What is the Role of Charity in Christian Life?
Charity, or caritas in Latin, is the theological virtue that enables us to love God above all things and to love our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God. It is the greatest of the three theological virtues (faith, hope, and charity) and is the foundation of all Christian morality. Charity is not just a feeling or emotion, but is a choice and commitment to love that is expressed through actions and service to others.
The role of charity in Christian life is central and fundamental. Jesus Himself identified love as the greatest commandment, saying, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself' (Matthew 22:37-39). Charity is the virtue that enables us to fulfill these commandments and to live as true disciples of Christ.
The Biblical Foundation of Charity
The Bible provides a rich foundation for understanding the role of charity in Christian life. In the Old Testament, we see God's love for His people and His call for them to love one another. The Book of Deuteronomy emphasizes the importance of loving God with all one's heart and soul (Deuteronomy 6:5), and the prophets frequently call for justice and care for the poor and vulnerable.
In the New Testament, Jesus makes charity the center of His teaching. He not only commands us to love God and neighbor, but He also shows us what this love looks like through His own life and ministry. Jesus healed the sick, fed the hungry, welcomed the outcast, and ultimately gave His life for us on the cross. The Apostle Paul also emphasizes the importance of charity, writing that 'faith, hope, and charity abide, these three; but the greatest of these is charity' (1 Corinthians 13:13).
Charity as a Theological Virtue
Charity is one of the three theological virtues, along with faith and hope. These virtues are called 'theological' because they are given to us by God and have God as their object. Charity is the virtue that enables us to love God for His own sake and to love our neighbor for the love of God. It is a supernatural gift that transforms our natural capacity for love and elevates it to a divine level.
As a theological virtue, charity is not something we can achieve on our own, but is a gift from God that we must cooperate with and nurture. We receive charity through baptism and the other sacraments, and we grow in charity through prayer, the sacraments, and acts of love and service. Charity is the virtue that perfects all other virtues and gives them their true meaning and purpose.
Charity vs. Natural Love
Charity is different from natural love or affection. Natural love is based on feelings, emotions, and natural attractions. It can be good and important, but it is limited and can be inconsistent. Charity, on the other hand, is a supernatural love that is based on the will and is directed by reason and faith. It is not dependent on feelings or emotions, but is a choice to love that is made in freedom.
Charity enables us to love even when it is difficult or when we don't feel like it. It enables us to love our enemies, to forgive those who have hurt us, and to serve others even when it is inconvenient or costly. Charity transforms our natural love and makes it more stable, consistent, and selfless. It enables us to love as God loves, with a love that is unconditional and sacrificial.
Charity in Action: The Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy
Charity is expressed through concrete actions, particularly through the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. The corporal works of mercy are acts of charity that address the physical needs of others: feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, sheltering the homeless, visiting the sick, visiting the imprisoned, and burying the dead.
The spiritual works of mercy are acts of charity that address the spiritual needs of others: instructing the ignorant, counseling the doubtful, admonishing sinners, bearing wrongs patiently, forgiving offenses willingly, comforting the afflicted, and praying for the living and the dead. These works of mercy are practical ways to live out charity in daily life and to serve Christ in our neighbor.
Charity in the Family
The family is the first and most important school of charity. It is in the family that we first learn to love and to be loved. The family is where we learn to put others before ourselves, to forgive and be forgiven, and to serve one another with love. The family is also where we learn to love God and to see God's love reflected in the love of our parents and siblings.
Charity in the family means loving each family member with patience, kindness, and selflessness. It means putting the needs of others before our own, forgiving quickly and completely, and serving one another with joy. It also means creating a home where God is loved and worshiped, where prayer is a regular part of life, and where the values of the Gospel are lived out daily.
Charity in the Community
Charity extends beyond the family to the broader community. As Christians, we are called to love and serve all people, especially those who are poor, vulnerable, or in need. This includes our neighbors, coworkers, classmates, and even strangers. Charity in the community means being aware of the needs of others and responding to those needs with love and generosity.
Charity in the community can take many forms: volunteering at a soup kitchen, visiting the elderly, helping a neighbor in need, participating in parish ministries, supporting charitable organizations, or simply being kind and respectful to everyone we meet. The key is to see Christ in every person and to serve them as we would serve Christ Himself.
Charity and Social Justice
Charity is closely connected to social justice. While charity addresses immediate needs and provides direct assistance to individuals, social justice works to address the root causes of poverty, inequality, and injustice. Both are necessary and complementary. Charity without social justice can be paternalistic and can fail to address the underlying problems that cause suffering.
Social justice without charity can be cold and impersonal. True Christian love requires both: direct acts of charity to help those in immediate need, and work for social justice to create a more just and equitable society. This includes working for fair wages, affordable housing, quality education, healthcare for all, and other policies that promote human dignity and the common good.
Charity and Prayer
Charity is nourished and strengthened through prayer. Prayer is essential for growing in charity because it deepens our relationship with God and helps us to see others as God sees them. Through prayer, we come to know God's love more deeply and are better able to share that love with others.
Prayer also helps us to recognize our own need for God's mercy and forgiveness, which makes us more compassionate and forgiving toward others. When we pray for others, we grow in love for them and are more motivated to serve them. Prayer also gives us the strength and grace we need to love others, especially when it is difficult.
Charity and the Eucharist
The Eucharist is the source and summit of charity. In the Eucharist, we receive the Body and Blood of Christ, who is love incarnate. The Eucharist nourishes our charity and enables us to love as Christ loves. When we receive the Eucharist, we are united with Christ and with all the members of His Body, the Church.
The Eucharist also calls us to live out charity in our daily lives. As we receive Christ's love in the Eucharist, we are called to share that love with others. The Eucharist is not just a private devotion, but is a call to mission and service. It sends us forth to be Christ's love in the world.
Conclusion: Living Charity in Daily Life
Charity is not just an ideal or a theory, but is a way of life that must be practiced daily. It requires constant effort, prayer, and the grace of God. Charity is expressed in small acts of kindness and service, in patience and forgiveness, in generosity and selflessness. It is expressed in how we treat our family members, our coworkers, our neighbors, and even strangers.
The role of charity in Christian life is to transform us into the image of Christ and to enable us to love as He loves. It is the virtue that makes us truly human and truly Christian. Through charity, we participate in God's love and become instruments of that love in the world. Charity is the greatest of all virtues because it is the virtue that most closely resembles God, who is love itself.