The love of neighbor lies at the heart of Christian life. In loving others, we respond to Jesus’ call: “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34). Yet love, above all, is a grace. For this reason, we should daily seek the grace to help someone. Acts of service, whether grand or small, can spring from a prayer of faith and a genuine attentiveness to others. This daily petition is an expression of humility and openness, recognizing that God can create opportunities for us to manifest His love, especially to those who need it most.
Scripture is unequivocal: in serving others, we serve Christ Himself. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus teaches: “Truly, I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40). This passage from the parable of the Last Judgment reveals a profound truth: to aid another is to encounter Jesus. Saint Paul exhorts the faithful in his letter to the Galatians: “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). Helping someone is not merely an occasional act of charity; it is a calling to live in communion, sharing in both the joys and struggles of others.
The Church, in her teachings, emphasizes the Christian vocation to be artisans of charity. Pope Francis writes in Evangelii Gaudium: “Authentic faith—which is never comfortable or individualistic—always involves a deep desire to change the world, to transmit values, to leave the earth better than we found it” (§183). This transformative desire begins with concrete acts of help and service to those we meet. Saint John Paul II, in Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, reminds us that love for our neighbor must manifest in active solidarity: “To be in solidarity means to draw close to the needs of others, to commit to concrete actions that promote their well-being and human dignity.”
The saints offer luminous examples of the daily grace to help others. Saint Vincent de Paul, known as the apostle of charity, often said: “Charity is infinitely inventive.” His life teaches us that helping others requires not only a generous heart but also boundless creativity and determination. Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, through her “little way,” lived this grace by performing small acts with great love. She remarked: “I cannot do great things; I can only do small things with great love.” Her humility, rooted in prayer, reveals that even the simplest gestures, done for the love of God, carry eternal value.
The liturgy forms us to live with an inner disposition to serve others. In every Eucharist, we receive Christ, who gave Himself entirely for us. This perfect gift compels us to, in turn, become gifts for our brothers and sisters. The Rite of Peace, for example, invites us to restore harmony and be instruments of reconciliation. Similarly, the Universal Prayer broadens our horizons, calling us to carry the needs of all humanity in our hearts.
Modern psychology confirms that helping others benefits not only the recipients but also the helpers. Studies show that those engaged in altruistic acts experience profound satisfaction and happiness. This truth echoes a spiritual reality: “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). However, it is important to remember that helping others should not become an overwhelming burden. Saint Mother Teresa, who devoted her life to the poor, wisely noted: “If you cannot feed a hundred people, then feed just one.” This reminds us that the grace to help is not measured by the quantity of our actions but by their quality and the love that animates them.
Asking for the grace to help begins with prayer. Saint Francis of Assisi offers a powerful model in his prayer: “Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.” In praying this, we make ourselves available to God’s will, becoming channels of His grace. Daily prayer cultivates spiritual vigilance, helping us recognize opportunities to serve, even in simple ways: listening to someone in distress, offering a smile or encouragement, or sharing a meal with someone in need.
Helping someone each day is not merely an act of human kindness; it is an encounter with Jesus. As Pope Benedict XVI writes in Deus Caritas Est: “Love of neighbor finds its source in the love of God. Every time we help another, it is Him we encounter.” May this daily petition become our prayer: “Lord, today, grant me the grace to help someone. Make me a sign of Your love to the world.” In this way, we discover that every act of charity draws us closer to Christ, the One who “came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).
Pierre-Alain Giffard, Director of Pastoral Work
Email: pierre.alain.giffard@gmail.com
Articles on evangelization and parish revitalization:
- The Parish as an Expression of God’s Love for the World
- If no one speaks, no one will know
- Evangelizing Through Healing: Manifesting God’s Loving Presence
- The Parable of the Wise Landowner
- Extraordinary Signs in Extraordinary Times
- The Evangelizing Message of Medjugorje
- The distinction between proselytism and authentic evangelization
- What God Needs from Us Is Love, Reconciliation, and a Spirit of Forgiveness
- Evangelization: A Collaborative Mission of Love
- Prayer and Service that Finds Favor With God
- The Transformative Power of Love
- The Evangelization Power of Prayer and Love for God
- Everyday Evangelization
- Every Act of Love is Evangelization
- Loving Jesus and Making Him Loved
- Embracing a Lifestyle of Worship and Praise
- A Prayer for Divine Healing and Restoration
- Factors That Have Proven to Attract People to Christ
- Evangelization: Finding Life and Giving Life
- The Eucharist: Source And Summit of All Evangelization
- Practical Steps for Reaching the Unchurched
- Bible Sharing Guide for Small Groups: A Synodal Approach
- Bringing People to Christ by Inspiring Love and Praise for God
- Proclaiming God’s Word: A Sacred Call
- From Decline to Renewal: The Transformation of New Life Church–Farmington
- The Church’s Social Doctrine and Evangelization
- Kindness: A Christian Perspective
- How to Bring Someone to Christ
- The Ultimate Purpose of Human Life – Glorifying God
- From Near-Death to New Life: A Rural Church’s Revitalization Journey
- Evangelization simply: “Taste and see that the LORD is good!” (Psalm 34:8)
- Revitalization of Rural Churches
- Attracting Converts to the Catholic Faith
- Addressing Low Attendance in Churches
- Fostering a Sacred Atmosphere during the Sunday Mass
- Prayer to be baptized in the Holy Spirit
- Jesus is Thirsty for Souls
- Praying And Sharing The Good News With God’s Redemptive Names
- Embracing the Call to Evangelize
- What is Most Pleasing to God? Bringing Souls to Christ
- The Growth of the Church of the Nativity (Fr. Michael White)
- Deliverance Prayer, by Fr. Stephen J. Rossetti (AUDIO – mp3)
- The Growth of Saint Benedict Parish (Fr. James Mallon)
- Five Pillars of the Christian Life
- Encountering Christ: The Path to Transformation
- What does it mean to have a personal relationship with Jesus?
- Unleashing The Evangelization Potential of Your Parish
- The Ultimate Goal of Evangelization
- God’s Longing for Love and our Mission to Make it Known
- A prayer for those whom we wish to encounter Christ
- Memorable Sundays
- Fr. Bedard’s Three-Step Blueprint for Evangelisation
- Guide for The Missionary Transformation of Parishes
- Divine Encounters: A Practical Guide for Small Evangelization Groups
- The Missionary Transformation of Sant’Eustorgio Parish
- Creating Vibrant Faith Communities: Insights from ‘Excellent Catholic Parishes’
- Sharing The Gospel According to People’s Needs And Receptivity
- A Prayer for Inviting Others to Evangelization Meetings and Services
- Welcoming Church Guests and Visitors: Dos and Don’ts
- Various Dimensions of Evangelization
- The True Measure of Success
- Pope Francis on Evangelization
- Revitalizing the Rural Parish for Mission
- Factors Leading to Christian Conversion
- Evangelizing Through Random Acts of Kindness
- Questions To Start Spiritual Conversations
- Three Feet From Gold
- Spreading the Gospel One Act at a Time
- Gather, Witness and Invite
- Prayer to Receive the Spiritual Gifts of The Holy Spirit
- The Language of Evangelization
- Key Factors for Parish Growth According to Rich Birch
- How to defeat Satan?
- Bringing Love, Hope and Healing Through the Gospel
- Love: Our Fundamental Vocation
- Touched by the Master
- A Man, a Dog, and the Ultimate Love
- The essence of evangelization: Loving God and our neighbours
- Loving Our Enemies and Reconciling with Others
- A Powerful Prayer for Healing: You Are The LORD Who Heals Me
- Living a Life of Love: Mother Teresa’s Legacy
- Living a Life of Love: Lessons from the New Testament
- In The Shadows Of Darkness, A Powerful Force Is At Work
- 19 Pastoral Orientations for Parish Renewal and Growth
- The Missionary Renewal of Catechesis
- Characteristics of missionary parishes
- Powerful healing prayer attributed to St. Padre Pio
- We are called to share our faith with others
- Should we seek to grow the Church?
- Find a Need and Fill It – Revealing God’s Heart in the Community
- 15 Habits to Evangelize on a Daily Basis
- The Church’s Mission
- Three Barriers to Building An Invitational Culture In Your Parish
- The Relational Evangelizer
- Doing Church at Home
- The Blind Girl
- A Group of Frogs
- The Elephant Rope
- A Shared Faith is a Growing Faith
- In The Shoes Of The Unchurched
- Parish Evangelizing Cells
- Six Unique Features of Missional Parishes
- Steps Towards Becoming A Missional Parish
- What Is Evangelization, And How Should It Be Carried Out?
- Discussion And Self-Assessment Questions For Parish Evangelization
- A Missional Church Is A Church That Prays
- The Jesus Prayer: A Method To Pray At All Times
- What can help children raised Catholic continue practicing the faith as adults?
- An Example of a Missionary Parish: Phoenix First Assembly of God
- Satan’s Tactics
- Learning to Be a Missionary
- When we cry out to God, he answers
- Presence and Proclamation
- Saving those who are lost
- Saint-Nazaire Parish: The story of a missionary transformation
- Small Groups and Evangelization
- Evangelizing By Inviting People To Receive Jesus As Lord And Saviour
- You Will Receive Power…
- Have You Heard About the Law of Three Hearings and Seven Touches?
- Three Habits of a Fruitful Christian Life
