by Father Mark Goldasich
Could I ask a favor from everyone receiving this Leaven? Please go to page 11, read the article and cut out the photo there. Then, post that photo on your refrigerator, bathroom mirror or any place you’ll see it every day.
I scrapped the column I was originally writing for this issue after seeing that photo. The desperation on the people’s faces — the absolute horror of what they’re enduring — shook me.
That message was driven home in an Aug. 5 post on X from the U.N. Children’s Fund (UNICEF): “Death by bombardments. Death by malnutrition and starvation. Death by lack of aid and vital services. In Gaza, an average of 28 children a day — the size of a classroom — have been killed. Gaza’s children need food, water, medicine and protection. More than anything, they need a ceasefire, NOW.”
For the moment, let’s set aside all the politics. Just look at the photo and let it put real faces to the statistics. How does it make you feel? I see myself as the rich man in last Sunday’s Gospel. Having a bountiful harvest and no room to store it all, he never once thinks to share with others, especially those in need. No, he’ll be selfish, build larger barns and “rest, eat, drink and be merry.”
In my homily last weekend, I commented that sometimes when an Amazon package is delivered to my home, it’s like Christmas. Why? Because I can’t remember what I ordered, so opening the box is a surprise. What that tells me is that I honestly didn’t need what was ordered; I only wanted it. Wow, I don’t want to end up like that rich “fool.”
A year ago, I read these haunting words from Jonathan F. Sullivan in the July- September issue of the Living Faith periodical: “My stuff is a statement that I would rather spend money on myself than for the benefit of the poor and marginalized. It anchors me in place and weighs me down.”
Apparently, I have a hard time changing and need to hear — over and over — Jesus’ admonishment: “Take care to guard against all greed.”
I suspect many of us are in the same boat. Rather than become depressed about the immensity of the problem in Gaza, though, let’s do something about it. The box on page 11 has information on how to support Catholic Relief Services (CRS). Granted, money is often tight, especially now with school starting, but explore creative ways to generate funds:
• Go without one meal a week. Set up a jar to collect the cost of that meal and donate to CRS.
• When at a sporting event or the movies, skip the concessions — just once — and donate to CRS.
• Buy one less outfit or accessory when shopping for school clothes and donate to CRS.
• When dining out, commit to sending an equal amount of your bill to CRS.
• Instead of immediately ordering items online, pop them on your wish list and visit them a few days later. Often, these “wants” will disappear. Donate what you would have spent to CRS.
• Hold a garage sale and earmark all the proceeds for CRS.
• If you throw away food, calculate the cost of what’s going into the trash and send that amount to, yes, CRS.
Matthew Good, a Canadian singer and songwriter, says: “Actions speak louder than words, but sometimes inaction speaks louder than both of them.”
Pope Francis called that a spirit of “indifference” to the sufferings of people.
Let’s resolve not to be as foolish as that rich man but instead hear — and answer — the cries of the poor, especially those in Gaza, and become rich in what matters to God.
