Message for Overseas Aid Sunday 2006

"Whoever Loves God Must Also Love His Brother" (1Jn 4:21)

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

1. Love is the tie which unites human beings with God, the world and other people. True Christians are those who live in deep unity with God, have communion of love with their neighbors and respect the order of creation. Therefore, love and faith for God must manifest themselves through acts of sharing, accompanied by love for neighbors and all creation. Jesus, who is Love, continues to offer His body and blood to us as food and drink. For us, who are nourished by His body and blood and find the strength to live in Him, sharing of love should be our daily life, not a special occasion or event.

2. What we need most is to share love. If we cannot do this, human life will be extinguished and die. Children cannot grow and mature without sufficient love. Likewise, elders may easily become weak and die if they cannot share love with friends or relatives. Love invites us to open our minds and our hearts to our neighbors. In this light, let us look at the world in which we are living.

The three richest individuals in the world have assets that exceed the combined gross domestic product of the 49 least developed countries whose combined population is 600 million people. There are 50 countries where the average income of the people is much lower now than it was ten years ago; in 60 countries, it is lower than it was twenty years ago. The richest fifth of the world's people consumes 86 percent of all goods, while the poorest fifth consumes just 1.3 percent. The world now produces enough food to feed everyone living; however, 40 percent of edible grain is used as livestock feed in richer countries, while more than one billion people are in hunger. Every day 24,000 people are dying of hunger and malnutrition in the world. In poor countries, children are born underweight and 6 million children are dying annually before they reach the age of five. Sadly, in addition, many people who live in poor living conditions have no means to escape unpredictable natural disasters, so they are the most victimized by disasters.

3. Even at this moment, many people are crying for our help. There are many neighbors who have lost their place of living and are wandering or dying because of wars, drought, diseases, and other sorts of disasters. As an official relief organization of the Catholic Church, Caritas Internationalis, in collaboration with its 162 member organizations working in 201 countries and territories, has made efforts for about 50 years to carry out initiatives of relief, welfare, and development in underdeveloped countries. Caritas Corea also takes part in this effort; to help the poor and starving people in the world, it has sent a total of 13 billion won (US $13 million) to 382 projects in the last 12 years (1993-2004), amounting to one billion won a year. However, considering the number of Catholics in Korea (about 4 million), this amounts to only 250 won a year per individual Catholic. In poorer countries, one thousand won can keep a family alive for a day, 10 thousand won can provide a child with two meals a day for one month, and 100 thousand won can buy grain for a family of six for six months.

The parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Lk 16:19-31) makes us sad to know that Lazarus would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man's table but he could not have even a scrap. Material goods become more worthy when they are used for the Kingdom of God and our neighbors. Those who have goods must not neglect their needy brothers. How can such a neglectful person seek the love of God and expect to reside in that love? "If anyone says, 'I love God,' but hates his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen" (1Jn 4:20).

Last year, thanks to the generous help of the faithful, we were able to give aid to the victims of the tsunami in Asia, to our North Korean brethren, and to those afflicted by the earthquake in Pakistan. I deeply appreciate your help. Caritas Corea, in the name of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea, will make every effort to help needy neighbors in other countries, because it is beyond the capacity of any single individual. I call for your generous sharing of love so that we can do our utmost to promote the common good and help our neighbors.

"Whoever Loves God Must Also Love His Brother" (1Jn 4:21).

February 5, 2006

+ Lazzaro You Heung-sik

President

Committee for "Caritas Corea"

of the CBCK