Sean Major-Campbell | Giving with love

JESUS SAID, “For, I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” (Matthew 25:35-36)

It is that time of year when many do a little giving back to others and to the less fortunate. It is also a time when corporate Jamaica looks for places and organisations to give something to. Giving is indeed a wonderful thing to do. Giving also brings good market appeal to the givers. Smiling pictures amid Santa’s image will showcase the kindness of the givers.

Many would never imagine the untold suffering that many poor and unrepresented fellow citizens live every day. They come to us in the week at church for help of all sorts. Inviting you to give to our outreach programmes may not inspire much support. This is because people are, generally speaking, moved to give when they see pictures with moving stories of those in suffering and pain.

Just ask them at Food For The Poor Shelter, other shelters, the Salvation Army, the Seventh-day Adventists, the Roman Catholics, and a host of other church organisations. Check out the Portland Rehabilitation Management Homeless Shelter.

Christ Church, Vineyard Town (like many other churches) refuses to fill social media with pics of crying, depressed folks in need of help. Their dignity should not have to be sacrificed in the quest for help.

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Last week, the Kingston justices of the peace featured the Jamaica Military Band in concert. The underpriced tickets which went at $2,000 will see much of the proceeds going towards the National Poppy Appeal Drive, a much-needed contribution for veterans who have served and now need our help and support. It is not too late to still donate to this cause, and plan for next year’s event.

Did you know that the Justices of the Peace, Kingston Association, also does an annual Christmas Family Day at the Tower Street Adults Correctional Centre? This touching event sees inmates and their families getting a chance to meet with their loved ones. You may get in touch with the office of Honourable Steadman Fuller, custos rotolorum for the parish of Kingston, to give your contribution to this much-needed ministry.

I still find this a challenging experience, since some inmates get no visits. Some are only living in a state of ongoing condemnation and loneliness. This is another opportunity for giving to the work of the Justices of the Peace, Kingston Association (not to individual JPs now). Remember that justices of the peace do not offer their civic duties for pay! Let us plan for giving to the Jamaica Legion, an affiliate of the Royal Commonwealth Ex Services League. Remember also to give to a church’s outreach ministry.

Most importantly, the needs will continue after Christmas. Here at Christ Church in Vineyard Town, we will not have the luxury of waiting until next year Christmas season. People will come from all walks of life for help with food and medication and other matters of grave concern. There are many days we just do not have what to give. And, guess what happens? The pleas for help come to us every week of the year! Although we do an annual Christmas dinner for the homeless and the poor, come January, the same destitute folks will come to our doors, because the dinner could not carry over to the weeks ahead.

Since the Church is one of the few organisations on earth that should exist for those who are not its members, may we, out of our various experiences of blessings, give to the much-needed work of the Church as it blesses the wider community year-round.

Jesus said, “For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.” (Matthew 25:42-43)

Very special thanks to those who from time to time remember to give some sardines, mackerel, milk, sugar, flour, cereal, toiletries, or contribution to other costs, to include medical, optical, dental, and pharmaceutical assistance.

May we who give, be guided by year-round compassion for the needy. God bless you in your giving to the less fortunate. We hear Jesus again as He says, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.” (Matthew 25:45)

The inspired missionary, Amy Carmichael, still rings true in her words of many years ago: “You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.”

Fr Sean Major-Campbell is an Anglican priest and advocate for human dignity and human rights. Send feedback to seanmajorcampbell@yahoo.com or columns@gleanerjm.com.