The celebration of 'Charity Week', which this year will be focusing on the theme 'Loving You in the Poor' and reaches its peak today, is primarily meant to provide a special opportunity to deepen our understanding of the Gospel of Charity.
How should a Christian respond to the reality of people in our midst raising their cry of suffering, for so many different reasons, hoping to be heard?
Human misery drew the compassion of Christ the Saviour to take it upon himself and to be identified with the least of his brethren: "I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you made me welcome, lacking clothes and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me... In truth I tell you, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me."
Therefore, for Christians, the way ahead was laid down by Christ himself. The person and message of Jesus Christ are, in fact, centred on the manifestation that "God is love", a love which redeems humanity and saves it from a manifold misery in order to restore all men and women to their full dignity.
The preferential option for the poor manifests the universality of the Church's being and mission. This option excludes no one. Throughout the centuries, the Church has given many concrete expressions of this divine care.
The history of the Church, also in Malta, can be written as a history of love and charity towards the poorest of the poor, thanks to the many Christians who have given witness to their needy sisters and brothers thus showing Christ's love in laying down His life for all.
Moreover, one of the basic principles which the Church has gradually emphasised in her social teaching is the practice of solidarity, which protects all people from being excluded from social and economic life, and deprived of their fundamental dignity.
Solidarity is naturally a requirement that is placed on all. Fortunately, the fruit of the solidarity work of those acting in their own particular situation is abundant. Hope must be drawn from the results of the work of such people who, in their daily work at all levels, act in the service of the integral human being.
Only balanced development for the common good will prove authentic and contribute in the long term to social stability. The huge task facing Christians everywhere is to foster conduct of this kind. Like a small amount of yeast in very hard dough, they are called by a close adhesion to the love which Our Lord has for all people. A love which one experiences in the very depths of one's being.
This beautiful task is to set an example at every level: technical, organisational, moral and spiritual. It involves mutual assistance at every level of responsibility, which includes all those who are not 'excluded' by their own social conditions.