The Readings 16th Wednesday after Pentecost (20 Sep 23)
IC XC
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NI KA
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Galatians 6:10
FOR DIACONAL Formation we are studying Catholic Social Teaching, focusing on the Encyclicals of Leo XIII and successive Popes, and also on the Catechism and the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church. This latter document, available free on line as was as in a printed version for rather more than free, is a very clear outlay of the principles of the Church’s social teaching. But, to be clear, it’s not a plan of action. It’s not an integralist manifesto. It’s the boundaries within which a well-formed member of the Catholic Church should bring their conscience and, having thus formed their conscience, they can make decisions in day-to-day situations.
At the same time I’ve been binging my way through two years worth of a podcast on the Desert Fathers, reading a text called the Evergetinos which is older than the better known Philokalia, but has only just been translated into English in its entirety. The podcast, available here, is going through the text page by page. Although they come out with a new episode every week, I’m trying really hard to catch up. (The current episode is on Hypothesis XLV and I’m currently in the middle of Hypothesis XX, having started about 4 weeks ago. As I said, I’m binging. I hope to catch up around LX.) Anyway…
In the middle of one of the conversations about the Fathers, there was a cautionary tale about a brother who asked for help – he had run out of food. Then he asked for help again. And again. And finally the Elder in the story said to the Monk who was feeding him, “Do not feed him any more. For now he is no longer dependent on God, but on you.” (I forgot which episode b/c I am binging right through.)
It’s tempting to read that in the light of current politics around “welfare mothers” and “drug tents” and “homeless criminals”. Especially since they don’t have a history of “depending on God” it seems strange to draw him into this conversation at all. And Paul does say, “do good” especially to those in “the household of faith.” So, what are we to do? And I’m wrestling with this because the Church can give out thousands of dollars a month in charity to people in our parish and city simply because they ask for it. The cycles of homelessness and drug addiction are linked but while, for some, burning through their money on drugs results in eviction, for most being homeless exposes them to drugs as a way to numb the pain.
Stories of San Franciscans losing their homes to nefarious landlords trying to court Techies who could afford thousands of dollars to rent a closet are not as common as people who make bad choices. The former can easily get media attention. The latter only rarely so. We are very invested in our narratives about what causes homelessness. San Francisco is also invested in addressing drugs with psychobabble called “harm reduction” which is just “harm induction”. If we make it safe for you to do drugs, painless and guilt free, who would be surprise to find more people doing more drugs? No one, actually. No one is surprised. But that’s what’s happening.
So, how to help? How to do good?
This is something we wrestle with every day at work. We’re not a state or city “program” so we’re not obligated to, for example, pay the same amount to everyone every month for a regular cycle, etc. What we are called to do by the Gospel is “work for the good of all” where “work” includes prayer, social support, fellowship, counselling, food, pregancy referals, and, yes, financial aid. But “good” is not a fiscal handout. Good is salvation – drawing someone to union with God, to live up to their full dignity as a human being in God’s plan: which includes heaven, yes, but also here. I’m not venerating the icon of God if I just give you money to get you to go away. Neither am I doing so if I say “God bless you, be at peace” and send you away hungry.
Our society uses money to value your worth as a cog in that society. Yet, money is also the way we buy food. How do we give you food without locking you into a cog position somewhere?
And we are also the face of the Church in this, which is the action of Christ. So how we say no is just as important as how we say yes. Both our yes and our no must be directed to the good – that is the eternal salvation – of the person in front of us. How do we elevate them to be more fully the living image of God. Sometimes the answer is not just a $50 giftcard to the grocery store or paying for a night in a hostel to keep them out of the shlter system.
The Gospel for tomorrow is the scene of Jesus temptation. Everything offered to our Lord by the Evil One is, in fact, something the world says we need: food, fame, safety and security. Everything offered is something for which, to some extent, we are expected – as people of faith – to rely on God. And so, we are the Church, and we are the face of God for them, the hand of God for them. But also, God would not leave them in addiction and helplessness.
This is not a post about tomorrow’s readings with all the answers. Only questions.
Orthoparadoxy 
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