YOU CANNOT OUTGIVE GOD

In St. Robert Bellarmine Parish in Blue Springs, there is a beautiful image of the Corporal Works of Mercy in stained glass from the Gospel of Matthew. Feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty and clothing the naked all come very naturally to Christians. Farther down the list is to visit the imprisoned. This is one that does not come so easily. I think many are jaded or lack compassion at the thought of ministering to the imprisoned, while many others are probably intimidated at the thought. I won’t lie, at times I have been in both of those thought camps.

By Deacon Joe Zagar

So why would anyone want to get involved in ministering to the imprisoned? For me, it wasn’t a comfortable thought at first, but one thing I have learned in my years is that you cannot outgive God. As a permanent deacon, my ordination configures me to minister as Christ the Servant. Christ did not turn away from anyone in need, in fact, after the wedding at Cana, when his ministry began. His whole life from that point on revolved around seeking out the lost, forgotten and the needy.

One of the ways I am convinced that the devil is hard at work is to watch the slow degradation of the dignity of the human person. It is easy to see this when we talk about pro-life issues, but there are other ways in which the devil is attacking the dignity of each person and the value of human life in general. Removing distinctions between male and female, devaluing marriage and reducing the worth of a person to their utility or usefulness diminish the dignity of the human person as created in the image and likeness of God.

When we enter the role of judge and through judgment determine the “worth” of a person or apply labels, it makes it easy for us to just push aside those we don’t want to associate with. This is a very dangerous temptation. This attitude is not pleasing to God. The people that we choose to ignore or avoid are the very ones that Christ sought first and calls us to do likewise. If we want to see Christ, we will find him in those we serve. We have to fight the urge to see only the bad in people and begin to see how valuable each and every life is. When we begin to do that, we will see each life very differently. Even though I may not always feel redeemable, thankfully God doesn’t see it that way. Don’t we owe that grace and mercy to everyone?

Everything I have ever done for God and with God no matter how difficult or sacrificial, has been in the end some of the greatest joys in my life. When you see Christ in those you serve or who are in need, he is more beautiful than you can imagine. I have never regretted anything I have done for my Lord. He always blesses me more than I could ever bless others.

The more you get to really know people, the more you find out we aren’t that different. The stigma of incarceration shouldn’t define one’s dignity or worth. I have found some of the most faithful people who are in the fight for their souls in places that I never expected. I receive much more than I give and my faith is strengthened by the witness of those who are seeking, trying and fighting for their salvation. I want to see others through the eyes of God, not my own. That is when I see the face of Christ. I pray that in me, they also see the face of Christ.

To learn more, visit humanrightskcsj.org

Deacon Joe Zagar is assigned to St. Robert Bellarmine Parish and St. Michael the Archangel High School.

“FOR I WAS HUNGRY AND YOU GAVE ME FOOD, I WAS THIRSTY AND YOU GAVE ME DRINK, A STRANGER AND YOU WELCOMED ME, NAKED AND YOU CLOTHED ME, ILL AND YOU CARED FOR ME, IN PRISON AND YOU VISITED ME.”

— Matthew 25:35-36