St. James is involved in a fund raising campaign for the Archdiocese. At the orientation those running the campaign said to aim for “aspirational giving.” In other words, don’t be content with ordinary giving but look at the needs that you aspire to achieve and seek the resources necessary to reach that goal. While I don’t know much about fund raising I do think that “aspirational virtue” is a worthy goal. When we see the teachings and commandments of Christ we can be aware of how far we fall short. When we fall short the temptation is to give up on living as Jesus instructs us and grow content with being decent instead of becoming holy. For example, in the gospel Jesus holds up the ideal of life-long marriage. When someone falls short of that ideal the Church can’t write them off as a lost cause but instead, using as one tool the Sacrament of Reconciliation, encourage each person to keep striving toward the life of compassion, charity, generosity and forgiveness that Jesus calls us to live.
