By Fr. Glenn Jones:

Anyone a fan of the original NCIS has heard Special Agent Gibbs’ rule: “You don’t waste good.”

That simple phrase can be interpreted in several ways. In the immediate “Gibbsian” sense: If you’re good at something, don’t waste your gift. We teach kids this in guiding them toward courses of study, careers and vocations. For instance, If you’re good at math, look at something that requires math—science, accounting, etc. If you’re a good writer, maybe composition work of some sort is for you. If you find yourself gravitating toward the spiritual, maybe some sort of employ by your church. It’s just going with one’s natural flow, for everyone has different aptitudes and abilities.

In related context “Don’t waste good” becomes an imperative … a command. Ubiquitous throughout religions and beneficial philosophies is the virtue of charity—a foundational principle in Judeo-Christianity (Jesus’ sacrifice of himself IS, after all, charity in the highest form), a pillar of Islam, and universally recognized trait for the good.

But it’s easy to focus on self alone … on one’s own family and social circle alone, for these return charity in the form of loyalty and love. But restricting ourselves so can become a form of selfishness of its own if we ignore the unfortunate plights of others. We might think of Jesus parable of the rich man and poor Lazarus (Luke16), in which the rich man took no notice of the misery of Lazarus lying at his gate, and whom even dogs pitied. As Jesus notes in another place: “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.” No, Jesus tells us where the even greater good and charity truly lay as He continues: “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:332-33).

Now, in yet another context “Don’t waste good” has a deeper, more ontological meaning—that we are all created good. It is a principle in Judeo-Christian theology that God—being the totality of good—creates nothing but the good, even though our limited minds and perceptions may not see the whole, just when one examines a masterpiece too closely, he may see only dark, but standing back one sees how the dark contrasts and makes even more beautiful the whole. In this Christian understanding, even Lucifer/Satan was created good, but chose his path of evil … just as (tragically) many humans were, and do. (“For you love all things that are and loathe nothing that you have made; for you would not fashion what you hate.” (Wisdom 11:24))

We need not point out those who seem to be “born bad”; we do not know what cultural, societal, familial or environmental factors may have played into forming his person—sort of a “butterfly effect”, which says that even a single flutter of a butterfly’s wings may have consequences for planetary weather, and even the universe. We need rather focus on the self-realization that we are born good, created to DO the good, and those opportunities to exercise that virtue are all around us. (“For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them.” (Ephesians 2:10))

Unfortunately, it’s easy to become spiritual “couch potatoes” when it comes to charity. Especially as we get older, those lovin’ arms of the sofa wrap us ever more tightly in their embrace … the love song of ceaseless entertainments only a clicker away … contentment only a refrigerator away. Mmmm … so warm, so comfy. But such is not for what we were made, and while rest and recreation is certainly necessary for us, sloth and laziness are a wasting of the good … absence of the good that should be present—concern for one’s neighbor. Thus we need constant self-examination: “Am I making the most of the good that I am? Am I wasting MY good”?

What may motivate us a bit may be a final sense of “You don’t waste good”—that the good we do is never wasted, regardless of whether it’s recognized (“…your Father who sees in secret will repay you.” (Matthew 6:6) The cynical saw goes “No good deed goes unpunished”, but simply doing the good ignites a light in the darkness for untold others—by one’s example, and by engendering hope in the recipient.  Teachers often experience this by that inspiration they give, challenges they present, that patience they manifest, the caring concern which they embody. Should we be daunted by the possibility of rejection, or should we continue charity despite such possibility? If no one does good, no good is done. If not you, who? If not now, when?

So let us not waste our good, but rather expend all effort to utilize it to the good of others. Everyone can do good, whether it be in active work, compassion or prayer. Even the hopelessly paralytic can do the best of works—pray to God for mankind and the world, mentally “sitting at the feet of Jesus” in ceaseless petition for greater justice and peace. And even those who cannot thank do us good by presenting the opportunity to care for them … to exhibit charity and love for a fellow human being … a fellow child of God.

So many opportunities … so little time. The last words of Goethe were “More light!” We often cry likewise, and yet each of us have within ourselves that which can enkindle a torch.

————-

“[One does not] light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house.” (Matthew 5:15)

“Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest, if we do not give up. So then, while we have the opportunity, let us do good to all…” (Galatians 6:9)

Editor’s note: Rev. Glenn Jones is the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and former pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Los Alamos.