If you’re like me, you are embarrassed to admit ignorance of the obvious. My recent humiliation occurred when someone explained that the word ‘alphabet’ comes from alpha and beta, the first two letters of that millennial old lexical foundation, the Greek alphabet. (Go ahead, laugh!).
Humbling though it was, the experience prompted a general reflection on letters and on their proliferation in the ever-expanding use of acronyms and abbreviations. Common in our day-to-day vocabulary now are constructs like IT, NASA, CEO, DNA, etc. One in particular which is increasingly prevalent in the philanthropic world is the initialism SDG.
SDG stands for sustainable development goals. It has been popularized by the United Nations which has called for global collaboration on seventeen goals consisting of: the elimination of poverty and hunger, universal health, clean water, sexual equality, economic growth, responsible consumption, peace and justice, and others. These noble aspirations certainly deserve international commitment and support.
In the interest of due diligence and fiduciary responsibility much of organized philanthropy has embraced the concept of SDG, including Catholic philanthropy which recognizes within the SDG endeavor a reassuring resonance of the Church’s own social teaching. With regard to the environment, perhaps it is more than coincidental that the U.N.’s championship of SDG is contemporaneous with the promulgation of Pope Francis’ landmark Encyclical, Laudate Si. This alignment of interest of two of the world’s preeminent international organizations is surely cause for hope.
But, if the focus of our organized philanthropy – Catholic or otherwise – is limited to procedures and outcomes we will risk failure. If we succumb to the seductive illusion that we alone – internationally coordinated or not – can bring about these desirable global objectives, we are courting hubris. Was it not such blind pride that resulted in the eviction of our proto parents from Eden or the disruption of their descendants at Babel?
As mass communication homogenizes our understanding of what’s going on in the world around us we become more aware of our global challenges and our need to address them. Our appreciation deepens for ‘our Sister, Mother Earth, who sustains us’ (Saint Francis of Assisi as quoted in Laudate Si). Such appreciation is salubrious, to be sure. But, it is a limited expression – limited to what is appreciated and to us who do the appreciating. The fateful danger of this restricted view is that it lacks the reverence of gratitude.
Gratitude goes beyond the limits of appreciation. It acknowledges, with due humility, the source of the bountiful blessings we increasingly share, treasure and steward. Therefore, our philanthropy should be guided by more than due diligence and fiduciary responsibility. We must accept, even celebrate, that we not alone in our endeavor to bring about a better world. God’s role is indispensable. Let us recall Jesus’ words in Matthew’s Gospel: “Man shall not live on bread alone but one every word from the mouth of God”. Let us also remember the opening line in Laudate Si, that paean to the creation: “’LAUDATE SI’, mi Signore” -Praise be to you, my Lord”.
IHS is the Christogram, another set of letters rising from the Greek alphabet. As we approach Easter, may the joy of our Lord’s Resurrection nourish in us an appreciation that blossoms in fruitful gratitude.