St. Dominic Catholic Church

Pastor's Corner

March 4, 2018

We proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

1 Corinthians 1:23-24

Paul’s collection for the Christians in Jerusalem occupies significant portions of his letters (1 Cor 16:1–4; 2 Cor 8:1–9:15; Rom 15:14–32). It is so important to Paul he is willing to face hostility (Romans 15:30-31).  What he was doing was a new initiative in the history of religion in the west – a free and spontaneous – not obligatory - opportunity to help poor members of a faith.  Because he was typically asking Gentile converts to Christianity to help Jewish converts to Christianity, it is a witness to Paul’s insistence that “in Christ, there is neither Jew nor Greek” (Gal. 3:28).

All the churches that Paul founded took part in these collections, which were an expression of these communities’ debt towards the Church of Palestine, from whom they had received the priceless gift of the Gospel. Paul attached so much value to this gesture of sharing that he rarely called it simply a “collection.” To him it was rather a “service,” “blessing,” “love,” “grace,” and even “liturgy” (see 2 Corinthians 9). Pope Benedict, in a weekly reflection on St. Paul on October 1, 2008, commented that St. Paul “confers a worship value on the collection of money...On the one hand, it is a liturgical gesture or ‘service’ that every community offers to God. On the other, it is an act of love that is done for the benefit of the people. Love for the poor and the divine liturgy go hand in hand: Love for the poor is liturgy. These two aspects are present in every liturgy that we celebrate and experience within the Church, which, by its nature, opposes separation between worship and life, between faith and good works, and between prayer and charity towards our brothers and sisters.”

The Together in Mission campaign continues the practice St. Paul began.  We share our resources with the poorer churches and schools in our archdiocese so they may bring Christ to the often most neglected people in the area.  In addition to the 73 parishes and 63 schools that receive aid, the Camilus Center for Spiritual Care at LA County Hospital is supported.  Through the Camilus Center, Catholic chaplains provide 24-hour ministry to the poor who come to LA County-USC Medical Center, continuing a presence there that began in 1876.

I encourage you to join me in making a contribution to Together in Mission and follow Jesus’ command to “love one another as I have loved you.” (John 13:34)