Announcing that no prizes will be handed out in the next edition of the annual fundraising event L-Istrina, President George Abela recently said: "We will live beautiful moments of giving without expecting anything in return. It should be a day of generosity when the people unite for a common aim."
All those who truly understand and embrace the real meaning of the values of solidarity and charity, so essential to the life of society, welcome this bold decision wholeheartedly.
The idea of introducing gifts to encourage people to donate money in support of initiatives aimed at helping those in need of some form of support was, of course, well-intended. However, this created a kind of environment that somehow distanced the whole concept from the beauty of giving without hoping to win some prize in return.
President Abela's announcement should be seen and valued as a call to re-discover how much more beautiful and edifying it is to be charitable without hoping to get something back.
In today's world, the individualistic mentality is widespread. It is therefore necessary to encourage a concrete commitment to solidarity and charity, obviously starting at family level.
The family is the first and foremost place in which we come to appreciate and live the fraternal life, the life of solidarity and charity, in all its many forms. In the family, we learn attentiveness, openness and respect for others, who must always be able to find their proper place.
Life in common is also an invitation to a sharing which helps us to rise above our selfishness. In learning to share and to give, we discover the joy which comes from the communion of goods. With great tact, parents should strive by word and example to awaken a sense of solidarity and charity in their children.
The family's endeavours should naturally find the support and sustainment of the educational system as well as the kind of behaviour we suggest and promote at community and society level. Our way of life should be built on the belief that solidarity and charity are great social commandments which inspire a life of self-giving. Everyone is called to grow in character and self-discipline, overcoming the desire to possess everything for oneself alone.
The Creator intended the earth and all its content for the use of every human being. Indeed, whoever has received from the bounty of the Creator a greater share of goods must employ them not only for his own benefit but also for the benefit of others. Thus, humans need to follow justice and unite in charity. Our eyes should always be open to the situation in which perhaps many of our brothers and sisters live.
Christians, in particular, need to keep in mind that Christ urges in many ways the practice of charity: "As long as you did it for one of these, the least of my brethren, you did it for me" (Mt 25:40). When we freely embrace an act of self-denial for the sake of another, we make a statement that our brother or sister in need is not a stranger. Giving without expecting to get anything in return, enables us to grow in the spirit of the Good Samaritan, who bends low and goes to the help of his suffering brother.
The next L-Istrina is going to be a test for all of us, as a community and as individuals, in all this. We are being called to support the initiative's noble cause and donate money without the lure of gifts. Let's stand up and be counted.