"Whoever loves God must also love his brother" 
(1Jn 4:21)

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
1. Today people are living in a global village. In this narrowed world, however, the wave of globalization has brought about the polarization of wealth in the logic of economic neo-liberalism. Even though every area of daily life enjoys abundance and wellbeing, many people are still suffering material and spiritual poverty. According to statistics published by the UN, one out of six people in the total world population suffers "absolute poverty" (i.e. living on less than one dollar a day) and eight million people are dying of poverty each year.
2. The Catholic Church in Korea designated the third Sunday of Advent as Caritas Sunday. The Advent season is the time of grace when we reflect on the mystery of the Incarnation of God who came into the world to save humanity.  We reflect on our life and prepare ourselves for the second coming of the Savior.
Jesus said, "Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me" (Mt 25:40). St. John also said in his letter that love for neighbors is the way to encounter God and that we cannot see God if we close our eyes to our neighbors (Cf. 1Jn 4:20). Therefore, during the Advent season, we can meet the Lord above all through concrete acts of charity.
Jesus showed the mercy of God equally to sinners who are marginalized and criticized in society and to the materially poor as well. Jesus accepted all as children of God in need of the divine mercy and salvation, including the chief tax collector Zacchaeus, the woman caught in the very act of adultery, the crippled, the lame and the blind who were discriminated against in society, lepers who were regarded as suffering punishment from above, and those who had an unclean spirit. Therefore, the Christian charity is to follow Jesus and proclaim and practice the unconditional love and mercy of God to neighbors afflicted with all forms of suffering. Jesus said, "All will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (Jn 13:35). We should let all people experience the love and mercy of God through our acts of charity or sharing of love and should invite them to salvation.
3. Charitable work essentially refers to the work that expresses love to neighbors. For the Church, the spouse of Jesus, the practice of love is one of the reasons for being. Therefore, charitable work is the duty and at the same time the inalienable right of the Church. To share the mercy and love of God with poor neighbors does not mean giving them what is left over. Pope St. Gregory the Great said, "When we attend to the needs of those in want, we give them what is theirs, not ours. More than performing works of mercy, we are paying a debt of justice" (Cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, n.2446). The Second Vatican Council also stresses that the giving of what is due in justice must not be represented as the offering of a charitable gift (Cf. Apostolicam Actuositatem, n.8). It also suggests the correct attitude of charity, "It is altogether necessary that one should consider in one's neighbor the image of God in which he has been created, and also Christ the Lord to Whom is really offered whatever is given to a needy person. It is imperative also that the freedom and dignity of the person being helped be respected with the utmost consideration" (Cf. ibid.).
4. As we see in the parable of the Good Samaritan (Cf. Lk 10:29-37), charity and love of neighbor demand from us a universal love for all those poor whom we happen to meet. If we turn our eyes to our neighbors, we can meet many brothers and sisters who need our love, concern and help. In them we should recognize the face of Jesus and manifest the love of God by the concrete practice of love.
Korea was one of the poorest countries in the world after the Korean War. However, it is now marching into the ranks of advanced countries, changing from a receiving country to a giving country. However, we still find many poor neighbors who lack the necessities of life or basic services, such as housing, medical care, education, food, and clothing, and who suffer from illnesses. In particular, our North Korean brethren face chronic economic difficulties and also a serious food shortage caused by the floods this summer.
The Advent season is the time to prepare ourselves to welcome our Lord with joy. The Lord came to us as a lowly and weak infant. Let us welcome and love the coming Lord by loving our neighbors who need our help most.
"Whoever loves God must also love his brother" (1Jn 4:21).

December 16, 2007
On the 24th Caritas Sunday

+ Lazzaro You Heung-sik
Bishop of Daejeon
President
Committee for "Caritas Corea" of the CBCK