One of the most important defects of contemporary
society is falsehood. It is made manifest in various forms, especially in the
usual form of lying in general conversation and in the form of deceit in
business life. It is extremely dangerous to view lightly this sin which is now
encountered everywhere. It is considered quite usual to confirm something
whether or not one knows it to be true; to say, "We will not be home"
to avoid a guest or caller; to claim to be ill, while being healthy, etc. (to
this we must add false "compliments," flattery, praise, etc.). People
forget that falsehood is from the devil, of whom
Christ the Savior said, "He is a liar and the father of lies."
Thus, every liar is a co-worker and device of the devil. Already in the Old
Testament we are told, "False lips are an abomination before the
Lord..."
Especially dangerous are such types of falsehood
as gossip and slander. Everyone knows what gossip is - a net of seduction and
falsehood, woven by the devil, which entangles and darkens the good
relationship of people among themselves. This gossip - the child of falsehood
and empty headedness - has become the favorite attribute of almost all
conversation. Still worse and more dire is slander,
that is, a conscious falsehood against a person with the aim of harming him.
This type of falsehood is singularly devilish, for the very word
"devil" means "slander."
When our Lord Jesus Christ reproached the scribes
and Pharisees, He usually called them hypocrites, by this indicating that dire
form of falsehood - hypocrisy - with which these so called leaders of the people
were filled. The Pharisees were outwardly pretended saints, but in their hearts
and souls, they were malicious haters of truth and good. For this reason, the
Lord likened them to finely finished coffins which are beautiful on the
outside, but within are full of dead bones and corruption ... The vice of
hypocrisy is wide spread even now in the form of pretending and desiring to
seem to be what one is not - not to be, but to seem. A Christian
strives, of course, not to seem, but to be good. This is not easy,
and often passes almost unnoticed by anyone, except for the, All-seeing
God. And many - especially among the youth - try to seem more
clever, more beautiful, more gifted, more developed and more charitable
than they are in reality From this, they obtain that mortal deceit and
insincerity, which now so often destroys people and their happiness, which is
clearly based on falsehood and not on truth.
We have already mentioned that the basis of a
Christian's relationship with his neighbor is love - and thus, he strives to do
good to and for them. One who does not do good is not
a Christian. And this good, this love towards neighbors must definitely be
expressed in works of mercy and good-will towards everyone. It is not without
reason that the Savior commanded us to love not only those who love us, but
also those who hate us. Moreover, in His conversation about the Dread Judgment,
He clearly indicated what it is that will be asked of us first above all at the
Judgment. Neither wealth, nor glory, nor education will have any significance
there. The principle of the Dread Judgment will be the question, terrible and
fateful for egoists and self-lovers: "How did you serve your
neighbors?" Christ enumerates six particular forms of physical help. In
His love, compassion, and mercy, He identifies Himself with every unfortunate
person and with all those in need of help: "I was hungry and you fed Me; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was naked and you
clothed Me; I was ill and you comforted Me; I was in prison and you visited
Me." And St. John Chrysostom pointedly says, "This image of love
is manifold and this command is wide." Indeed, the command concerning
mercy encompasses the entirety of man's life, and many times the Lord revealed
to His saints that deeds of mercy and compassion cover a person's heaviest
sins.
Of course, Christian help is not exhausted by
deeds of physical help. Equally, there is spiritual help - which is often
immeasurably more important and valuable. Sometimes, for a despondent person, a
simple word of sincere compassion, comfort and understanding are dearer than
any material support. Who would argue against the fact that one cannot value,
in terms of money, the service of saving a person by means of sincere
compassion and gentle words from, for example, the vice of drunkenness or the
sin of suicide. The Apostle James wrote concerning
such precious spiritual help, "He who converts the sinner from the
error of his way shall save a soul from death (both the sinner's and his own)
and will cover a multitude of sins" (Js. 5:20).
In concluding these words about the duty of
charity to neighbors, let us view the difference between personal charity and
social charity. Examples of the first are the giving of alms to a blind person
or to a beggar, adopting poor orphans, etc. Examples of the second are founding
charitable societies, societies to aid education, refuges for children, the ill
or the aged, etc. Without a doubt, charity is a pre-eminent virtue as our Lord
made clear in the Gospel. Such personal help can create a highly Christian
relationship of participation, gratitude and mutual love. This kind of direct
charity can, however, run into people who misuse it by constantly begging or
employing deceit and dishonorableness.
This does not occur in a social charity which is
not administered by chance, but is planned and organized, bringing many
substantial benefits. Of course, in this form of charity, there are far fewer
of those vital bonds of personal love and trust such as are formed in cases of
personal help; but then, each person who gives a donation here, knows that he
is participating in a vital, Christian way in something truly serious and
valuable.
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