St. Pius X Roman Catholic Parish

Pope Benedict XVI wrote his first encyclical as Pope, called Deus Caritas Est (God is Love) in 2005. It is a profound reflection on the nature of love—both divine and human—and the Church’s mission of charity. Tonight, we are here to celebrate and acknowledge the volunteers and benefactors who live out day to day in our parish the fundamentals of the encyclical.

As I read to you at the beginning of the Mass, there are plenty of volunteers who work every day in the parish, assuring that the mission of the Church can be carried out, and that God’s love is spread to as many people as we possibly can. As Pope Benedict explains, charity a constitutive element (an essential, inseparable part) of the Church’s mission, alongside proclaiming the Word and celebrating the Sacraments. The dedication of our many volunteers is wonderful —the hours given, the resources shared, the silent prayers offered. Tonight, as we thank you, we’re also reminded of what authentic Christian service truly is. It’s more than just an action; it’s an attitude, a gift, and a doorway to humility.

“The one who serves does not consider himself superior to the one served… Christ took the lowest place in the world—the Cross—and by this radical humility he redeemed us and constantly comes to our aid (Pope Benedict XVI, 2005).” Every act of volunteering or giving, no matter how big or small, is an echo of Christ’s self-emptying love. When a volunteer cleans a floor or a donor writes a check, they are implicitly taking a lower place, putting the needs of the parish (the body of Christ) before their own comfort or pride.

But we always have to be careful about is allowing pride to enter into our service of love to others. Benedict reminds us that when we serve, we realize that we are the ones who are truly blessed. Our capacity to give is itself a gift from God. Looking at service this way protects us from pride. We serve because recognize you are “not acting on the basis of any superiority or greater personal efficiency, but because the Lord has graciously enabled you to do so.” It’s a recognition that God doesn’t need our help, but in His boundless love, He invites it.

What drives our desire to volunteer? It is because of love of neighbor. Through our service to others, “I learn to look on this other person not simply with my eyes and my feelings, but from the perspective of Jesus Christ. Seeing with the eyes of Christ, I can give to others much more than their outward necessities; I can give them the look of love which they crave. (Pope Benedict)”. That love (for God and neighbor) comes from God Himself, who loved us first. Therefore, Love of God and love of neighbor are thus so inseparable, that they form a single commandment.

At times, we may feel discouraged in our volunteer efforts. The weariness, the endless needs, the times when you feel your effort makes no difference, even the amount of work to be done may cause discouragement and tire us out. We can take comfort in the Knowledge that we are instruments in God’s hands, that the burden and responsibility is not on our shoulders. God gives us the strength to continue in our efforts. We are freed from the presumption of thinking we are “personally responsible for building a better world.” All we need to do instead is to allow God to work through us, to give Him our hands, feet, and heart to use as He knows it needs to be used.

Pope Benedict reminds us, “In all humility we will do what we can, and in all humility we will entrust the rest to the Lord. It is God who governs the world, not we.” This is a comforting message of partnership with God. We offer our best, and God supplies the rest. We therefore go forward in our service to the Lord and His Church, always remembering “The love of Christ urges us on’ (2 Cor 5:14).” This is His Church; He knows what needs to be done. He has already written the plans and prepared the way. We simply allow ourselves to be led in the love that He provides for us.

Tonight, let us pray in thanksgiving for your service to the Church, but also for each other. Our lives are connected in our service to one another, directed by the Lord in His master plan. Thank you for allowing yourselves to be instruments of that love, and may God to continue to bless your efforts, sustain your strength, and deepen your humility.