For two years I served as the Volunteer Coordinator for local Habitat for Humanity affiliates – first in Ft. Smith, AR, and then in Dallas. Every Saturday I would manage a different group (or groups) of volunteers who came to work on the houses that we were building. Many were from churches – Baptist, Catholic, or evangelical. But other groups or individuals were simply people of good will who believed that every family should have safe, decent, and affordable housing. We called this the shared “theology of the hammer”. In philosophical terms, we might call these people “secular humanists”. Secular humanism is a philosophy of life that relies on human reason and experience to understand the world and guide ethical decision-making, rather than faith or divine revelation. Jesus would say that these are people who do not cry “Lord, Lord” and yet are still doing the work of His Heavenly Father. In Mark 9:40, Jesus says, “For whoever is not against us is for us,” affirming that anyone doing good works in His name — even if not part of His immediate group — is considered an ally in His mission. Building a home, providing clean water, visiting those in prison, and tending to the sick – all of these are the work of the Heavenly Father who loves all of His creation. This is why we Christians can say that “love of neighbor” is our way of showing our “love of God”. They are two sides of the same coin. Whenever you offer a Mass stipend, or give to the children’s collection, you are participating in the work of our parish’s charity. Each month our charity fund helps many people who are struggling to pay utility bills, or rent, or have a medical procedure. You are doing the Father’s will! – – – Fr. Jim