network of charity

1 Timothy 3:14-16; Psalm 11 How great are the works of the Lord; Luke 7:31-35

Pope Benedict in his latest encyclical to the world informs us that "charity is loved received and love given...Love comes down to us from the Son.  It is creative love, through which we have our being; it is redemptive love, through which we are recreated...As objects of God's love, men and women become subjects of charity, they are called to make themselves instruments of grace, so as to pour forth God's charity and to weave networks of charity."

What does it mean to be a subject of charity?  It means we must with great humility and great courage let charity be the rule that guides our life, our words, our actions.   The king that leads the kingdom has charity as his predominate name,"Love one another as I have loved you."

As we celebrate the memorial of the martyrdoms of Cornelius and Cyprian we ponder this reality.  They were subjects of charity and by their witness they wove networks of charity that is invoked every time we remember the life they lived.

The communion of saints is a network of charity that transcends time and place.  This network is always with us, praying for us, guiding us by their example, establishing the rule of life. 

St Cyprian tells us, "by that shared loved which binds us closely together, we are doing all we can to exhort our congregation, to give ourselves unceasingly to fasting, vigils, and prayers in common.  These are the heavenly prayers which gives us strength to stand firm and endure; they are the spiritual defenses, the God-given armaments that protect us...by the love we share we shall thus relieve the strain of these great trials."

Networking charity to bring about the kingdom in reality, standing firm in truth and love, is the cause of martyrdom.

Today we celebrate the beginning of the journey of the Mayflower by the pilgrims.  On Sept 16, 1620 the Mayflower left London for the new land in hopes of religious freedom and a  new life. 

66 days later they landed in Cape Cod and a year later they gathered to give thanks to God, a day of thanksgiving, we continually celebrate in this country. 

Every thanksgiving beings with a journey, a risk, a hope for something more.