“Bear each other’s burdens”

IF we are looking for a surefire formula of living true charity, one that is down-to-earth and easily and abidingly doable, one that would really nail it, we should follow this piece of advice from St. Paul who said in his Letter to the Galatians that we “bear each other’s burdens.” (6,2)

He clearly said that it is “in this way that you will fulfill the law of Christ,” which is none other than the law of love. Let’s not look any further and imagine doing extraordinary things to show the charity that we are supposed to live. All we have to do is to look at the neighbor nearest us at any point in time and help him bear his burden, whatever it is.

Our usual problem in this regard is to think that charity is doing some things for God but neglecting to consider the needs of the others. And if we happen to consider the others, we most likely are choosy as to what and how to help. We may even avoid the others, or take them for granted if only to escape from getting entangled with the duty to help them in some way.

It’s true that we cannot always extend the concrete help the others need. This may happen most of the time. But we fail to realize that we can always help them by our prayers and sacrifices which can always be done anytime, anywhere.

In other words, our mind and heart are not really focused on the others all the time which is our way of directing us to God and loving him directly and always. As St. John said in his first letter, “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ but hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen cannot love God, whom he has not seen.” (4,20)

We really should see to it that we are always attentive to everybody’s needs, that we cover their weaknesses, etc., because this is the way we can truly say that we are loving God, that we are living in charity as we should.

Obviously, this will require effort and a certain self-discipline, since we have to contend with our own limitations and weaknesses, not to mention the tremendous variety of differences and conflicts that we can have with others.

But we have to realize that it is in this kind of condition that we can truly develop and live charity. Charity is not lived only when things are nice and favorable to us. It is rather better developed, shown and lived when it is done in conditions that are difficult to us, and opposed to our personal liking. The greater the sacrifice involved in bearing the burdens of the others, the more authentic our charity would be.

As said earlier, while we cannot always express that charity in material terms, we can always do so in the spiritual and supernatural terms. Every time we think of them, anticipate their needs, try to do something about it, or at least to offer prayers and sacrifices, we would truly be loving them and loving God.

So, we need to examine where our thoughts and desires direct themselves. Are they just revolving around ourselves? Or are we always thinking of the others? Let’s hope that we can say we are always thinking of the others, ever ready to bear their burdens in any way we can.