Love in action. When you hear those words, what images come to mind?

On a personal level, those words conjure up for me very concrete moments: of holding my children; of working so I can provide everything they need; of going on a walk with my spouse and listening while he shares his concerns.

On a spiritual level, they contain both an intense reality and deep mystery revealed in the epitome of what we celebrate this Advent and Christmas season: the gift of Christ’s birth into our earthly world. God, in all of His love for us, put His love into action and gave us salvation in the form of Christ as an infant. That love reached the world through Mary and Joseph’s love for God in action.

On a community-minded level, they mean caring about others outside my immediate circle: perhaps someone hurting and desperate for anyone to notice them, or someone in need of life’s basics, such as food, shelter, clothing or companionship.

Giving our love to Jesus and our families might seem relatively easy by proximity, but what about those we don’t even know? The idea can be intimidating! How do we even begin to help strangers?

In his Advent Angelus address on December 19, 2021, Pope Francis offered one easy, practical answer: He encouraged small kindnesses for others, “such as calling an elderly person, or giving them a little company. By helping others, we help ourselves to rise up from difficulties.”

We might already do such things without thinking of them as God’s love in action—sometimes it’s just the cashier knowing we always have patience and a smile when we check out. And of course, we should always pray, but for more than our families, extending petitions for those in need.

We are blessed with opportunities to help on a larger scale, but in a manageable way, through our parishes, schools and organizations. This issue of The Catholic Telegraph highlights amazing acts of love through collaborations: Families of Parishes and outside organizations feed the hungry in their communities; students focus their extra time and energy on people they’ve never met; and a university helps children overcome personal barriers to pave the way for success. In each story, the givers act without seeking a return. Instead, they experience Pope Francis’ words: By giving to others, they raised themselves up from difficulties.

This Advent and Christmas season, try seeking opportunities, large or small, to help others, at home and, as Jesus did for more than Mary and Joseph, in the larger community. In doing so, may we seek to glorify God by putting His love into our actions.