‘CHARITY WITHOUT HOOK’ (6TH SUNDAY CATECHESIS (B)

Rev. Fr. David Okolie

Dearest friends, you and I know that CHARITY is a Christian virtue that is most enduring. Thus, the Scriptures affirm: “But for now, these three last forever: faith, hope, and charity. And the greatest of these is CHARITY” (cf. 1 Cor 13:13).

“CHARITY is a supernatural gift of God by which we love God above all things and our neighbour as ourselves for God’s sake” (cf. CCD n. 169).

Jesus Christ himself said that the Last Judgement would be based on CHARITY, thus: “when I was hungry, you gave me food…” (cf. Matt 25: 35-46). Of course, Jesus was referring to Charity without Hook.

👉🏼CHARITY loses its meaning when it carries a HOOK. This hook has to do with SELFISH INTEREST. St. Paul advises us against such selfish interest when he affirms thus: “Whatever you do at all, do it for the glory of God… just as I try to be helpful to everyone at all times, NOT anxious for MY OWN ADVANTAGE but for the advantage of everybody else…” (cf. 1 Cor 10:31-11:1). However, when Charity carries a HOOK, the gesture would no longer be truly called charity but EXPLOITATION. Unfortunately, we see a number of such situation in our world today, whereby a man is only ready to sponsor the education of a lady provided the lady is ready to always submit to his SEXUAL DESIRE (Lust); also a situation whereby a rich country is ready to help a poor country on the ground that the poor country would accept and legalize IMMORAL ACTS like Abortion, Same-sex acts, etc. The above is quite unfortunate!

We pray the Blessed Virgin Mary to always support us with her powerful intercession. Amen🙏🏼

(cf. CATECHESIS ‘NKUZI NKE OKWUKWE’ FOR THE 6TH SUNDAY IN THE ORDINARY TIME (B);
READINGS: R1: Lev 13:1-2.44-46, R2: 1 Cor 10:31-11:1, Gosp. Mk 1:40-45)

Happy Sunday and remain blessed!