to be loved, to be wanted. Clothing not only for comfort but for dignity and acceptance. Home not only for shelter but to be welcomed and valued.
I remember being at a busy Macy’s department store on Christmas Eve. Bad plan, I know! I had put off getting a gift for my father-in-law and was in the fragrance area looking for a cologne to buy him. It was crazy busy, people everywhere frantic to make last minutes purchases. The young man behind the counter, was maybe 17, and he was sweating profusely trying to handle the mania. I recall the moment I saw the young man stop what he was doing, straighten up, and look at a customer laboriously approaching the counter. She was elderly, walking with a limp, and her face drooped on one side as if she had had a stroke. That compassionate young man treated her as if she was the “only” person in the store, speaking with her slowly and kindly walking her through her purchase. I remember at the time thinking, “WOW, now that is what ‘fully present’ looks like”.
As Jesus is fully present to us in the Eucharist, we must be fully present to others.
Pope Benedict XVI said, “Jesus’ hour is the hour in which love triumphs and we share his hour if we allow ourselves, through the celebration of the Eucharist, to be drawn into that process of transformation that the Lord intends to bring about” to adopt his attitude of love. This is an extreme love, free and unconditional, a concern for others, especially those in need.
At Catholic Charities every day we serve people who are struggling and in need of care. Our desire is to be the support that keeps their foundation from crumbling…. providing help and hope. We offer food, utility/rent payments, education, transportation, childcare etc., often hearing “I was so grateful to have someone show they cared for me.” Frequently neighbors express more gratitude to us for how they felt than for what they received. It is true; many of our neighbors across our state feel anxious, alone, not cared for.
How do we take our Eucharistic call to love and put it into action?
I am a follower of Mother Teresa who said, “Do small things, with great love.” Of Jesus when he told Peter to get out of the boat – we too are called to “get out of the boat!” The media messages call us to independence and self-reliance, but the reality is as a faith community we all share the role in protecting, supporting and encouraging one another. Imagine the family who once a month on their grocery trip has each child pick out one toiletry to be donated, or the young couple who delivers a meal to their elderly neighbor. The congregation that intentionally identifies foster families within their parish and connects them with families who can help with sports fees and/or birthday parties. The college student who volunteers his time to read with/tutor struggling students or the senior who commits one hour a week to volunteer at a Catholic Charities office. The man who helps his refugee neighbors learn how to drive. The neighbor who mucks and cleans houses ravaged by flooding. The shut-in who prays for and sends cards of encouragement to those in recovery from addiction. The business woman who regularly pays for the meals of the family behind her in the drive thru, leaves a generous tip for her hotel maid or donates at the dentist office for someone behind on payment. Across the state our teams make “Mathew 25 bags” for people who are homeless or struggling — a simple but powerful ministry, always seeking hands and donations.
Receiving the Eucharist on Sunday is a gift from a loving God; it is “the source and summit of the Christian Life.” Our Eucharistic call is to serve, to listen to our hearts and give where we are led to give. We are called to break bread with the stranger on the journey, whoever that stranger may be. To bring the church with us everywhere we go.
Looking for ways to serve? Please contact:
Bill Hagy bhagy@ccwva.org at Catholic Charities, Parish Outreach Specialist, or Kathy Barton kbarton@dwc.org at the DWC, Director of Social Ministries.