Helping Hands

One of the greatest gifts a Christian receives is the opportunity to help another person. It might be financial help or just lending a helping hand when things get difficult. God is always ‘there’ when we need Him, so it is only natural that we offer the same love to others.

At that time, Jesus called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every infirmity.  These twelve Jesus sent out, charging them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  And preach as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’  Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons.  You received without paying, give without pay.” Matthew 10.1, 5-8

This reading is chosen by the Church in honor of the Commemoration of Saints Cosmas and Damian, the Unmercenraries. The tradition of being an unmercenary in the Church is only possible because of invitations from God to care for others, freely.

We get so wrapped up in reciprocity in our society, we forget how much God has blessed us without expecting anything in return, except faith. What makes God so different is that He blesses us even when we refuse to believe.

The next time you encounter someone who needs help, remember how God has helped you. If you are thanked after by the person you helped, deflect the praise to God. “Thank God He has given me the chance to help!” You don’t need anything from the person.

When we give God credit even for our time to help, we are following His invitation to give without pay. He is not saying that we cannot make a living. Saint Paul says, “If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.” (2^nd Thessalonians 3.10) There are many ways to ‘give’.

If the person you helped wants to give something, suggest they give to the Church as thanks to God. If the person insists, it is not a sin to accept the gift, so long as the gift is a gift. You can always use it to help someone else or give it to the Church yourself.

Gifts are not payment. Gifts should never be expected. Getting paid means, you worked out of obligation. Helping should never be out of obligation, as a Christian.