We each have a vocation, a true calling, to holiness! And as our genuine charity grows, we grow in holiness and in hope.

Moving beyond our obligation to love God with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength; we also have the command to “…love your neighbor as yourself.” Fulfilling that obligation to love our neighbor is where it gets complicated. Practical questions of how and where we are to love our neighbors depends, in part, upon our own particular state of life and our unique traits and circumstances.

An extroverted and self-confident person may be able to do charitable acts that some others find quite difficult. And that extrovert might be ill-suited to a particular charitable work in a very low energy setting. We each must embrace and practice various virtues, including faith and charity, where we are and in connection with the opportunities to do charity which we find.

We use our natural talents to bring God’s name and God’s love to others. If we do not find opportunities for charitable acts, perhaps we could look more deeply at our surroundings, or even ask around. Your pastor might have a suggestion or two.

A consequence of charitable action is the removal of barriers between people. It brings a little bit of peace, and a semblance of justice, to both the recipient of the charity and the one who does the charitable act. Recall that peace is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Dig a little more deeply; Saint Paul tells us: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Gal 5:22-23).

The Holy Spirit is active in empowering our charitable works; the Spirit moves us into action. But the Spirit also touches the minds and hearts of those whom we serve, bringing them peace, joy, and the other fruits of the Spirit.

Recall the metaphor of a single pebble dropped in the middle of a peaceful and undisturbed pond. Waves ripple out from the point of impact. Similarly, our acts of charity have a ripple effect upon others, both on an interpersonal level and on a spiritual level. And we will not know the extent to which our charity impacts others, at least in this life. Yet we know that a simple act of love has positive effects on others.

But our world today in not a quiet, undisturbed pond. It is more like the vast ocean with turbulent winds and waves. Only God can measure the impact of our charity and our works of justice.

Since the time of Pope John XXIII, the Church has been quite direct in addressing interplay of truth, peace, justice, and love. Documents speak of peace as being founded on truth, built on justice, and animated by love. Of course, many acts of charity are also works of peace or justice. A simple example, providing food for the hungry is an act of charity, but it may serve to correct an imbalance in wealth resulting from injustice. Or it may be an action of building peace in that it reduces an impulse towards violence undertaken to negate that same injustice.

Although individually we do not have the power to shape world affairs, we can help shape the corner of the world where we live. Our personal acts of charity and justice touch the hearts of those whom we directly serve, as well as others indirectly impacted by our acts. And if we can heighten awareness of our call to charity, it will have an impact on our community as a whole through the ripple effect described above.

More broadly, there are approximately 1.5 billion Catholics in this world. We represent about 50% of all Christians — roughly 3 billion Christians in the world today. Just imagine the impact if in the next 24 hours, each of those 3 billion Christians undertook one act of charity, performed in an effort to bring love and the peace of Christ into the world. Imagine the power unleashed on humanity. Now repeat that act or some other act daily.

Back to reality, let’s start those acts of charity and justice every day right here in Vermont. If we individually commit to doing these acts of charity and justice, they will grow and draw others into the effort. So begin today! And grow in charity, in holiness, and in hope.