Over the past few months, millions of Americans have lost their jobs as a result of the downturn in our global economy. In fact, on March 6th, it was announced that an additional 651,000 people lost their jobs in the month of February. As the economy continues to fall, people across the world have a general consensus of, “When is this all going to end?” The truth is that this downturn in the global economy hasn’t even reached its peak. Even now, the outlook for the future continues to be bleak. This recession will take many years to overcome and the only way people are going to get through these times is by turning to one another and to our Heavenly Father.

During the Great Depression, as millions of people were faced with the toughest decisions of their lives, a vast majority of Americans turned to religion to help them with their struggles. There is some debate as to whether or not THIS economic recession has turned people towards God. Many say that it has, others are a little more hesitant to say. But, this is a golden opportunity for the love of Christ to be experienced and shared throughout the world. Instead of people turning towards the church, the church needs to turn to the people and ask them if there is anything we can do to help.

In the Diocese of Pittsburgh, Bishop David Zubik authored A Pastoral Letter to the Church of Pittsburgh on the Economic Crisis, in which he calls upon the people to join him in “reflecting upon how [they] can best support each other in the name of, and with the heart of, Christ in these difficult times of economic duress.” Here is a brief excerpt from his letter…

“The time will come when economic experts will better understand what caused our current problems. They will devise long-term solutions. But in the here and now, we have to turn toward each other-to find out what we can give and what we need. This is not the time to struggle alone. This is a communal challenge we face together, not alone.

“We know that our faith is lived in and through others. We are all connected in grace. We never know who will touch us and whom we will touch. None of us knows when we get up in the morning exactly what the day will bring. But one thing can be certain. Each day is a time of grace, and grace will be encountered in the people with whom we will share that day.

“When we talk about sharing-a divine activity that is an action of Jesus Himself and of His Body, the Church-we are not being simply sentimental. Real sharing is that glimpse of the divine love that exists from our Creator and through His Son, the Word made Flesh in our Church, in our lives and in our world. People are God’s tender mercy in our lives, our chance to live out-and experience-His sharing.

“Yes, sharing is a divine activity, an action of Jesus Himself. And not for Jesus alone: For His Body, the Church, and for you and me as an important part of the Church. Not an option, but a necessity!”

People who are “better off” than others have a moral obligation to help those in need, especially in times like this. It is a necessity for us to help one another. Many people are answering this responsibility by giving support and financial assistance to many outreach programs in their own church communities.

Even though I am not in the parish to experience the impact of this economic crisis on the people of God firsthand, I know that people are suffering. At Brothers Keeper, an outreach ministry of my home parish, the number of people being served food each week has increased tremendously over the past three months and continues to rise. This ministry and others like it throughout the Church are being funded and supported because of the generosity of the people of God.

Throughout the Diocese of Orlando, many parishes are beginning the capital campaign Alive in Christ. The funds raised from this campaign will not only help bring the Church in Orlando into the future, but will also guarantee services for the community, including outreach programs like Brothers Keeper, Catholic Charities, and St. Vincent de Paul societies.

As the clarity of the future is still unknown, please take some time to pray for those who are going to be affected deeply. Please also do everything you can to help those in need. The Lord is counting on His children to come to the aid of their brothers and sisters. I ask that you take the following scriptural passage to prayer and reflection to contemplate what you can do to help your fellow man.

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will assemble before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 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.’ Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’ And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’” – Matthew 25: 31-40

May God bless you all.