Editing Fast Fridays: 30 Minutes for God (section)

== Friday, Oct 25: The Limits of sins of omission ==
The good Samaritan did right by God and took care of the mugging victim (Lk 10:29). The sheep sent to the right of the king took care of him when he was hungry, naked, and in jail (Mt 25:35). The rich man “suffered torment” for having ignored the sick man lying at his door (Lk 16:25). The lesson is clear: don’t ignore your suffering neighbor.

Are there limits to the rule? Am I off the hook because I only have a twenty and, honestly, if I gave the guy the twenty rather than a five like last time, won’t he start expecting more — or the Lord?

Worse, do the suffering have a responsibility to us? When does our charity exceed its benefits? How do we discern the sheep from the goat?

I need your help on this one.  
----This week Michael presented a dilemma as to the extent of charity. So happens that a former student's family is being kicked out of an apartment, as policies have changed and they can't stay in the place with their cat; they don't need help paying for another place but do need a co-signer. I am out of the co-signer game, having played that to ill effect in a prior life back when I had money. But, I want to help, so I am wondering if I am mistreating Jesus by not cosigning for a needing family?

Dave points out the obvious: which is more important, their family security in a home they already have, or a cat? 

Which brings us to so much more: did I hurt the bum I gave a small tequila bottle that the store gave me at checkout? (He was sooo happy!)  Should I give out five bucks instead of the twenty? To we measure our generosity by what we think is best for the recipient. Do we hold them to a degree of self-responsibility for their own actions? (We discussed a woman Dave knows who is broke and needing help because she is taking care of a sick dog she can't afford.)  Dave quotes a friend on giving bums money: "That ten bucks isn't going to make him rich, and it won't make you poor." 

From there we got into Michael's dangerous territory of calling out people on virtue signaling by helping at soup kitchens. Bothers me that at the Catholic school I taught there was a lot of guilting into "doing good". Not a good thing to judge people on, Michael is correctly advised here. 

Nevertheless, we fell upon the idea that little things can make a  huge difference, be it eliciting a smile with a quick joke, or just being kindly.  I am reminded, however, that, as Saint Teresa of Avila advised (I think it's her): whatever you do, do it for God.  Give, help, provide... but not for you, not for them, but for the glory of God.
----Update 10/30: DJ says that it was sinful to give the bum the little bottle. Indeed, an act that contributes to sin is inherently sinful -- or worse, as it is a cause of sin (see [https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/17:1 Lk 17:1]).  DJ says the commandment to love others as one loves oneself covers the notion of not causing harm to another, as we do not want to harm ourselves.  Hmm -- looks like an ongoing discussion!